1. Unit 1: The Themes! Sovereignty, Authority, & Power
Political Institutions
Citizens, Society and the State
Political & Economic Change
Public Policy

2. Theme 1: Sovereignty, Authority, & Power
Nation State
A group of people claiming a A group of people org-
common identity + the right anized under a govern-
to be a state. May share ment. They must share
the following (to varying degrees):
Culture Government
Territory Budget
Language Borders
Ethnicity Currency
Religion Police Force/Military

3. Examples of each… Nation: The Kurds Palestine Kosovo (until this year)
Chechnya
Cherokee
Scotland ?
State:
United Kingdom
Russian Federation
PRC
United Mexican States
Federal Rep. of Nigeria
Islamic Rep. of Iran

4. Regimes & Institutions
Regime: A country’s institutions, rules, and practices that carry over across time, even though leaders and issues change. (the system of government in a country)
Institutions: Stable, long-lasting organizations that help to turn political ideas into policy.
Examples: bureaucracies, legislatures, judicial systems, political parties, military

5. Types of Regimes

6. Democracy Authority is based on the will of the people
Direct
people have immediate say over governmental decisions
Representative
people choose representatives to make political decisions for them

7. Legitimacy (the right to rule, as determined by their own citizens)
Traditional: tradition should determine who rules and how (Ex: monarchies, G.Britain)
Charismatic: dynamic personality of an individual leader or small group. Often doesn’t go past its founder. (Ex: Revolutionaries)
Rational-legal: based on a system of well- established and institutionalized laws and procedures. Based on the acceptance of rule of law. (Ex: U.S.)

8. Theme 2: Political Institutions!
Unitary/Federal/Confederate
Supranational Organizations (UN, EU, NAFTA)
Globalization/Fragmentation
Executives (Head of State/Head of Government)
Bureaucracies
Legislatures (unicameral vs. bicameral)
Judiciaries (judicial review)
Linkage Institutions (parties, interest groups, media)
Electoral Systems (proportional, first-past-the-post)
Political Elite & Recruitment (leader succession)

9. Theme 3: Citizens, Society and the State!
Society cleavages: ethnic, religious, linguistic, regional, class, political, etc..
Civil Society: organizations outside of the state that help people define and advance their own interests.

10. Theme 4: Political & Economic Change!
Reform: does not advocate overthrow of basic institutions.
Revolution: major revision or overthrow of existing institutions.
Coup d’etat: “blows to the state”. Replacement of leaders by force.

11. 3 Trends in Change… Democratization Movement towards Market Economies
Revival of Ethnic or Cultural Politics

12. Democratization Liberal Democracies:
Civil liberties (such as freedom of speech, belief, assembly….)
Rule of Law (equal treatment of citizens)
Neutrality of the judiciary
Open Civil Society
Civilian control of the military

13. Theme 5: Public Policy! Economic Performance Social Welfare
Civil liberties, rights, & freedoms (Freedom House)
Environment
Corruption (Transparency Int’l)
Disease/HIV/AIDS
Nationalization/Privatization