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Political Science Key Concepts
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Political Science Key Concepts
Political Science Key Concepts
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1
Question
Where were central actors in democratic politics birthed?
Answer
Assemblies of the 16th to 19th century.
2
Question
How can political parties be described?
Answer
Congregations of like-minded individuals adhering to a set of principles.
3
Question
What are the functions of political parties?
Answer
Give direction to government, recruit future executives and legislators, aggregate interests along ideological lines, and attract popular support.
4
Question
What contributes to cleavages in party systems?
Answer
Social and political change and long-term party foundations.
5
Question
According to Maurice Duverger's 'Political Parties' (1964), how do electoral systems affect party systems?
Answer
Majoritarian systems tend to produce two-party systems, while proportional representation systems lead to multiple parties.
6
Question
What type of coalitions does William H. Riker's 'The Theory of Political Coalitions' (1962) discuss?
Answer
Minimum winning coalitions.
7
Question
What are the two motivations for politicians forming coalitions?
Answer
Politicians seeking power vs. politicians seeking to influence public policy.
8
Question
What influences coalition formation in multi-party systems?
Answer
Ideological closeness and multi-party systems.
9
Question
What are the characteristics of a dominant party system?
Answer
One party is dominant, party competition is limited.
10
Question
What characterizes a multi-party system?
Answer
More than three parties exist.
11
Question
What characterizes a two-party system?
Answer
Two parties exist.
12
Question
What has caused populism to bloom?
Answer
Popular feelings of neglect, grievances, the Great Gatsby curve, existential insecurity, insularity of establishment politics, perceptions of prostrate governments, unresponsive institutions, and available political alternatives.
13
Question
What are the characteristics of populist politicians and issue selection?
Answer
Anti-establishment appeals to mass constituencies, challenges to mainstream politics, and targeting of corruption and crises.
14
Question
What organizational challenges do populist movements face?
Answer
Absence of a party base, limited time, resources, organizational advantages, membership density, and member unity.
15
Question
What are the key elements in policymaking?
Answer
The state, broader social interests, social forces, agendas and specific policy issues, policy networks, and policy communities.
16
Question
What are the main categories of interest groups?
Answer
Interest Groups, Cause Groups, Public Interest Groups and Professional associations.
17
Question
What are the theoretical models for understanding social movements?
Answer
Classical Model, Resource Mobilization, Political Process Model, and Structural approaches.
18
Question
What is inclusiveness?
Answer
Acceptance and inclusion of diverse groups within an organization.
19
Question
What is cognitive liberation?
Answer
The process of freeing oneself from limiting beliefs and oppressive ideologies.
20
Question
What is pluralism?
Answer
A theory emphasizing the importance of multiple perspectives and interests in a political system.
21
Question
What is Marxistlite Theory?
Answer
A theory drawing on Marxist ideas but adapted for contemporary social and political analysis.
22
Question
What is social capital and civil society?
Answer
The networks of relationships and trust that facilitate cooperation for mutual benefit.
23
Question
What are fragmented groups?
Answer
Smaller, less cohesive social units.
24
Question
What is structural power?
Answer
The ability of groups to influence political outcomes due to their position within a social structure.
25
Question
What is civil society?
Answer
Organizations and associations that operate independently of the state.
26
Question
What is the state as an arena?
Answer
The idea that the state is a battleground for competing interests and policy preferences.
27
Question
What is Tri-partism?
Answer
A system where state, labor, and capital cooperate to set economic policy.
28
Question
What are peak associations?
Answer
Large, influential organizations that represent broad interests in society.
29
Question
What are veto-group power?
Answer
Groups with the power to block policy changes.
30
Question
What is inter-group competition?
Answer
Negotiations and agreements between different groups with conflicting interests.