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Midterm Exam Review
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Key Points Chapter 1: Introduction What is the primary relationship that we are examining? What is the difference between Most Similar Systems research design and Most Different Systems research design? What are the strengths and weaknesses of these designs?
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Key Points Chapter 2: Research What is a theory? What’s the difference between normative and empirical theories? What is the difference between inductive and deductive theory? How does the process of theory development differ? What are the differences between quantitative and qualitative evidence? What is the difference between correlation and causation. Why might a relationship that looks like a causal one, in fact only be correlation? Why is criticism important? What are important kinds of critiques that can challenge the research that you read?
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Key Points Chapter 3: State How does Weber define the state? Why is the modern state unique from the feudal state? When we speak of state, what exactly are we talking about? What is legitimacy? What is state capacity and how can a state improve its capacity? What is state failure and why is it bad? Why is the relationship between the state and society complicated? Why is the bureaucracy viewed suspiciously in some states? Why might someone say the bureaucracy is the backbone of the modern state? What is sovereignty? What are the key components of Bellicist theory as to how states emerge? Marxist theory? Cultural theory? Why did the structure of the state spread around the world? What is the welfare state and why might it have emerged in the West?
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Key Points Chapter 12: Nationalism What is identity and why does it matter in politics? What is a nation and how does that relate to nationalism? What are the key points for primordial, perennial and modernist theories as to why nationalism emerged? What is the difference between ethnic, civic and territorial nationalism? Individual and collectivist nationalism? What are the key differences in primordial, cultural and institutional theory as to why nationalism emerges? Why does violence occur between “nations?”
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Key Points Chapter 4: Political Economy and Development What is development? What are the strengths and weaknesses on traditional measures of economic development, like GDP and PPP? Why is economic inequality not sufficient in understanding inequality in a society? What’s the difference between absolute and relative poverty? What are important measures of social development? Why are cultural and sustainable development a concern in contemporary societies? What are the differences between institutional, cultural and Marxist approaches to development? What are institutions? What are the strengths and weaknesses of the neo-liberal approach to governance and more government involvement in the economy? What is the cultural approach to development? How does it differ from religious and geographical theories? What is civil society and why is it important?
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Key Points Chapter 5: Democracy and Democratization What is democracy? Why is this a contested idea? What are important rights and freedoms associated with democracy? What is the idea of majority rule an unrealistic democratic ideal? What is the difference between minimal and substantive democracy? What is democratization? Differences between transition and consolidation? When is a democracy consolidated? Is consolidation permanent? What is representative democracy? How does it differ from direct democracy? What are the tools of direct democracy? What is a constitution and why is it important in a democracy? How can culture inform democratization? What about international politics and individuals?
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Chapter 6 What are the lessons from Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe? What is authoritarianism? What are the different types of authoritarian government? Examples of those types? Are some more likely to emerge in certain parts of the world rather than others?
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One Final Hint… A few bonus questions may appear on the exam. They will be drawn from our case studies The UK Nigeria Brazil India The political systems will be the focus
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