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
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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
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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:
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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 5th 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,
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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 20th 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 20th 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.
84.
85.
86.
87.
Minority groups in China: Tibetans, Kazahks, Mongols, Vietnamese
A modern trend in British political culture is decreasing support for labor unions.
Marx predicted that proletarian revolutions would occur first in industrial capitalist countries in the West
Bureaucrats tend to be policy experts in their fields, regardless of the country.
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 19th 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 PRIdominated 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.
148. Coercion generally refers to the use of force, access to money, dominance, and differential access to resources.
149. The idea of sovereignty is closely associated with self-determination.
150. The core of politics is decision-making.
151. The most widespread religion in the world is Christianity.
152. Religious fundamentalism is based on the sacred texts of various religions.
153. The generally accepted event and date for the emergence of the state system is the Treaty of Westphalia in
1648.
154. Thomas Hobbes thought that the state of nature was inhospitable and full of conflict.
155. Being in favor of the status quo means having a strong belief in keeping the government powerful and restricting
change.
156. Creating a national identity is considered the least problematic to the country of Japan.
157. The term “nation” refers to the self-identification of a people.
158. The 1997-1999 Balkan wars were between ethnic groups.
159. A political system has interdependent parts and boundaries towards the environments with which it interacts.
160. Political decision-making would include: town councils, elections, political party meetings, and church meetings.
161. A system of government that provides ONLY basic law and order, defense and protection of property rights is
known as a night watchman state.
162. Political decisions taking place within a politically defined community is called a political system.
163. Democratic states foster and promote civil liberties and civil rights.
164. When a country has a multitude of different nations it is called multinational.
165. When those who are ruled believe that the rulers have a “right” to rule, it is called legitimacy.
166. All of the following are public goods: public parks, clean air, national defense, and clean water.
167. The largest country in the world is Russia.
168. The Third Wave of democratization includes Brazil.
169. The size of the country does not determine the type of politics to occur.
170. GDP refers to the overall output of the domestic economy.
171. The PPP takes into account differences in price levels across countries.
172. Libertarians see society composed of individual human beings with fundamental human rights.
173. Since the end of the cold war, the largest group of new states in the world is in the former Soviet Union.
174. The study of comparative politics includes: explanation, prediction, theory, and description.
175. The idea of comparing cultures and political institutions is a rather traditional practice.
176. A system is an object with moving parts that interacts with the environment.
177. When something looks like a relationship between two variables, but is it caused by a third factor that both have
in common, there seems to be a spurious correlation.
178. Political structures that develop, reinforce, and transform attitudes of political significance in the society are part
of political socialization.
179. The major reasons for the study of comparative politics include: to understand other parts of the world, analyze
future possibilities, to more critically evaluate systems, and to identify and evaluate the causes and effects of
exceptional government.
180. Changes in the distribution of power in Russia affected the policies of government, the structures and institutions
of government, the policy inputs and the output of government.
181. The social and educational results of public expenditures vary significantly with each country.
182. All of the following are true of comparative politics: enables the testing of political theories, enhances the ability
to understand, enhances the ability to describe, and stimulates the formation of general theories.
183. A conceptual framework is a generalization.
184. Large-N studies are associated with statistical studies.
185. The role of institutions and agencies is to set rules and formulate laws, to implement collective goals of society,
to framework for law-making and constitutions and to formulate the collective goals of society.
186. Theories can be tested.
187. Stability and flexibility of a government indicates the presence of a relatively strong government.
188. When studying comparative statics, structural-functional mapping of government and politics helps to
understand how different political processes interact at any one time.
189. “Subjects” are generally passive.
190. Subject patterns of involvement in the political process are seen mostly in industrialized authoritarian states.
191. The mass media is a tremendously important element in every type of world (i.e. developed, underdeveloped,
English-speaking, non-English speaking.).
192. Among democracies, political satisfaction is lowest when the country is old and has high scores in democracy.
193. A “fundamental understanding between citizens and political authorities” refers to a regime’s legitimacy.
194. Expectations with regard to the functioning of the government are generally concerned with the policy outputs
and/or process functions.
195. Authors refer to the term parochial to refer to those individuals who are not aware of government and politics.
196. The socialization structure most responsible for shaping attitudes toward authority is family.
197. Political socialization refers to the formation of political attitudes.
198. Political trust is essential to the stability of democratic regimes.
199. When political sub-cultures coincide with ethnic, national, or religious differences the divisions tend to be
enduring and conflictual.
200. In a modern industrialized democracy, the percentage of “participant citizens” is approximately 60%.
201. Peer groups use the motivation to conform as a tactic to socialize members.
202. As a factor in socialization, education may be both diverse and inclusive.
203. The three levels of political culture include system, process, and policy.
204. Basic commitment to the political system is a reflection of identity, national pride, political socialization, and
history.
205. Participants are generally involved in the political process.
206. Democratization, modernization, post-material values, and economic development can all influence a culture.
207. Big government versus small government, socialist versus market-based economies, and interventionist versus
minimalist strategies in social welfare all argue about policy.
208. Religious fundamentalism is a phenomenon that is widespread throughout the world.
209. Political socialization as a result of direct transmission is explicit communication of information and values.
210. Democratization is supported by social modernization and economic development.
211. Change on cultural norms is usually slow.
212. Political culture refers to distribution of political attitudes.
213. Writing to a congressman is an example of a personal interest contact.
214. Associational groups include all of the following: the National Rifle Association, French student groups, the
American Medical Association, and the British Medical Association.
215. Citizens in countries with a centralized and autocratic government are less likely to participate in public
demonstrations and protests.
216. Controlled interest group systems are most common in authoritarian systems.
217. Bureaucracies are major access channels because they do all of the following: speed consideration, implement
policy, exercise administrative discretion, and frame issues in a manner most likely to receive a sympathetic
hearing.
218. If an individual is noted as a “free rider” they share in the collective benefits without sharing the cost.
219. A competition between and among autonomous associational groups distinguishes a pluralist system.
220. The purpose of interest articulation is to determine what public and social groups desire from the government.
221. Voting is the most common and best know form of political participation.
222. The United States has a pluralist interest group system.
223. Changes in Eastern Europe in the past ten years have been most apparent in the growth of associational
groups.
224. Terrorism is least effective when confronted by a united democratic leadership.
225. Individual access to the influential is normally legitimate but ineffective.
226. A systematic involvement of businesses or other interest groups in making and implementing policy best
characterizes a corporate interest group.
227. A civil society is a society that is characterized by social and political interaction free of state control and
regulation.
228. An anomic group is a group in which many individuals respond spontaneously to a frustration, disappointment,
or a strong emotion but which has had no prior organization or planning.
229. All can be classified as institutional groups: USSR politburo, U.S. government workers, U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers, U.S. Universities.
230. Protest demonstrators are most effective when they are organized.
231. Ted Gurr’s concept of “relative deprivation” is used to explain frustration, discontent, and the anger that
motivates social aggression.
232. Better educated and higher social status individuals may have feelings of political status and civic duty.
233. A non-associational group is a group which has a base of individuals with enduring interests, ethnicity, religion,
or occupation but with no formal structure.
234. Group political activity may involve demonstrations and protests, has been a strategy for nearly one third of
Americans, and is a frequent form of political expression in advanced industrial democracies.
235. Institutions that aggregate interests include military factions, interest groups, democratic corporatist systems,
and political parties.
236. The patron-client relationship is found in nearly all systems.
237. In both democratic and non-democratic systems political parties are important interest aggregators.
238. The loss in authority of interest groups is NOT an outcome of interest aggregation.
239. The increase of ideology in political parties is NOT a trend in party aggregation.
240. Authoritarian political systems have a variety of political party arrangements.
241. All of the following statements concerning elections are true: election results can be controlled, the turn-out for
an election is an accurate reflection of the degree of democratic inclusion, elections are important to a
democracy, and elections are associated with the legitimating of government.