AP Comparative Government and Politics Flashcards: Political and Social Cleavages
Written by AP Content Team, Verified for 2026 AP Exams, Last updated: May 2026
Review key ideas with interactive flashcards. This set includes 14 cards to help you master important concepts.
In which course countries have groups demanded autonomy but not full independence?
Groups demanding autonomy without seeking independence have emerged in Mexico and the United Kingdom.
Card 1 of 14
All Flashcards (14)
In which course countries have groups demanded autonomy but not full independence?
Groups demanding autonomy without seeking independence have emerged in Mexico and the United Kingdom.
Identify the primary social cleavages in China.
China's main cleavages are ethnic and regional, specifically between the majority Han group and minorities like the Uighurs and Tibetans, and between regions with different rates of economic development.
How do social cleavages affect citizen relationships and political stability?
Politically relevant social cleavages can impact citizen relationships by creating divisions and can affect political stability, sometimes leading to conflict or undermining legitimacy.
Which course countries have experienced separatist movements resulting from social cleavages?
Separatist movements have emerged in China, Iran, Nigeria, Russia, and the United Kingdom as a result of their social cleavages.
Describe the main religious and ethnic cleavages in Iran.
Iran has religious divisions between the Shi'a majority and Sunni Muslims, as well as other recognized religions. It also has ethnic cleavages between the Persian majority and minorities like the Azerbaijanis and Kurds.
What are the most significant cleavages in Nigeria?
Nigeria has deep ethnic cleavages among over 250 groups (including Hausa-Fulani, Yoruba, Igbo) and major religious/regional cleavages between the predominantly Muslim north and the Christian/animist south.
What is a key ethnic and religious cleavage in Russia?
A major cleavage exists between ethnic Russians, who are largely Russian Orthodox, and non-Russian minority populations, such as the predominantly Muslim Chechens in the Caucasus region.
What are social and political cleavages?
Social and political cleavages are internal divisions that structure societies and may be based on class, ethnicity, religion, or territory.
How can social cleavages be used to either strengthen or undermine legitimacy?
Leaders can use cleavages to strengthen legitimacy and hold onto power by appealing to certain groups. However, these same cleavages can also lead to conflict that undermines the state's legitimacy.
In what ways do social cleavages influence a country's political system?
Social and political cleavages can affect voting behavior, the development of party systems, and the formation of informal political networks.
Why has ethnicity played a more significant political role in Nigeria than in Mexico?
Ethnicity has been more politically significant in Nigeria due to different colonial histories and a greater diversity and politicization of ethnic and religious identities.
What are the major cleavages in Mexico?
Mexico's major cleavages are ethnic, between the Amerindian (indigenous) population and whites/mestizos, and regional, with significant divisions between the northern and southern parts of the country.
Identify three types of social cleavages in the United Kingdom.
The UK has ethnic/regional cleavages between the Scottish, English, Welsh, and Irish; religious cleavages in Northern Ireland between Protestants and Catholics; and racial tensions between whites and non-European minorities.
Describe the range of state responses to social cleavages.
State responses can range from brute repression of minority groups to formal recognition, the creation of autonomous regions, and representation of minorities in governmental institutions.