Comprehensive Guide to AP Comparative Government Unit 3

Civil Society

Diverse range of voluntary associations and organizations that operate independently of the government and the private market.

Voluntary

Participation in civil society organizations is not coerced.

Autonomous

Civil society organizations operate self-sufficiently, distinct from state control.

Public-oriented

Civil society organizations operate in the public sphere to influence or check state power.

Examples of Civil Society

Includes religious groups, labor unions, professional associations, NGOs, charities, and recreational clubs.

Pluralism

In democratic regimes, civil society acts as a check on government power.

Articulation of Interests

Civil society provides a vehicle for citizens to aggregate their needs and petition the government.

Social Capital

Trust and cooperation among citizens fostered by civil society.

Corporatism

In authoritarian regimes, the state creates specific organizations to monopolize representation.

GONGOs

Government-Organized Non-Governmental Organizations used to control representation.

Monitoring

The state uses sanctioned organizations to control or spy on the population.

Civil Society in the UK

Robust and pluralist, including organizations like TUC and Amnesty International.

Civil Society in Russia

Severely restricted, with independent groups often banned or harassed.

Civil Society in China

State-controlled, where only non-critical organizations are allowed.

Civil Society in Iran

Weak/restricted with strong ties to religious foundations.

Civil Society in Mexico

Growing but threatened due to violence against journalists and activists.

Civil Society in Nigeria

Active but fragmented, with strong ethnic and religious networks.

Political Culture

The collective history, values, beliefs, and attitudes citizens hold about government legitimacy.

Parochial Political Culture

Citizens feel distant from government and have no knowledge or interest.

Subject Political Culture

Citizens accept government authority but do not participate.

Participant Political Culture

Citizens believe they can influence the political system and actively engage.

Political Culture in the UK

Characterized by gradualism and a sense of noblesse oblige.

Political Culture in Russia

Strong belief in statism and a desire for order.

Political Culture in China

Influenced by Confucianism and Maoism, with strong nationalism.

Political Culture in Mexico

Characterized by patron-clientelism and transitional trust in democracy.

Political Culture in Nigeria

Prebendalism, with low national identity and ethnic loyalty.

Political Culture in Iran

A divide between theocracy supporters and those seeking secular reforms.

Political Socialization

The process by which individuals acquire their political attitudes, views, and knowledge.

Agents of Socialization

Family, schools, media, and religious institutions that influence political views.

Comparison of Socialization

Democratic regimes build civic competence; authoritarian regimes instill loyalty.

Political Participation

Varies based on regime type; can be voluntary or coerced.

Voting in Democracies

Means of choosing policymakers based on citizen efficacy.

Voting in Authoritarian Regimes

Simulates legitimacy, with high turnout often enforced.

Civil Disobedience

Peaceful breaking of laws to protest injustice.

Safety Valve Protests

Local protests tolerated by authoritarian regimes to diffuse tension.

Linkage Institutions

Groups that connect the populace to the government.

Cleavages

Deep divisions within society based on ethnicity, religion, class, or territory.

Coinciding Cleavages

When disputes align the same groups against each other.

Cross-Cutting Cleavages

Divisions cut across different groups, moderating conflict.

Civil Liberties

Protections FROM the government, such as freedom of speech and assembly.

Civil Rights

Protections BY the government, guaranteeing equal treatment.

Common Mistakes in Understanding Civil Society

Confusing civil society with polite society or assuming its absence in authoritarian regimes.

Modernization Theory

As countries develop, they tend to demand more political participation.

Democratization

The transition from authoritarianism to democracy requiring robust civil society.

Globalization Effects

Creates new cleavages, transforming social dynamics and political participation.