#AP Comparative Government: Political Stability - Night Before Review 🚀

Hey! Let's make sure you're feeling super confident for tomorrow's exam. We're going to break down political stability, how it's impacted, and what you absolutely need to know. Think of this as your ultimate cheat sheet!

#What is Political Stability?

Political stability is all about a government's ability to provide services and build public confidence. It's also about predictability—people know what to expect from their government. Think of it like a well-oiled machine! ⚙️

#Key Factors for Stability:

• Strong Institutions 💪: A solid foundation for political structures.
• Good Governance ✅: Transparent, effective management of public affairs.
• Social Cohesion 🫂: Citizens feel united with a common purpose.
• Economic Development 🤑: Reduces poverty and inequality, improving quality of life.
• International Relations 🌎: Positive relations reduce tensions and promote stability.

#Factors Impacting Political Stability

Let's dive into the internal factors that can shake things up. College Board wants you to focus on these three areas:

#Factor #1: Combating Political Corruption

How do countries handle corruption? It's a big deal for stability!

• Freedom of Information Acts:
  • UK 🇬🇧, Nigeria 🇳🇬, Mexico 🇲🇽: These countries allow citizens to criticize the government, which can lead to positive change and build trust.

* **Authoritarian Responses:** * **China 🇨🇳:** President Xi Jinping uses corruption charges to silence rivals, stifling criticism. * **Russia 🇷🇺:** Remember the 2012 election riots? The government controls media and limits internet access, preventing scrutiny. * **Iran 🇮🇷:** Government controls media and internet, making it difficult to challenge corruption.

#Factor #2: State Responses to Internal Conflicts

How do countries deal with separatist violence, drug trafficking, and discrimination?

• Iran 🇮🇷:
  • Discrimination against women and minorities leads to internal and external turmoil. Protests are met with violence.
• Nigeria 🇳🇬:
  • Boko Haram's terrorist activities disrupt stability. The government has responded with military action.
• Mexico 🇲🇽:
  • Drug cartels control territories, causing violence, corruption, and undermining economic stability. The government's response has been a low-intensity approach.

#Factor #3: State Responses to Protest Movements

How do governments react to protests?

• Authoritarian Regimes (China 🇨🇳, Russia 🇷🇺, Iran 🇮🇷):
  • Coercion is the norm. Think Tiananmen Square in China 🇨🇳—violent suppression and denial of the protests.
  • These countries jail protestors, control media, and block internet information about protests.
• More Democratic Regimes (UK 🇬🇧, Nigeria 🇳🇬, Mexico 🇲🇽):
  • UK 🇬🇧: Protesters have more protections and can influence policy (e.g., Brexit protests).
  • Nigeria 🇳🇬 & Mexico 🇲🇽: While more democratic, protests can still be met with violence (e.g., 1968 Mexico City massacre).

#Unit 1 Recap: Key Concepts

Unit 1 is all about the basics! You need to understand how comparative scientists gather data and compare the six course countries.

Remember, this unit introduces terms that will be used throughout the year.

#Key Terms:

1. Correlation: A relationship between two variables.
2. Causation: One variable causes a change in another.
3. Empirical data: Data based on observation or experiment.
4. Normative data: Data based on values or opinions.
5. Nation: A group of people with a common identity.
6. Regime: The rules and norms of a political system.
7. Authoritarianism: A system with limited political freedom.
8. Democracy: A system where power is held by the people.
9. Federal system: Power is divided between central and regional governments.
10. Unitary system: Power is concentrated in the central government.
11. Authority: The right to exercise power.
12. Legitimacy: The acceptance of authority by the people.
13. Political stability: The ability of a government to provide services and maintain order.

#What You Need to Do:

• Apply your knowledge of how political institutions work in each country.
• Analyze data and trends.
• Create claims based on your analysis to explain why institutions function differently in each country.

#Final Exam Focus

Okay, here's what you really need to focus on for the exam:

• Political Stability: Understand its components and the factors that influence it. This is a recurring theme throughout the course.
• State Responses: Be ready to compare and contrast how different regimes respond to corruption, internal conflicts, and protests.
• Key Terms: Know your Unit 1 vocabulary inside and out.
• Country Comparisons: Be able to apply concepts to specific course countries.

#Last-Minute Tips:

• Time Management: Don't spend too long on one question. Move on and come back if you have time.
• Common Pitfalls:
  • Confusing correlation and causation.
  • Not using specific examples from course countries.
  • Ignoring the nuances within democratic and authoritarian systems.
• Strategies:
  • Read the questions carefully!
  • Plan your FRQs before you start writing.
  • Use evidence to support your claims.

#Practice Questions

Practice Question

#Multiple Choice Questions

1. Which of the following is the BEST example of a government promoting political stability through social cohesion? (A) Implementing strict censorship laws to control the flow of information (B) Providing equal opportunities and protection for all minority groups (C) Increasing military spending to deter external threats (D) Centralizing all political power in the hands of a single leader

2. Which of the following is a key difference between how authoritarian and democratic regimes typically respond to protest movements? (A) Authoritarian regimes are more likely to use negotiation and compromise, while democratic regimes typically use force. (B) Authoritarian regimes are more likely to use force and suppression, while democratic regimes typically offer more protections for protesters. (C) Democratic regimes always ignore protests, while authoritarian regimes always respond with force. (D) Authoritarian regimes are more likely to allow protests, while democratic regimes are more likely to restrict them.

3. A country with a federal system has which of the following characteristics? (A) Power concentrated in the central government. (B) Power divided between central and regional governments. (C) A single, all-powerful leader. (D) No separation of powers.

#Free Response Question

Prompt: Explain how a country's response to internal conflict can impact its political stability. In your response, be sure to: * Define political stability. * Identify and describe two different types of internal conflict. * Provide an example of how each type of conflict has affected the political stability of a specific course country. * Analyze how the government's response to each conflict either enhanced or undermined political stability.

Scoring Guidelines:

• Definition of Political Stability (1 point):
  • 1 point for a correct definition that includes the government's ability to provide services and maintain public confidence.
• Identification and Description of Two Types of Internal Conflict (2 points):
  • 1 point for identifying a valid type of internal conflict (e.g., separatist violence, drug trafficking, discrimination).
  • 1 point for describing the type of conflict in detail.
• Examples of Internal Conflict in Course Countries (2 points):
  • 1 point for providing a valid example of the first type of conflict in a specific course country.
  • 1 point for providing a valid example of the second type of conflict in a specific course country.
• Analysis of Government Response and Impact on Political Stability (2 points):
  • 1 point for analyzing how the government's response to the first conflict either enhanced or undermined political stability.
  • 1 point for analyzing how the government's response to the second conflict either enhanced or undermined political stability.

Example Answer:

Political stability refers to the ability of a government to provide necessary services to its citizens and maintain public confidence in its institutions. It also involves predictability in governmental actions. Two types of internal conflict that can impact political stability are separatist violence and drug trafficking.

In Nigeria, the terrorist group Boko Haram has engaged in separatist violence, seeking to establish an Islamic state. The Nigerian government's military response has been mixed. While it has weakened Boko Haram, it has also caused civilian casualties and displacement, undermining public trust and thus political stability.

In Mexico, drug cartels control large territories and engage in violence and corruption. The Mexican government's approach of using the military has had limited success in curbing drug trafficking and violence. This has undermined political stability by eroding faith in the government's ability to maintain order and protect its citizens.

You've got this! Go get that 5! 🎉