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Final
Final Vocab
111
Political Studies
Undergraduate 2
12/05/2011

Additional Political Studies Flashcards

 


 

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Term
Assimilation
Definition
The process through which immigrant communities lose their cultural distinctiveness by adjusting to the values, alleigences, and lifestyles of the 'host' countries.
Term
Authoritarianism
Definition
A belief that strong central authority, imposed from above, is either desirable of necessary, and therefore demands unquestioning obedience
Term
Totalitarianism
Definition
An all-encompassing process of political rule in which the state penetrates and controls all social institutions, therefore abolishing civil society and provate life
Term
Illiberal Democracies
Definition
a governing system in which, although elections take place, citizens are cut off from knowledge about the activities of those who exercise real power because of the lack of civil liberties.
Term
Theocracy
Definition
Literally, rule by God; the belief that religious authority should prevail over political authority, usually through the domination of church over state
Term
Political myth
Definition
A belief that has the capacity to provoke political action by virtue of its emotional power rather than through an appeal to reason.
Term
Vitalism
Definition
The theory that living organisms derive their characteristic properties from a 'life force'; vitalism implies an emphasis upon instinct and impulse rather than intellect and reason
Term
Natural Selection
Definition
The theory that spiecies go through a process of random mutations that fits some to survive (and possibly thrive) while others become extinct
Term
Elitism
Definition
A belief in rule by an elite or minority; elite rule may be thought to be desirable (the elite having superior talents or skills) or inevitable, (egalitarianism simply being impractical)
Term
Charisma
Definition
charm or personal power; the ability to inspire loyalty, eomtional dependence or even devotion in others
Term
General will
Definition
the genuine interests of a collective body, equivalent to the common good; the will of all provided that each person acts selflessly
Term
Totalitarian Democracy
Definition
An absolute dictatorship that masquarades as a democracy, typically based on the leader's claim to a monopoly of ideological wisdom
Term
Statism
Definition
A belief that the state is the most appropriate means of resolving problems and of guaranteeing economic and social development
Term
Monism
Definition
A belief in only one theory or value, monism is reflected politically in enforced obedience to a unitary political powerand is thus implicitly totalistarian
Term
Corporatism
Definition
a system of economic, political, or social organization that involves association of the people of society into corporate groups, such as agricultural, business, ethnic, labor, military, patronage, or scientific affiliations, on the basis of common interests
Term
Fundamentalism
Definition
A belief in the original or most basic principles of a creed, often associated with fierce commitment and sometimes relfected in fanatical zeal
Term
Secularism
Definition
A belief that religion should not intrude into the secular (worldly) affairs, usually reflected in the desire to separate church and state
Term
Relativism
Definition
a belief that moral or factual statements can only be judged in relation to their contexts, because there are no objective or 'absolute' standards
Term
Anti-modernism
Definition
a philosophical orientation that is somewhat difficult to define, but in essence constitutes a rejection of modernist ideals and behaviours in favour of what is perceived as a purer historical or even prehistorical way of life and consciousness of mind.
Term
Jihad
Definition
an Islamic term literally meaning struggle; includes struggle against ones own soul (greater jihad) and external, physical effort or even holy war (lesser jihad)
Term
Anti-colonialism
Definition
opposition to wars of conquest, particularly of non-contiguous territory or people with a different language or culture; it also includes people opposing the expansion of a country beyond earlier borders
Term
Balance of Power
Definition
Term
Hegemony
Definition
the ascendancy or domination of one element of a system over others, for Marxists, hegemony implies ideological domination
Term
Bipolarity
Definition
a distribution of power in which two states have the majority of economic, military, and cultural influence internationally or regionally.
Term
Multipolarity
Definition
a distribution of power in which more than two nation-states have nearly equal amounts of military, cultural, and economic influence.
Term
Collective Security
Definition
security arrangement, regional or global, in which each state in the system accepts that the security of one is the concern of all, and agrees to join in a collective response to threats to, and breaches of, the peace.
Term
Domination
Definition
underlies the great-power system, in which a handful of countries dictate the rules for all the others.
Term
Functionalism
Definition
a theory of international relations that arose during the inter-War period principally from the strong concern about the obsolescence(still works but not wanted) of the State as a form of social organization
Term
Globalization
Definition
a complex web of interconnectedness through which life is increasingly shaped by decisions or events taken at a distance; globalization reflects the increasing permeability of the nation-state
Term
Hard Power (IR)
Definition
a theory that describes using military and economic means to influence the behavior or interests of other political bodies.
Term
Soft Power (IR)
Definition
the ability to obtain what one wants through co-option and attraction.
Term
Multilateralism
Definition
a term in international relations that refers to multiple countries working in concert on a given issue
Term
Unilateralism
Definition
any doctrine or agenda that supports one-sided action
Term
NGO (non-governmental organization)
Definition
a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government.
Term
MNC
Definition
Term
Preventive Diplomacy
Definition
action to prevent disputes from arising between parties, to prevent existing disputes from escalating into conflicts and to limit the spread of the latter when they occur.
Term
Neoconservatism (Foreign Policy)
Definition
main concern is to prevent the arrival of a new rival.
Term
Global North v. Global South
Definition
Global North: prosperous and powerful
Global South: impoverished and underdeveloped
Term
LDCs (least developed countries)
Definition
he name given to a country which, according to the United Nations, exhibits the lowest indicators of socioeconomic development, with the lowest Human Development Index ratings of all countries in the world

Traits: low income, human resource weakness, economic vulnerabilty
Term
NICs (newly industrialized countries)
Definition
countries whose economies have not yet reached First World status but have, in a macroeconomic sense, outpaced their developing counterparts

Traits: political leaders, civil rights, manufacturing, free trade, foreign investment, lower poverty rates
Term
Imperialism
Definition
The extension of control by one country over another , wether by overt political means or through economic domination
Term
Colonialism
Definition
the theory or practice of establishing control over a foreign territory, usually by settlement or economic domination
Term
Neocolonialism
Definition
the practice of using capitalism, globalization, and cultural forces to control a country (usually former European colonies in Africa or Asia) in lieu of direct military or political control.
Term
IMF ( international monetary fund)
Definition
an organization of 187 countries, working to foster global monetary cooperation, secure financial stability, facilitate international trade, promote high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduce poverty around the world.
Term
World Bank
Definition
an international financial institution that provides loans to developing countries for capital programs; goal is to reduce poverty
Term
Derivation formula
Definition
Term
Federal Character Principle
Definition
seeks to ensure that appointments to public service institutions fairly reflect the linguistic, ethnic, religious, and geographic diversity of the country.
Term
Patrimonialism
Definition
a form of governance in which all power flows directly from the leader. This constitutes essentially the blending of the public and private sector. The leaders of these countries typically enjoy absolute personal power. Usually, the armies of these countries are loyal to the leader, not the nation.
Term
Resource Curse
Definition
refers to the paradox that countries and regions with an abundance of natural resources, specifically point-source non-renewable resources like minerals and fuels, tend to have less economic growth and worse development outcomes than countries with fewer natural resources.
Term
idiotes
Definition
person lacking professional skill", "a private citizen", "individual"
Term
Participatory Democracy
Definition
strives to create opportunities for all members of a political group to make meaningful contributions to decision-making, and seeks to broaden the range of people who have access to such opportunities
Term
Elite Democracy
Definition
the elite should rule because they have a better understanding of how the world works than people of the lower classes
Term
Capitalism
Definition
an economic system characterized by private or corporate ownership of capital goods, by investments that are determined by private decision, and by prices, production, and the distribution of goods that are determined mainly by competition in a free market
Term
Utopianism
Definition
Belief in an ideally perfect place, especially in its social, political, and moral aspects.
Term
Communism
Definition
the principle of common ownership of wealth, or a system of comprehensive collectivization; often viewed as Marxism in practice
Term
Social Democracy
Definition
A moderate or reformist brand of socialism that favors the balance between the market and the state, rather than the abolition of capitalism.
Term
Cooperation
Definition
Working together; collective effort to achieve mutual benefit.
Term
Egalitarianism
Definition
A theory or practice based on the desire to promote equality; is sometimes seen as the belief that equality is the primary political value.
Term
Collectivization
Definition
the abolition of private property and the establishment of a comprehensive system of common or public ownership. Usually through the state
Term
Social Class
Definition
a social division based on economic or social factors. Group of people who share a similar socioeconomic position.
Term
Bourgeoisie
Definition
A Marxist term denoting the ruling class of a capitalist society, the owners of productive wealth
Term
Proletariat
Definition
A Marxist term denoting a class that subsists through the sale of its labour power; (not equivalent to the working class).
Term
Nationalization
Definition
The extension of state or public ownership over private assets or industries, either individual enterprises or the entire economy.
Term
State Socialism
Definition
a form of socialism which the state controls and directs economic life, acting in the interests of the people.
Term
Fundamentalist Socialism
Definition
A form of socialism that seeks to abolish capitalism and replace it with a qualitatively different kind of society
Term
Revisionist Socialism
Definition
A form of socialism that has revised its critique of capitalism and seeks to reconcile greater social justice with surviving capitalist forms.
Term
Gradualism
Definition
progress brought about by gradual, piecemeal improvements, rather than dramatic upheaval; change through peaceful or legal reform.
Term
Bourgeois ideology
Definition
A Marxist term denoting ideas and theories that serve the interest of the bourgeoisie by disguising the contradictions of capitalist society.
Term
Class Consciousness
Definition
A Marxist term denoting an accurate awareness of class interest and a willingness to pursue them; a class-conscious class is a class-for-itself.
Term
Dialectical Materialism
Definition
The crude and deterministic form of Marxism that dominated intellectual life in orthodox communist states.
Term
Alienation
Definition
To be separated from one’s genuine or essential nature; Marxist term to descried the process whereby, under capitalism, labor is reduced to being a mere commodity.
Term
Surplus Value
Definition
Marxist term for the value that is extracted from the labor of proletariat by the mechanism of capitalist exploitation.
Term
Dictatorship of the Proletariat
Definition
Marxist term for the transitionary phase between the collapse of capitalism and the establishment of full communism, characterized by the establishment of a proletariat state.
Term
Leninism
Definition
Lenin’s theoretical contributions to Marxism, notably his belief in the need for a revolutionary or vanguard party to raise the proletariat to class consciousness.
Term
Stalinism
Definition
A centrally planned economy supported by systematic and brutal political oppression, based on the structures of Stalin’s Russia.
Term
Orthodoxy
Definition
Adherence to an established conventional view, usually enjoying ‘official’ sanction or support.
Term
New Left
Definition
ideological movement that sought to revitalize socialist thought by developing a radical critique of advanced industrial society, stressing the need for decentralization, participation and personal liberation.
Term
Social Democracy
Definition
endorses liberal-democratic principles and accepts that political change can and should be brought about peacefully and constitutionally.
Term
Humanism
Definition
A philosophy that gives moral priority to the satisfaction of human needs and aspirations.
Term
Social Justice
Definition
A morally justifiable distribution of wealth, usually implying a commitment to great equality.
Term
Managerialism
Definition
The theory that a governing class of managers, technocrats, and state officials dominates both capitalist and communist societies.
Term
Third Way
Definition
The notion of an alternative form of economic to both state socialism and feet-market capitalism, sought at different times by conservatives, socialists and fascists.
Term
Communitarianism
Definition
A belief that the self or person is constituted through the community in the sense that there are no ‘unencumbered slaves’
Term
Determinism
Definition
A belief that human actions and choices are entirely conditioned by external factors; implies free will is a myth.
Term
Mixed Economy
Definition
economic system that incorporates a mixture of private and government ownership or control, or a mixture of capitalism and socialism
Term
CCP
Definition
Chinese Communist Party- formed in 1921 by one of the leaders of the May Fourth movement. One of two leading parties in China (KMT being the other).
Term
Cultural Revolution
Definition
A Maoist movement attacking the CCP for “taking the capitalist road,” backed by the Red Guard who targeted authority figures, historic buildings and art.
Term
Hu Jintao
Definition
He is now general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, president of the People's Republic of China, chairman of the Central Military Commission
Term
Mao Zedong
Definition
Marxist, established separate communist republic within China with CCP. KMT caused Long March for CCP, but Mao secured leadership. Head of the People's Republic of China, 1949-76.
Term
National Party Congress
Definition
Chinese Communist Party National Representatives Congress) is a party congress that is held about once every five years. The National Congress is theoretically the highest body within the Communist Party of China, but in practice important decisions are made before the meeting. Nearly 3000 members
Term
Special Economic Zones
Definition
system created in 1979, offering tax breaks and other incentives to lure foreign investment to a handful of coastal enclaves.
Term
State Council
Definition
China’s executive branch, is the primary organ of daily government activity and is led by the premier (head of gov).
Term
Ancien Regime
Definition
the European old order of absolute monarchy buttressed by religious authority.
Term
Code Law
Definition
Continental European system in which laws are derived from detailed legal codes rather than from precedent.
Term
Cohabitation
Definition
Government with a president that lacks a majority in the legislature, leading to the appointment of a prime minister from an opposing party.
Term
Dirigisme
Definition
an emphasis on state authority in economic development.
Term
Semi-Presidential System
Definition
system of a dual executive where the head of state is the president, and the prime minister is the head of government.
Term
Two Step Election Process
Definition
process of direct elections by which one round is held and unless a candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote, a second round is held pitting the top two candidates against each other.
Term
Referendum
Definition
in the Fifth Republic, presidents are allowed to call a referendum. Sometimes used to pass controversial policy. Direct election in which the entire electorate is called to vote on a proposal.
Term
Ethnocultural Nationalism
Definition
a form of nationalism that is fuelled primarily by a keen sense of ethnic and cultural distinctiveness and a desire to preserve it.
Term
Eurocentrism
Definition
the application of values and theories drawn from European culture to other groups and peoples, implying a biased or distorted viewpoint.
Term
Culture
Definition
beliefs, values and practices that are passed on from one generation to the next through learning; culture is distinct from nature.
Term
Ethnicity
Definition
a sentiment of loyalty towards a particular group; bonds that are cultural rather than racial.
Term
Positive Discrimination
Definition
preferential treatment towards a group designed to compensate its members for past disadvantages or structural inequality.
Term
Collectivism
Definition
a belief that human ends are best achieves through collaboration or collective efforts, highlighting the importance of social groups.
Term
Diversity
Definition
the antidote to social polarization and prejudice.
Term
Toleration
Definition
Forbearance; a willingness to accept views or actions with which one is in disagreement.
Term
Liberal Multiculturalism
Definition
commitment to toleration and a desire to uphold freedom of choice. Also, draws an important distinction between ‘private’ and ‘public’ life.
Term
Cosmopolitan Multiculturalism
Definition
endorses cultural diversity and identity politics, but they view them as essentially transitional states in a larger reconstruction of political sensibilities and priorities.
Term
Pluralist Multiculturalism
Definition
no ones beliefs may be held as a greater moral authority over the other. Implies a live and let live structure and indifference politics.
Term
Value Pluralism
Definition
The theory that there is no single, overriding conception of the ‘good life’, but rather a number of competing and equally legitimate conceptions.
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