Political Science 101 > Comparative Politics > Flashcards

Comparative Politics Flashcards

Provides a framework for comparing political systems, cultures, and regimes with examples from diverse nations. (70 cards)

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1
Q

What is comparative politics?

A

Study of political systems, institutions, and behaviors across different countries to identify patterns and differences.

Comparative politics can focus on democracies, authoritarian regimes, or hybrid systems.

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2
Q

Fill in the blank:

Comparative politics often uses the method of ______ to identify political trends.

A

comparison

Comparative methods include case studies, cross-national surveys, and statistical models.

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3
Q

Why is it important to compare political systems?

A

It reveals how institutions shape governance, how cultures influence behavior, and how policies succeed or fail across contexts.

Comparative insights are useful for policy design, democratization, and conflict prevention.

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4
Q

True or False:

Comparative politics only studies democracies.

A

False

It studies all types of regimes, including authoritarian, hybrid, and failed states.

Studying multiple regime types gives a more complete picture of global politics.

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5
Q

Name two main approaches used in comparative politics.

A

institutionalism and behavioralism

Other approaches include rational choice, structuralism, and cultural analysis.

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6
Q

What is the difference between comparative politics and international politics?

A

Comparative politics studies political phenomena within countries, while international politics focuses on interactions between countries.

Both fields overlap at times, especially on issues like foreign policy or transnational movements.

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7
Q

Define:

political culture

A

The set of shared attitudes, values, and beliefs that shape how people interact with politics in a society.

It differs between countries and evolves over time due to social and historical factors.

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8
Q

How does colonial history affect comparative politics?

A

It influences current institutions, borders, governance styles, and political identities.

Colonial legacies often explain differences in development and political stability.

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9
Q

What are three key topics in comparative politics?

A
  • Regime types
  • Electoral systems
  • Political parties

These topics help scholars map differences and similarities across nations.

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10
Q

What role do constitutions play in comparative politics?

A

They define how:

  • power is distributed;
  • rights are protected and;
  • governments function

Analyzing constitutions helps compare legal systems and democratic quality.

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11
Q

Explain why scholars compare political parties across countries.

A

To understand how representation, ideology, and party competition shape policy and public opinion.

Comparative party analysis reveals strengths and weaknesses in democratic engagement.

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12
Q

Compare the presidential system of the U.S. with the parliamentary system of the UK.

A

The U.S. separates powers; the UK fuses executive and legislative branches.

This affects accountability and lawmaking speed.

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13
Q

How do Germany and the U.S. differ in federalism?

A

Germany emphasizes intergovernmental cooperation; the U.S. maintains stronger state autonomy.

Their federal designs reflect different historical and political cultures.

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14
Q

Compare the role of monarchs in the UK and Saudi Arabia.

A

The UK monarchy is symbolic; in Saudi Arabia, it holds absolute power.

Both are monarchies, but only one exercises real political control.

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15
Q

Fill in the blanks:

The Qin Dynasty used ______ ______ to centralize power, while France justified centralization through the concept of ______ ______.

A

legalist reforms; divine right

Different ideologies, same top-down goal.

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16
Q

Compare France’s semi-presidential system with Brazil’s presidential system.

A

France splits power between president and PM; Brazil concentrates it in the president.

Semi-presidentialism can balance or create tensions between executives.

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17
Q

How do Switzerland and Venezuela use referendums?

A

Switzerland uses them to empower citizens; Venezuela often used them to consolidate power.

Same tool, different democratic quality.

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18
Q

What’s the difference between Chile and China’s party systems?

A

Chile has a multiparty democracy; China is a one-party authoritarian state.

Electoral competition vs. party monopoly.

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19
Q

True or False:

Both the Han Dynasty and the Ottoman Empire recruited bureaucrats based purely on birthright.

A

False

Merit in China, selective recruitment in the Ottoman system.

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20
Q

What kind of political power did elites hold in both the Roman Republic and early modern Britain?

A

Both exercised sustained influence—Romans through the Senate, British through Parliament.

Elite dominance, with differing institutional structures.

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21
Q

Compare the checks and balances in the U.S. and Russia.

A

The U.S. has functioning institutional limits; Russia’s are mostly formal.

Institutional form doesn’t always mean functional democracy.

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22
Q

How do constitutional courts function in Colombia and Hungary?

A

Colombia’s court often defends rights; Hungary’s has been weakened by executive influence.

Judicial independence is key to rule of law.

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23
Q

Compare federalism in India and Canada.

A

Both are federal, but India centralizes more control in crises.

Federal flexibility depends on history and context.

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24
Q

How does decentralization differ between Bolivia and Japan?

A

Bolivia increased indigenous local autonomy; Japan uses technocratic administrative decentralization.

Political context shapes decentralization’s goals.

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25
# Fill in the blank: The \_\_\_\_\_\_ governed using local autonomy (satrapies), while the \_\_\_\_\_\_ controlled through centralized labor and quipu systems.
Achaemenids; Inca ## Footnote Decentralized tolerance vs. integrated control.
26
How did South Africa and Chile **transition to democracy**?
Both negotiated transitions, but South Africa dismantled **apartheid structures** more thoroughly. ## Footnote Transitional justice varied.
27
Compare Egypt’s and Tunisia’s outcomes after the **Arab Spring.**
Tunisia **democratized**; Egypt returned to **authoritarianism.** ## Footnote Institutional legacies and military power played key roles.
28
What do Cuba and Vietnam **share** politically?
Both are **communist one-party** states with recent market reforms. ## Footnote Authoritarian regimes can vary in economic liberalization.
29
How does **authoritarianism** differ in Belarus and Singapore?
Belarus relies on **repression**; Singapore on **legalism and economic success.** ## Footnote Authoritarian regimes use different legitimation strategies.
30
How do Poland and Hungary differ in **democratic backsliding**?
Poland’s judiciary has been politicized; Hungary’s media and constitution were reshaped. ## Footnote Both illustrate **illiberal trends in the EU.**
31
What distinguishes **North Korea** from **China** politically?
North Korea is **totalitarian**; China is **authoritarian with limited reforms.** ## Footnote Totalitarianism is more ideologically rigid and closed.
32
Compare **authoritarian legitimation** in Iran and Russia.
Iran blends **theocracy** with elections; Russia uses **nationalism** and electoral manipulation. ## Footnote Ideology and institutions shape how regimes stay in power.
33
How do **coups** differ in Myanmar and Thailand?
Myanmar’s **military seized full control**; Thailand oscillates between **civilian and military rule.** ## Footnote Military’s role varies in postcolonial contexts.
34
What do post-genocide **Rwanda** and post-apartheid **South Africa** share?
Both used **truth commissions**, but Rwanda centralized power post-conflict. ## Footnote Post-conflict justice can coexist with rising authoritarianism.
35
Compare **monarchy survival** in Jordan and Morocco.
Both monarchies adapted via controlled **liberalization and religious legitimacy.** ## Footnote Adaptability is key to monarchical resilience.
36
Which of these **legal systems** was based on **religious** legitimacy? A. Napoleonic Code B. Hammurabi’s Code
B. Hammurabi’s Code ## Footnote Sacred kingship vs. Enlightenment rationalism.
37
# True or False: Magna Carta and Meiji Constitution significantly curtailed **executive power.**
False ## Footnote **Magna Carta** imposed real limits; Meiji maintained imperial control.
38
Explain the **key difference** between the **The Mandate of Heaven and Divine Right** in terms of ruler accountability.
The Mandate of Heaven could be lost through **misrule**; Divine Right was **absolute**. ## Footnote China allowed for regime change, Europe reinforced dynasties.
39
How do **civil societies** differ in Russia and South Korea?
South Korea has strong **civic activism**; Russia **restricts NGOs**. ## Footnote Civil society strength relates to regime openness.
40
Compare **feminist movements** in Argentina and Saudi Arabia.
Argentina mobilized for **abortion rights**; Saudi women fought for **driving and guardianship reforms.** ## Footnote Context defines priorities and strategies.
41
How do **protest tactics** differ between Hong Kong and Chile?
Hong Kong used leaderless, **symbolic protests**; Chile saw massive **street mobilizations**. ## Footnote Urban youth protests show tactical innovation globally.
42
How does **political apathy** differ in Japan and Nigeria?
Japan’s low turnout stems from **stability**; Nigeria’s from **distrust and inefficiency.** ## Footnote Apathy has different roots.
43
Compare **electoral clientelism** in India and the Philippines.
Both use it, but India combines it with **mass-party mobilization.** ## Footnote Informal institutions shape elections in democracies too.
44
How is **religion politicized** in Turkey vs. the U.S.?
**Turkey’s Islamization** is state-driven; **U.S. religion** shapes political identity bottom-up. ## Footnote Secularism takes many forms.
45
What role did religion play in the **English Civil War** and in the **Taiping Rebellion**?
**Protestantism** influenced the English rebels; **Taiping** was rooted in a Christian-syncretic ideology. ## Footnote Religion shaped revolutionary vision.
46
Between the **Byzantine and Caliphate systems**, which merged Church and State more visibly within a single imperial institution?
Byzantine Empire ## Footnote Caesaropapism contrasts with Islamic legal-religious leadership.
47
Compare **LGBT rights** movements in Poland and Brazil.
Poland faces conservative **backlash**; Brazil’s movement **thrives** despite violence. ## Footnote Social movements face **context-dependent challenges.**
48
How do **Indigenous movements** differ in Canada and Bolivia?
Bolivia’s led to **constitutional reform**; Canada’s to **institutional recognition and reconciliation.** ## Footnote State responsiveness varies.
49
What distinguishes **nationalism** in India and Scotland?
Indian nationalism is **majoritarian**; Scottish is **regional and civic.** ## Footnote Nationalism is not monolithic.
50
Compare **environmental activism** in Germany and Indonesia.
Germany’s Green Party influences **policy**; Indonesia’s activists face **repression**. ## Footnote Political context affects environmental advocacy.
51
Explain how **trade policy** supported state goals in **Mercantilism and Silk Road Control**
Mercantilism built **national wealth**; Silk Road regulation preserved **political stability**. ## Footnote Profit vs. diplomacy.
52
What was a **common purpose** of Roman Roads and Aztec Causeways?
Strengthening **state control** and facilitating administration. ## Footnote Engineering as political strategy.
53
Between **Legalism and Confucianism** in Chinese governance, which relied more on moral education than on coercive laws?
Confucianism ## Footnote Moral legitimacy vs. authoritarian efficiency.
54
How did **military culture** affect **political centralization** in the cases of Mongol Khanates and Prussian Kingdom?
**Mongols** expanded through conquest; **Prussia** institutionalized power through a permanent army. ## Footnote Nomadic warfare vs. militarized bureaucracy.
55
# True or False: The **Roman Republic** was a direct democracy like Athens.
False ## Footnote **Rome** had representation; **Athens** had direct civic roles.
56
How did **slavery** shape economic and political structures of the U.S. South and the Roman Empire?
Both economies depended on it; Rome integrated slaves throughout, while the **South’s elite** were plantation-based. ## Footnote Slavery underpinned elite power.
57
Between the **British Raj and the Spanish Empire** in the Americas, which used more direct religious and bureaucratic control?
Spanish Empire ## Footnote Degrees of cultural imposition and integration varied.
58
# Fill in the blankS: Roman citizenship expanded gradually, while U.S. citizenship was defined by \_\_\_\_\_\_ \_\_\_\_\_\_.
constitutional amendments ## Footnote Expansion through integration vs. legal codification.
59
What core value did **Confucian Harmony** and **Enlightenment Liberty** promote regarding the individual?
* Confucianism: duty * Enlightenment: individual rights ## Footnote East vs. West governance philosophies.
60
Why did reform efforts fail in the **Qing dynasty** but not emerge in **late Rome**?
Qing reforms were too late; Rome fragmented before reform could take hold. ## Footnote Timing and adaptability were critical.
61
What form of state emerged after collapse of **Soviet Union Collapse and Fall of Tokugawa Japan**?
* **USSR**: republics * **Tokugawa**: centralized imperial Japan ## Footnote Collapse vs. transformation.
62
How do the institutional designs of **Germany’s federal system** and **South Africa’s post-apartheid constitution** influence democratic stability?
Germany’s federalism ensures power-sharing and minority protection, while South Africa’s constitution formalized inclusive democracy and human rights. ## Footnote **Institutionalism** analyzes how formal rules shape political behavior and continuity.
63
What **behavioral trends** affect voter participation in both the United States and India?
U.S. voters often align with **party loyalty** or individual ideology; in India, **caste, religion, and social networks** heavily influence turnout. ## Footnote **Behavioralism** focuses on empirical patterns of political behavior.
64
Why did voters in both the UK's Brexit referendum and Chile’s pension reform protests support options against expert advice?
In both cases, voters made choices based on perceived short-term benefits, identity, and distrust in elites—rational from their perspective. ## Footnote Rational choice theory assumes individuals act to maximize personal utility.
65
How do **structural inequalities** based on caste in India and race in Brazil limit political access?
**Caste and racial hierarchies** restrict representation and economic mobility, shaping who participates in politics. ## Footnote **Structuralism** highlights enduring social and economic hierarchies over individual choices.
66
How do cultural traditions like **Confucianism** in East Asia and **Ubuntu** in Southern Africa influence political legitimacy?
Confucianism promotes order and hierarchy; Ubuntu emphasizes community and consensus, both shaping **leadership expectations.** ## Footnote **Cultural analysis** explores how values shape governance and citizenship.
67
What **behavioral factors** drive mass protests in France and Thailand?
In France, economic discontent **fuels action**; in Thailand, protests often arise from **elite-mass disconnects** and **legitimacy** crises. ## Footnote **Protest behavior** reflects emotional and social responses to governance.
68
How do ideologies like **Sharia law** in Iran and **secularism in Turkey** shape state identity?
Iran aligns with religious **legitimacy**, while Turkey’s secularism stems from a **nationalist-modernist** tradition. ## Footnote **Culture** shapes what political models are considered legitimate.
69
How do **institutional checks** on executive power **differ** between the United States and Russia?
U.S. checks and balances **limit power** through oversight; in Russia, **formal constraints** exist but are weakly enforced. ## Footnote **Institutions** vary in effectiveness based on norms and enforcement.
70
How does **rational choice** explain corruption practices in Italy and Kenya?
In both cases, **individuals** calculate that the personal benefits outweigh the risks due to weak accountability. ## Footnote Rational choice views corruption as a strategic cost-benefit decision.
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