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AP Comparative Government

AP Comparative Government . Spring Review Session # 1. Brainstorm Activity…. Fold a piece of paper into thirds Label each third with the 6 AP Countries For 6 minutes write down as much as you remember about the 6 countries – Make sure you have at least one item for each country Stop Watch.

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AP Comparative Government

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  1. AP Comparative Government Spring Review Session # 1

  2. Brainstorm Activity… • Fold a piece of paper into thirds • Label each third with the 6 AP Countries • For 6 minutes write down as much as you remember about the 6 countries – Make sure you have at least one item for each country • Stop Watch

  3. What and How to Compare • Empirical Data – Factual statements and statistics • Normative Issues – Requires Value Judgments

  4. Empirical Data • Might reflect economic data • What are some that could be compared? • GNP, PPP, Imports, Exports • HDI Ranking • Literacy Rates • Poverty Rates • Gini Index… Normative Issues • How do these statistics affect the country?

  5. Empiricists – would argue you shouldn’t make value judgments • Critics would respond that statistics without judgments are just a meaningless collection of facts

  6. Building a Hypothesis • Looking at the relationship between variables • “Why are poverty rates in one country higher than in others?” • Causation – one variable causes or influences another Poverty level (dependable variable) might be caused by levels of formal education (independent variable) The independent variable influences the dependent variable.

  7. Correlation – when a change in one variable coincides with another • Indicates there might be causality present – but not necessarily – More of an informal link • Comparative Researchers look at data and note the correlation (Causation is hard to prove… Are countries poor because they have authoritarian governments? Or Are poor countries more susceptible to having authoritarian governments?)

  8. Three World Approach • First World • Second World • Third World • This approach is still used today even though LDC and MDC is considered more politically correct • Comparisons can be made on capitalism vs communism and democracy vs authoritarianism

  9. Impact of Informal Politics • Takes into consideration the way politician act outside their formal powers • Also takes into consideration the impact of beliefs, values and actions of ordinary citizens • Civil Society groups and their impact on politics

  10. Importance of Political Change • 3 World Approach problematic because the nature of world politics has changed • Post 1991 – no longer dominated by 2 superpowers

  11. Integration of Political and Economic Systems Politics and governments are intertwined with economic policies - Communism and Capitalism are economic systems – but can you really separate them from governemnts • Attitudes & behaviors of citizens are affected by economic inefficiency, economic inequality and economic decision making • Turn to government to solve…what happens if gov’t does not respond? What if they respond differently than citizens expect?

  12. Advanced Democracies Well established democratic governments and a high level of economic development Communist and Post-Communist Countries Limits individual freedoms in order to divide wealth more equally Less Developed and Newly Industrializing NIC - rapid economic growth + tendency toward democratization and political and social stability Less Developed – Lack significant economic development and they also tend to have authoritarian governments

  13. Topic Two Sovereignty, Authority & Power

  14. STATE • Monopoly of force over a given territory • Set of political institutions to generate and carry out policy • Typically highly institutionalized • Sovereign • Characterized by such institutions as an army, police, taxation, a judiciary and a social welfare program

  15. Regime • Norms and rules regarding individual freedom and collective equality, the locus of poer, and the use of that power • Institutionalized, but can be changed by dramatic social events such as a revolution • Categorized at the most basic level as other democratic or authoritarian • Often embodied in a constitution

  16. Government • The leadership or elite in charge of running the state • Weakly institutionalized • Often characterized by elected officials, such as a president or prime minister, or unelected officials, such as in authoritarianism • Limited by the existing regime

  17. Country • Shorthand for al the these concepts (State, government & regime) + the people who live within the political system

  18. Nation • Group of people that are bound together by a common political identity • Nationalism – sense of belonging and identity that distinguishes one nation from another (often translated as patriotism) • Problem when several nations live within the borders of one country…

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