AP Comparative Government and Politics practice questions and exam guide

Which BEST describes the relationship between economic development and democratization in modernization theory?

1. Economic development always immediately produces democracy
2. Democracy always precedes economic development
3. Modernization theory (Lipset and others) hypothesized that economic development (rising GDP, education, middle class) tends to support democratic transition and consolidation, though China challenges this
4. The two are unrelated
5. Authoritarian rule always produces economic development

Answer: C — Modernization theory (Lipset and others) hypothesized that economic development (rising GDP, education, middle class) tends to support democratic transition and consolidation, though China challenges this

Lipset's modernization thesis: wealthy, educated societies tend toward democracy. Strong correlation but with exceptions. China's economic growth without democratization is the major contemporary counter-example. AP comparative gov explicitly engages this debate.

REGIME TRANSITIONS typically follow which pattern?

1. Varied: revolution (Iran 1979, Russia 1917), military coup (Nigeria multiple times), negotiated/pacted transition (Mexico, Spain), gradual reform (UK 1832-1928), collapse + rebuild (USSR 1991)
2. Smooth and gradual
3. Always violent
4. Always peaceful
5. Always foreign-imposed

Answer: A — Varied: revolution (Iran 1979, Russia 1917), military coup (Nigeria multiple times), negotiated/pacted transition (Mexico, Spain), gradual reform (UK 1832-1928), collapse + rebuild (USSR 1991)

Pathways matter. Pacted transitions (Mexico 1990s, S. Africa 1994, Spain 1975-78) often produce more stable democracies. Revolutionary transitions (Russia, Iran) often produce illiberal outcomes. AP exam tests applying patterns to specific cases.

China's economic liberalization since 1978 (Deng Xiaoping) involved:

1. Complete privatization and Westernization
2. Return to traditional Confucian governance
3. Reversal of Mao's policies plus democratization
4. Market-oriented reforms (special economic zones, household responsibility system, opening to foreign investment) while maintaining CCP political control and significant state ownership
5. Adoption of Soviet-style central planning

Answer: D — Market-oriented reforms (special economic zones, household responsibility system, opening to foreign investment) while maintaining CCP political control and significant state ownership

Deng's reforms produced 'socialism with Chinese characteristics': markets in economic activity, CCP monopoly in politics. Created world's second-largest economy without democratic transition — challenging modernization theory's predictions.

China's political system is best characterized by:

1. Multi-party competition
2. An independent judiciary
3. One-party rule by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), with overlapping party and state institutions, no organized opposition parties, and a paramount leader's authority over state and party
4. Direct election of national leaders

Answer: C — One-party rule by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), with overlapping party and state institutions, no organized opposition parties, and a paramount leader's authority over state and party

C) Defining features. A/B/D) Each contradicts.

Voter turnout patterns in the six AP cases generally show that:

1. Turnout is highest in China because elections are universally competitive
2. Iran has no presidential elections
3. Russia and the UK have nearly identical electoral systems
4. Turnout varies widely across the six cases — affected by registration rules, perceived competitiveness, weather, mandatory voting status, and regime efforts to mobilize or demobilize voters

Answer: D — Turnout varies widely across the six cases — affected by registration rules, perceived competitiveness, weather, mandatory voting status, and regime efforts to mobilize or demobilize voters

D) Standard observation; turnout is a key participation indicator. A/B/C) Each is factually incorrect.

China's economic transformation since Deng Xiaoping (1978):

1. Maintained Maoist planning
2. Full Western capitalism
3. 'Socialism with Chinese characteristics' — market reforms (Special Economic Zones, private enterprise) WITHOUT political liberalization; lifted ~800 million out of poverty; state-owned enterprises retain strategic sectors
4. Tribal economy
5. Has no economic policy

Answer: C — 'Socialism with Chinese characteristics' — market reforms (Special Economic Zones, private enterprise) WITHOUT political liberalization; lifted ~800 million out of poverty; state-owned enterprises retain strategic sectors

Deng's 'Reform and Opening Up.' SEZs (Shenzhen, etc.) attracted foreign investment. WTO accession 2001. Now world's 2nd largest economy (largest by PPP). Belt and Road Initiative extends influence. Tensions: state control + market dynamism; coastal-inland inequality; environment.

Russia's 2020 constitutional amendments most importantly:

1. Reduced presidential powers
2. Reset presidential term limits — allowing Vladimir Putin to run again in 2024 and potentially remain in office until 2036 — alongside other changes strengthening the executive, restricting officials' foreign ties, and inserting socially conservative provisions
3. Created a parliamentary system
4. Abolished the State Duma

Answer: B — Reset presidential term limits — allowing Vladimir Putin to run again in 2024 and potentially remain in office until 2036 — alongside other changes strengthening the executive, restricting officials' foreign ties, and inserting socially conservative provisions

B) Defining feature of the amendments. A/C/D) Each is incorrect.

Federalism in comparative politics refers to:

1. A constitutional division of authority between a national government and constituent units (states, provinces, regions), with each level having protected powers
2. A single unified center of authority
3. Membership in an international organization only
4. Direct democracy at the local level

Answer: A — A constitutional division of authority between a national government and constituent units (states, provinces, regions), with each level having protected powers

A) Defining concept. B/C/D) Each is incorrect.

Mexico's drug-related violence is BEST understood as:

1. Solely a problem of criminal cartels
2. Recent post-2020 only
3. Driven by US military intervention
4. Caused by Chinese investment
5. A complex security-state challenge involving cartel violence, corruption of officials, US drug-demand and gun supply, and weak rule of law in some regions

Answer: E — A complex security-state challenge involving cartel violence, corruption of officials, US drug-demand and gun supply, and weak rule of law in some regions

Mexico's narco-violence reflects multiple interrelated factors: cartels' organized violence, corruption (some officials), demand and weapon flows from US, judicial weakness, regional militarization. Calderón's 2006-2012 drug war intensified violence; subsequent administrations vary in approach.

Supranational organizations are best characterized as:

1. International bodies whose member states delegate certain sovereign powers and abide by collective decisions — the European Union being the deepest example, since it sets binding rules in many policy areas
2. Domestic interest groups within a single country
3. Informal social movements
4. Local government councils

Answer: A — International bodies whose member states delegate certain sovereign powers and abide by collective decisions — the European Union being the deepest example, since it sets binding rules in many policy areas

A) Defining concept; relevant to the UK and Brexit debate. B/C/D) Each is incorrect.

A mixed-member electoral system, used in Russia's Duma and Mexico's Chamber of Deputies, combines:

1. Two rounds of presidential voting only
2. Voting only by region
3. A direct popular vote for prime minister and a vote for the cabinet
4. Single-member district seats with proportional representation list seats — aiming to balance constituency representation with proportionality

Answer: D — Single-member district seats with proportional representation list seats — aiming to balance constituency representation with proportionality

D) Defining design. A/B/C) Each is incorrect.

A social cleavage is best understood as:

1. A constitutional clause
2. A persistent line of division within a society (such as class, religion, ethnicity, region, or urban-rural divides) around which political identities and parties may organize
3. A specific election outcome
4. A particular constitutional court decision

Answer: B — A persistent line of division within a society (such as class, religion, ethnicity, region, or urban-rural divides) around which political identities and parties may organize

B) Defining concept; varies by country and shapes party systems. A/C/D) Each is incorrect.

Mexico — type of government?

Federal presidential constitutional republic.

Russia's siloviki?

Officials from security services who rose under Putin. Influential in his government.

What is illiberal democracy?

Democracy holding elections but lacking strong rule of law, civil liberties, or independent institutions (e.g., Russia, Mexico in 1990s).

Nigeria party system?

Two dominant parties (APC, PDP) plus smaller ones; ethnic/regional considerations strong.

Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA, 2015)?

Iran agreed to limit nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. US withdrew 2018; deal weakened.

What is comparative government?

Field of political science studying domestic politics, institutions, conflicts within different countries to draw broader insights.