Ap gov

• Chinese Communist Party (CCP)


  Political party ruling China since 1949, advocates state ownership
• Mao Zedong and Communist Revolution

  • Led the communist revolution in China, creating an authoritarian state
  • Led Red Army's trek during the Long March, establishing CCP control in Shaanxi
  • Famine in China resulted in the death of 20 million people during Mao's rule
• Deng Xiaoping and Economic Reforms


  • Established economic reforms reducing state control after Mao's death
  • Soviet-style command economy implemented in China to push industrialization during Mao's rule
  • Market socialism introduced, moving away from communist command economy
• Xi Jinping and Modern China

  • Identified corruption as a factor undermining the party's power
  • Surveillance system in China utilizes 200 million cameras for population monitoring
  • Social Credit System tracks citizens' behavior for rewards and penalties
• GDP per capita rose from $195 in 1980 to $10,839 in 2020
• Extreme poverty reduction lifted 850 million people out of extreme poverty since 1981
• Income gap widened due to economic policies improving living standards
• Islamic Revolution and Political Structure

  • Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini led the 1979 revolution to install religious authority in Iran
  • Theocracy in Iran is a government where a religious leader heads the state
  • Guardian Council approves candidates, influences elections, and protects clerical authority
• Political Figures and Movements

  • Rouhani represents moderate reform in Iranian politics
  • Green Movement post-2009 election fraud allegations led to protests
  • Mousavi Movement supported Arab Spring and was led by reformer Mousavi
• Legal System and Civil Rights

  • Judiciary in Iran enforces Sharia law with weak rule of law and limited due process
  • Civil liberties and civil rights are fundamental rights protected from government infringement
  • Women's rights in Iran are limited due to societal expectations and discrimination
• Economic Policies and Social Issues

  • Economic liberalization in the early 1990s aimed to open more job opportunities for women
  • Religious groups in Iran are majorly Shiite, with recognized minorities like Sunni Muslims and Christians
  • Ethnic groups in Iran include Arabs, Azeris, Kurds, and Baluchis
• Tibet Autonomous Region and Xinjiang face strict Chinese control and claims of sovereignty
• Iran's relations with the West impacted by nuclear agreements and sanctions
• Iran's involvement in regional conflicts like the Syrian Civil War and Yemeni Civil War
• Political History and Figures

  • PRI ruled Mexico authoritatively, marked by the Institutional Revolutionary Party
  • Lòpez Obrador known for populist appeals and anti-corruption campaigns
  • Shehu Shagari reelected in 1983 amidst fraud allegations in Nigeria
• Government Structure and Elections

  • Federalism in Mexico divides power between central government and states
  • Chamber of Deputies in Mexico holds significant legislative power
  • Independent candidates allowed in 2012, impacting Mexico's multi-party system stability in 2016
• Social Movements and Ethnic Diversity

  • Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People advocates for social, economic, and environmental improvements
  • Ethnic groups in Mexico include Mestizos, Indigenous People, and various minorities
  • Regional disparities in Mexico have led to economic gaps between northern and southern states
• Economic Policies and Welfare Programs

  • NAFTA impacted Mexican politics and economy, initiated in the 1990s
  • Prospera Program provides cash, healthcare, and food support to poor households
  • Economic liberalization in Mexico shifted towards free-market policies
• Legal System and Human Rights

  • Abortion policies in Mexico vary by states due to federal system and church-state separation
  • Supreme Court Magistrates in Mexico serve 15-year terms and interpret laws based on Islamic teachings
  • Civil liberties and civil rights in Mexico face challenges due to political culture and social cleavages
• Putin's Leadership and Russia's Political Landscape


  • Putin served as the second longest leader of Russia/Soviet Union, doubling GDP between 1999-2008
  • Repression in Russia includes jailing dissidents, controlling media, and harassing journalists
  • United Russia is a conservative and nationalist party supporting Putin's regime
• Historical Context and Political Evolution

  • Glasnost and Perestroika were Gorbachev's reforms allowing criticism of the state and restructuring of systems
  • Oligarchs in Russia are powerful businessmen controlling significant parts of the economy
  • Crimea's history includes annexation by Russia in 2014, leading to international conflict
• Government Structure and Legal System

  • Duma is the directly elected lower house of the Russian parliament representing the people
  • Supreme Court in Russia interprets laws and has judicial review powers
  • Abstract Review in Russia involves rulings on issues without specific cases before the courts
• Economic Policies and Social Issues


  • Welfare state in Russia provides health care and pensions funded by the government
  • Russian population decline is expected due to high mortality rates and birth control challenges
  • Political culture divisions in Russia stem from over 180 ethnic groups and nationalities
• Sanctions imposed on Russia by various countries to pressure and weaken the economy
• Russia's involvement in conflicts like the Chechnya Wars and international disputes
• Human rights pressure in Russia from NGOs advocating for better rights record
• Colonial Legacy and Political Evolution

  • Colonization in Nigeria led to British creation of boundaries during the Scramble for Africa
  • First Republic in Nigeria marked by weak institutions and chaos after independence
  • Military coups in Nigeria overthrew governments, leading to political instability
• Federal System and Political Figures

  • Federal system in Nigeria divides political authority between central government and states
  • Boko Haram is a violent Islamist group in Nigeria initiating armed insurgency
  • Abacha was a military leader known for ruthlessness and corruption in Nigeria
• Elections and Government Structure

  • National Assembly in Nigeria is divided into the House of Representatives and the Senate
  • Head of Government/State position currently held by Bola Ahmed Tinubu in Nigeria
  • National Judicial Council oversees judicial matters in Nigeria
• Social Movements and Ethnic Diversity


  • Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta threatens foreign corporations in the region
  • Ethnic groups in Nigeria include Yoruba, Igbo, and various others
  • North and South Nigeria are distinguished based on religious and ethnic differences
• Economic Policies and Welfare Programs

  • Nigeria's economy classified as a rentier state due to main revenue source being oil
  • Welfare system in Nigeria includes health care, pensions, and support for vulnerable citizens
  • Economic liberalization in Nigeria aimed to reduce foreign influence and open markets
• Constitutional Authoritarian Systems


  • Have a constitution but are often undermined by authoritarian rule
  • Examples: China, Iran
• Theocracy


  • Government ruled by religious leaders, often authoritarian
  • Example: Iran
• Constitutional Democracy


  • Power limited by law, with elected officials and a constitution
  • Examples: UK, Nigeria
• Emerging Democracies


  • Nations transitioning towards democracy with recent reforms
  • Example: Mexico
• Unitary Governments


  • Centralized with power held by the national government
  • Examples: China, Iran, UK
• Federal Governments


  • Power distributed between national and regional authorities
  • Example: Nigeria, Mexico
• Asymmetric Governments

  • Regions with different levels of power
  • Example: Russia
• Nation Classifications


  • Scottish and Irish (UK)
  • Russian and Chechen (Russia)
  • Han Chinese and Tibetans (China)
  • Persians and Azeris (Iran)
  • Mestizo (Mexico)
  • Hausa and Yoruba (Nigeria)
• One-Party Systems


  • Single party in power, often in authoritarian regimes
  • Example: China