Summary of the material for the final exam (2022) for Introduction to Comparative Politics. INCLUDES notes from (Total: 69 pages):
Rod Hague, Martin Harrop and John McCormick’s book (11th edition 2019) “Comparative Government and Politics”, chapters 1, 3-13 and 15-18.
Introduction to Comparative Politics Potential/Practice Exam Questions - GRADE 7,0
All for this textbook (19)
Written for
Universiteit Leiden (UL)
International Relations And Organizations
Introduction To Comparative Politics (6441HICP8)
All documents for this subject (15)
5
reviews
By: denisa • 1 year ago
By: giacomoef • 1 year ago
Thank you for the positive review!

By: marawankhalil1 • 2 year ago
By: giacomoef • 2 year ago
Thank you for the review! Good luck with the exams!
By: GabrieleBattisti • 2 year ago
By: giacomoef • 2 year ago
Thank you! I hope the exams go well!
By: LanavScheijen • 2 year ago
Super helpful, are you going to do IPS & IEU as well?
By: giacomoef • 2 year ago
Thanks, that's the plan! I'll let you know when the notes are up!
By: marenvonschwiderski • 2 year ago
By: giacomoef • 2 year ago
Thanks for the review! Good luck with the exams!
Seller
Follow
giacomoef
Reviews received
Content preview
Summary of the material for the final exam (2022) for Introduction to Comparative Politics.
INCLUDES notes from (Total: 69 pages):
● Rod Hague, Martin Harrop and John McCormick’s book (11th edition, 2019) “Comparative
Government and Politics”, chapters 1, 3-13 and 15-18.
1
Introduction to Comparative Politics Notes on Readings
Table of Contents
“Comparative Government and Politics” 2
1. Key Concepts 2
3. Comparative Methods 4
4. The State 8
5. Democratic Rule 13
6. Authoritarian Rule 19
7. Constitutions and Courts 22
8. Executives 26
9. Legislatures 30
10. Bureaucracies 35
11. Sub-National Governments 39
12. Political Culture 43
13. Political Participation 47
15. Elections 51
16. Political Parties 55
17. Voters 59
18. Interest Groups 64
, 2
“Comparative Government and Politics”
1. Key Concepts
Overview
Democracy: A political system where the government is based on a fair and open mandate from all
qualified citizens of a state.
Political Science: The study of the theory and practice of government and politics, focusing on the
structure and dynamics of institutions, political processes, and political behaviour. Consists of the
following sub-fields:
● Comparative politics
● International relations (IR)
● National politics
● Political philosophy
● Political theory
● Public policy
Social Science: The study of human society and its structured interactions.
Government and Governance
Government: The entire institutions and offices through which societies are governed.
➔ Institutions: A formal organisation or practise with a political purpose or effect, marked by
durability and internal complexity.
➔ English philosopher Thomas Hobbes argued that the government provides security and
predictability, transforming anarchy into order.
➔ The government is influenced by surrounding forces that make up a political system.
◆ Political System: The interactions and organisations through which a society reaches
and successfully enforces collective decisions.
Governance: The process of collective decision-making and public regulation.
➔ Good governance is accountable, transparent, efficient, responsive, and inclusive,
HOWEVER, all systems have flaws.
Politics and Power
Politics: A collective negotiation between or among people executing shared decisions. Part of the
social nature of humans with compromises and different opinions. It is a competition for acquiring
and keeping power.
➔ Public authority is used to implement collective policy.
Power: The capacity to bring about intended effects and achieve goals. Steven Luke’s (2005) three
dimensions of power in determining a certain group’s power:
1. Prevailing preferences; decisions are made on issues over which there is an observable
conflict of interests.
2. Expressed preferences; decisions are prevented from being taken on potential issues over
which there is an observable conflict of interests.
, 3
3. Shaped preferences; potential issues are kept out of politics, whether through social forces,
institutional practices, or the decisions of individuals.
The State, Authority, and Legitimacy
State: A population living within a defined territory, and each recognized by its residents and by
other states as having the right to rule that territory. They provide the legal mandate for a
government’s authority.
➔ Authority: The right to rule, creating power, as long as people accept the person in charge in
taking decisions. Max Weber’s (1922) three ways of validating political power:
1. Tradition; the accepted way of doing things.
2. Charisma; intense commitment to a leader and their message.
3. Appeal to legal/rational norms, based on the rule-governed powers of an office.
➔ Legitimacy: The condition of being legitimate; a system based on authority, and those subject
to its rule recognize its right to make decisions.
Ideology
Ideology: A system of connected beliefs for how politics, economics, and society should be
structured. Major ideologies include:
1. Anarchism; all forms of governmental authority are unnecessary, and society is best
structured around voluntary cooperation and free association.
2. Marxism; elimination of the state system and private property will lead to the creation of a
classless, non-exploitive, and self-governing society.
3. Liberalism; individuals are the best judges of their interests, advocating a tolerant society
that maximises personal freedom, and favours a freely-elected but limited government.
4. Conservatism; traditional institutions and practises work best, the free market is the most
efficient at meeting societal needs, and the government should be as decentralised as possible.
5. Fascism; supports the achievement of national unity through an authoritarian state, strong
leadership, mass mobilisation, and an emphasis on nationalism and militarism.
‘Left’ (Socialists and Communists) ‘Right’ (Conservatives)
● Peace ● Armed forces
● Global outlook ● National priorities
● Democracy ● Authority, morality and the constitution
● Planning and public ownership ● Free market
● Trade protection ● Free trade
● Social security ● Social harmony
● Education ● Law and order
● Collectivist ● Individualist
Comparative Politics
Comparative Politics: The systematic study of government and politics in different countries, drawing
out their contrasts and similarities. Aims to:
● Broaden understanding/interpretation of the dynamics and character of political systems.
● Predict political outcomes (theoretically) through the creation of generalisations. Although
results depend on the strength and detail used within comparisons.
Classifying Political Systems
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller giacomoef. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for £12.80. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.