Comparative Politics Unit 1 Pt. 1

An important historical moment when political actors make critical choices, which shape institutions and future outcomes

• Collectivism
• Neoliberalism
• Critical Juncture
• Globalization

The groups with which people identify, including gender, class, race, region, etc. The building blocks for social and political action

• Critical Juncture
• Culture
• Collective Identities
• Religion

The intensification of worldwide interconnectedness associated with the increased speed and magnitude of cross-border flows of trade, investments as well as cultural exchange, diffusion, etc.

• Globalization
• Culture
• Collectivism
• Critical Juncture

An approach to economic policy in which state economic policies are used to regulate the economy in an attempt to achieve stable economic growth

• Neoliberalism
• Keynesianism
• Liberalism
• Conservatism

A term used to describe govt. policies aiming to promote free competition among business firms within the market; reducing govt. regulation and social spending

• Keynesianism
• Liberalism
• Neoliberalism
• Comparativism

A territorial unit controlled by a single state

• State
• Nation-State
• Country
• Territory

The body of officials who direct executive departments presided over by the chief executive (President, Prime Minister, etc.)

• Executive
• Cabinet
• Legislature
• Judiciary

An influential approach in comparative politics that involves trying to explain why if 'X happens, then Y is the result'

• Independent Variable
• Dependent Variable
• Causal Theories
• Summative

Which of these terms refers to an independent country whose people mostly share a common identity?

• a colonial empire
• ethnic group
• nation-state
• plural society

Analyzing political decision making and behavior that assumes that individual actors rationally pursue their aims in an effort to achieve the most positive net result.

• Rational Choice Theory
• Middle Level Theory
• Democratic Transition
• Causal theories