Comparative Politics Exam Review Mr. Baysdell 1. Know the definition of political culture and political socialization. 2. According to the Chinese Constitution, formal power of governing rests with the National People s Congress. In practice, it s little more than a rubber stamp. 3. Margaret Thatcher. My hero. Know ALL about her. 4. Know about the following French Political Parties Socialist Party (PS) party of Mitterrand, took votes from PCF National Front (FN) Nazi, led by LePen Neo-Gaullist Conservative, led by Chirac Communist Party (PCF) 5. The EU challenges the sovereignty of member states because an increasing number of decisions are being made by the EU instead of being made solely by national governments. 6. The widespread degradation of urban environments in developing countries is best explained by the higher priority placed on industrialization relative to environmental protection. 7. The right to call referenda greatly enhances the power of the French President. 8. The Russian political party system since 1991 can best be described as a multiparty system representing a wide range of ideological viewpoints. Putin has no party, and Zhironovsky wants to take Alaska back! 9. In the UK, the PM is the head of government and the leader of the dominant party in Parliament. 10. Know the two-ballot system for electing the French President. If no candidate gets a majority, there is a runoff between the top 2 candidates 2 weeks later, on Sunday. 11. In the UK, the House of Lords has the power to postpone legislation. 12. In Russian politics, the following contribute to the continuing attraction of authoritarian political forces: Weakness of Democratic Tradition State s inability to improve living standards
Continued hostility of some towards the West Nostalgia for the era of Soviet military strength 13. In the UK and France, women have been Prime Minister, but few hold political power today. 14. Both Boris Yeltsin and Mikhail Gorbachev had to weaken the Communist party to strengthen their own presidencies. 15. Know that interest group pluralism is where many interest groups compete to influence government policy but they do not nominate candidates 16. Army officers have generally played a more important role in developing countries than those in advanced industrial countries. 17. Know the components of the French Parliament: Directly-elected National Assembly Senate elected by electoral college 18. When French representatives in Parliament are named to the Cabinet, they must give up their seats in Parliament. Parliamentarians, however, are infamous for double dipping. 19. In France, class distinctions are sustained by an educational system that channels students into career paths on the basis of national examinations 20. The 1993 Russian Constitution gave most of the power to the President. 21. The voting behavior of UK MPs is principally determined by party affiliation. 22. The Communist Youth League (CYL), All China Federation of Trade Unions, and All-China Women s Federation are significant because they are mass organizations that have served as channels of political education and participation under CCP rule. 23. The British have succeeded in maintaining a stable Democratic government over the last 300 years primarily NOT because of the absence of significant social cleavages within the population, but rather because of the ability of governing groups to adapt political structures to accommodate change. 24. 1 primary aim of the 1966-1976 Chinese Cultural Revolution was to eliminate all opposition to the ideas of Mao Zedong. 25. China s current economic system is Mixed; it s political structure is Authoritarian. 26. Under the French 5 th Republic, the powers of Parliament have been sharply curtailed.
27. As a result of Gorbachev s reforms, the Soviet government s legitimacy diminished as inefficiency and corruption were publicly acknowledged. 28. The French Socialist party was able to siphon support from the French Communist Party. 29. Know the difference between market, mixed, and command economies 30. Dependency theory: Colonialism hampered the long-term advancement of developing countries. 31. Mao Zedong s most important contribution to Marxist thought was the role of the peasantry in building socialism. 32. In Parliamentary democracies, the major parties of the Left and the Right most disagree on the appropriate degree of government intervention in the economy and in solving social problems. 33. Developing nations have low per capita GDP. 34. In Chinese politics, the mass line refers to the principle that correct party leadership depends on constant contact between the party and the public. 35. China was more pragmatic that Soviet Russia in dealing with economic issues. 36. Chinese citizens vote only for representatives to the local People s Congress. All other officers are indirectly elected. 37. Most developing nations, since 1945, have experienced some kind of authoritarian rule. 38. The Constitutional Council in France determines the Constitutionality of laws. 39. The British higher civil service has members who have learned their jobs thoroughly by having risen through the ranks over a long period of time. 40. In actual practice, the key decision making body in the USSR was the Politburo. 41. Since 1980, crisis decision making in China has been heavily influenced by a group of retired senior leaders in the Communist Party. 42. Question hour in the British Parliament makes it so government ministers are accountable for their actions.
43. Russian reformers in the 1990s made rapid transition to a market economy the top priority. 44. Ethnic and Economic tensions in France have led to the power of the National Front. 45. Inverse relationship: Higher amount of socioeconomic development, the less the chance of internal violence. 46. The Russian Constitution is different from the Soviet Constitution because it allows the President to disband the Parliament. 47.In France, there is electoral competition. In China, there is none 48. Know the term nomenklatura pool of political and econimic elite 49. While the USSR disintegrated, the Chinese focused on liberalizing the economy but not the political system 50. The Chinese People s Liberation Army (PLA) is controlled by the CCP. 51. Vladimir Zhironovsky s election was indicative of the relative disappointment with the results of reform in Russia and international decline. 52. The French and Russian Constitutions divide power between the President and the legislature. 53. Class politics in the UK is still the most important source of social cleavage. 54. Jacques Chirac has attempted to decrease the size of the public sector. 55. Tony Blair changed the Labour Party in the UK by eliminating the clause calling for government ownership of the means of production. 56. Russia and China have responded to ethnic political movements by deploying troops. 57. Before the 1980s, China used 5 year plans to emphasize investment in heavy industry 58. Under Gorbachev, Republics got more autonomy The President s role was enhanced The Communist party was weakened The Constitution was revised to strengthen the legislature 59. The military has had little role in contemporary UK/FRA politics.
60. Lenin argued that a party of professional revolutionaries was needed to lead the proletariat. 61. Because British judges will have the responsibility to determine if EU law conflict with Parliamentary statutes, the power of the British judiciary will increase. 62. Know the difference between modernism and post-modernism. Post-modernism has elements of secularism in much stronger form. 63. Europe is the region of the world that has integrated most in the past 50 years. 64. Communist countries generally put more emphasis on equality rather than liberty. Marxism-Leninism tends to put an emphasis on democratic centralism. 65. In less-developed communist or former communist countries, you will find more literacy rates to be higher than those in non-communist developing countries. China especially puts a strong emphasis on elementary education (leftover remnant of cultural revolution) 66. The most important division within the Mexican elite in the late 20 th Century was tecnico vs. politico 67. Of the six countries we study, Nigeria s Constitution has the least legitimacy. 68. The most important change recently in the Mexican judiciary is that the rule of law now has a new emphasis. 69. In contrast to the operation of the Nigerian Judicial system during colonial days, the judicial system in Nigeria in post-colonial days pays less attention to the rule of law. 70. The best explanation for large gaps in female literacy rates in underdeveloped countries is that some of these countries are theocracies and deliberately limit opportunities for women. 71. In terms of balance of power between branches, Nigeria s government is dominated by the Executive. 72. The relationship between para-statels and the government in Nigeria best illustrates how the political system is influenced by corporatism. 73. Russia s Civil war in the late 20 th Century involved Chechnya, Nigeria s involved Biafra. Know about both conflicts. 74. Societies influenced by Marxism generally encourage more equal roles in society for men and women. 75. Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) is a better gauge than GNP per capita because PPP takes into account the cost of living. 76. Dependency theory argues that colonialism hampered the long-term development of the colonized countries because of exploitation (ex: India, Middle East) 77. Import substitution was a government technique to improve national economies during the 1930s in Latin America. 78. Know about the following revolutions: Chinese Revolution of 1911 Babangida s Nigerian military coup of 1985 The Cristeros Rebellion in Mexico during the 1920s Russian Revolution of 1917 1979 Iranian revolution
79. Patron-clientelism is still characteristic of Mexican policymaking today, but its influence has lessened in recent years 80. In the Mexican Chamber of Deputies, some deputies are chosen to represent single member districts, and some are chosen by proportional representation 81. The Qajars Empire brought Iran separation of religious and political power. Not existent anymore the two are merged in a theocracy. 82. During the Dynastic era, the following components of Chinese political culture emerged: Mandate of Heaven Confucianism Centralized rule Bureaucratic hierarchy based on scholarship 83. Minority groups in China: Tibetans, Kazahks, Mongols, Vietnamese 84. A modern trend in British political culture is decreasing support for labor unions. 85. Marx predicted that proletarian revolutions would occur first in industrial capitalist countries in the West 86. Bureaucrats tend to be policy experts in their fields, regardless of the country. 87. The British law lords may not rule acts of Parliament unconstitutional, but are the highest court of appeal and may give opinions regarding government actions. 88. Russia s Orthodox religion was gained directly from its ancient relations with Constantinople 89. Mikhail Gorbachev was the Soviet leader that ultimately embraced western-style reforms and brought down the USSR. 90. Support for the Communist party in Russia has declined steadily since 1991 in Presidential and Parliamentary elections 91. China is atypical for an LDC because its economy is growing at well over 10%. 92. Know characteristics of LDCs in general: military influence, low GDP/capita, autocratic rulers, imperialistic takeover by outside countries influence culture 93. Know the following Chinese/Russian terms: danwei fang-shou guanxi Nomenklatura 94. The main reason the Chinese government has established Special Economic Zones over the years since 1979 is to stimulate foreign trade. 95. Policy making power in the UK is centered in the Cabinet. 96. The UK conservative [party is most strongly influenced by noblesse oblige. 97. British national elections must occur at least every 5 years, but can come at shorter intervals by PM choice or after a vote of no confidence. All MPs come from single member districts. There are no run-off elections, but if a member dies, a by-election will fill the slot. 98. Huntington predicted in Clash of Civilizations that the fundamental source of future conflict would be primarily cultural.
99. In Iran, religious law is called shari a. 100. Know what a rentier state is Mexico, Iran, Nigeria are examples. 101.The regime in Iran by the end of the Shah s rule is best described as totalitarian dictatorship. 102. Since 1978, the Chinese judicial system has many more trained judges and new law codes. 103. Know the left and right wing parties in each country. 104.Nigeria, Iran, and Mexico have economic difficulties because their economies focus too much on one product. 105. Nigeria s national question involves whether or not it should stay together as a nation. 106. Know the function of Iran s Guardian Council 107.Nigeria has been a military dictatorship for most of its recent history. 108. Nigerian political parties are usually based on ethnicity. 109. Since 1999 the President in Nigeria has been a military general directly elected by the people. 110. The sense of group identity based on common ethnicity, locations, religion, and language is called nationalism. 111.Patron-client systems are a type of authoritarian regime. 112.The movement of countries towards market economies supports the developmental pattern of globalization. 113.If Britain continues to implement the policy of devolution, the government will move towards becoming more like a federation. 114. In the future the percentage of ethnic minorities in Britain will increase rapidly, particularly that of Indians. 115. A reform instituted in 19 th Century Czarist Russia was the creation of zemstras. Collectivization came under Stalin and Perestroika and Glasnost under Gorbachev. 116. The main purpose of the Russian Constitutional Court established in 1993 was to set up a structure for Judicial review. Note that this is different from the British Supreme Court 117. The 1991 Russina coup was led by Gorbachev s opponents on the Politburo (hardliners). 118. Many newspapers and TV stations are privately owned in Russia, but the government controls them. 119. Characteristics of most advanced democracies: Protect civil liberties and rights Rule of law Judicial impartiality Civilian control of the military Expansive civil society 120.In developed economies, the service sector is the largest part. 121. Marx believed eventually, government would not be necessary 122. Supporters of a socialist economy claim that it is better for job security.
123.Deng Xiaoping believed authoritarian political control could be combined with economic privatization. 124.Compressed modernity is most likely to have been a recent experience in newly industrializing countries. 125. In Chinese politics, fang-shou is the tightening up-loosening cycle that reflects factional power. 126. Less developed countries often have a higher than acceptable birth rate; some Western European countries have a lower than acceptable birth rate. 127. Proportional representation results in a multiparty system. 128. The Supreme Leader of Iran is elected for life. 129. The Chinese judiciary cannot practice judicial review 130. In comparison to the EU, the CIS is much weaker. 131. The Asian Tigers strengthened their economy through export-oriented industrialization 132. Five Year Plans in Russia and China always emphasized heavy industry, not consumer goods. 133. Since Deng died, the Chinese have not strayed far from his policies. 134. Know about the PLA in China. 135. China s Open Door trade policy since 1979 changed trade patterns by opening China to trade with everyone, even capitalist nations. 136. Illiberal democracies often have somewhat fair elections but do not always protect civil liberties. 137. The second wave of democratization was the decolonization of Africa. 138. Britain belongs to the EU and sometimes leads it, but there are many Euroskeptics. 139. The Chinese socialist market economy is a good example of a mixed economy. 140. Parliamentary sovereignty curtails UK judges from practicing judicial review. 141. Most objections to trade with China revolve around human rights issues. 142. When the Shah of Iran founded the Resurgence Party in 1975, he wanted a Mexican style system, like the PRI-dominated one. 143. The parliament of Iran is known as the Majlis. 144. In 2005, Iranians elected Mahmoud Ahmadinejad President, over his rival moderate Akbar Rafsanjani. This will reinforce the power of the Supreme Leader. 145. Mexican law requires parties to run women candidates. 146. Nigerian political culture is influenced equally by Christianity and Islam. 147. During the term of Lazaro Cardenas, Mexico practiced import substitution and nationalization of foreign owned industries.