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Comparative Politics final reviewThe final exam consists of multiple choice and essay
questions, and covers chapters 7, 8, 9, and 10. The following is a list of key
concepts/themes by chapter, and possible essay questions.
Key concepts/themes
Chapter 7
less developed countries (LDCs)
features of LDCs -- citizens' capability, poorer and more vulnerable economies, weaker and less democratic states
economic development
newly industrialized countries (NICs)
human development
human development index (HDI)
absolute poverty
relative poverty
state capacity
state autonomy
corruption
"causes" of underdevelopment -- geography, culture, imperialism/colonialism, leadership
Chapter 8
regimes in less developed countries
authoritarian developmental regimes -- politics, policies, institutions
predatory (authoritarian) regimes -- politics (clientelism, patronage), policies, institutions
typology of authoritarian regimes (factors shaping performance; Table 8.1, 225)
democratic developmental regimes -- politics, policies, institutions
fragmented democracies -- politics (identity politics, populism, electoral democracies), policies, institutions
typology of democratic regimes (factors shaping performance; Table 8.4, 236)
comparing capability (physical well-being, informed decision-making, safety, civil and political rights)
Chapter 9
South Korea (background, politics, policies, institutions, after the authoritarian regime)
Nigeria (background, politics -- patron-client relations, "big men," patronage/spoils of office, policies, institutions, aftermath of predatory regime)
Chile (background, politics, policies, institutions)
Brazil (background, politics, policies, institutions)
Chapter 10
institutional basis of communism
communist party
Soviet Union (Lenin, Stalin, Gorbachev, Yeltsin)
Russia (background, politics -- "shock therapy," Putin, oligarchs, competitive authoritarian regime, policies, institutions, future of Russia)
China (background -- Nationalist Party, Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Long March, Mao, Great Leap Forward, Deng, Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution, politics, policies, institutions, future of China)
comparing capability in Russia and China
Possible essay questions
1. What are the characteristics of (a) authoritarian
developmental regimes, (b) predatory authoritarian regimes, (c) democratic
developmental regimes, and (d) fragmented democracies? (e) Which of the four
regime types found in less developed nations has a better record of improving
the capability of its citizens in terms of physical well-being, informed
decision-making, safety, and civil and political rights? (f) For each category,
explain which regime type performed the best and the worst and provide an example.
(chapters 7-9)
2. (a) What were the three main ways colonialism has hurt
economic development and the prospects for strong, stable governments in former
colonies? (b) How has each one damaged the prospects for economic development
and stable government and decreased economic development? (c) Some analysts say
that colonialism had positive impacts on developing countries. Evaluate this
claim. (chapter 7)
3. Cultural factors may also explain what predisposed some
nations to remain less developed while others changed into rich democracies.
(a) What is culture? (b) How has culture impacted development in both families
of nations? (c) Why is culture alone not a sufficient explanation for economic
and human development? (chapter 7)
4. Three institutional features made developmental
authoritarian regimes different from other authoritarian regimes. (a) Describe
and give an example of each feature. Leaders of authoritarian developmental
regimes used several different tactics to build support within their nation and
to maintain power. (b) Describe and evaluate the leaders’ tactics. Were they
successful? (chapters 8 and 9)
5. (a) What is the main goal of leaders in predatory
authoritarian regimes? (b) What tactics do predatory regimes use to maintain
power? (c) How do these goals and tactics impact economic, political, and
social policy in predatory regimes? (chapters 8 and 9)
6. Some democratic regimes have done a better job than
others of improving their citizens’ education, health, and safety. (a) Describe
and evaluate the four factors that explain this difference in democratic
regimes. Broad based labor and business federations have been important to the
success of democratic developmental regimes. (b) What are the advantages of
these organizations and how have they assisted the government in improving the
capability of its citizens? (c) Why do democratic developmental regimes want to
encourage capitalism and economic growth? (d) What policies have they pursued
to do this and have these policies been successful in achieving economic
growth? (chapters 8 and 9)
7. Leaders in fragmented democratic regimes use several
tactics to maintain power. (a) Identify three of these strategies and explain
how each one is utilized and whether or not they have been successful in maintaining
the regime’s power. Fragmented democracies have fragmented political
institutions that create obstacles to improving the health, education, and
safety for poorer citizens. (b) What are these political obstacles and how have
they slowed down or stopped the improvement of the health, education, and
safety of poor citizens in the nation? (chapters 8 and 9)
8. President Putin’s governing coalition is unique. (a)
Explain the different groups and people who supported Putin’s policies. (b)
Evaluate the means Putin has used to maintain power. Analysts differ over the
outlook for Russia’s future. (c) Describe why some analysts predict a bright
future for Russia. (d) Describe the reasons given by analysts who predict a
bleak future. (e) Whose predictions are more likely to come true? Why? (chapter
10)
9. Deng’s economic reforms created new political cleavages
in China. (a) What are the two new political cleavages and how have they
impacted politics in China? Analysts differ over the outlook for China’s
future. (b) Describe why some analysts predict a bright future for China. (c)
Describe the reasons given by analysts who predict a bleak future. (d) Whose
predictions are more likely to come true? Why? (chapter 10)
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