Political & Economic Changes
What this unit covers
The topics below follow the published Comp Gov course framework for Unit 5. This unit is worth 16–24% of the exam, so budget your time against that rather than against how long the unit takes to teach.
Lessons in this unit
- Globalization & Its Political Effects14 min · 3 objectivesDefine globalization and its economic, cultural, and political dimensions · Explain how supranational organizations affect state sovereignty · Analyze responses to globalization in the core countries, including Brexit
- Economic Development & Policy14 min · 3 objectivesCompare command, market, and mixed economies across the core countries · Explain economic liberalization and China’s reform path · Analyze how development strategies and resource dependence shape politics
- Political Reform & Regime Change13 min · 3 objectivesDistinguish reform, revolution, and other paths of political change · Analyze causes of regime change and democratic backsliding · Evaluate how the core countries have changed or resisted change
What examiners penalize here
- Frame globalization questions around the **sovereignty tradeoff**: integration brings economic benefits but requires ceding policy control, and backlash (Brexit) reclaims sovereignty at economic cost. Naming both sides of the tradeoff earns fuller credit than describing only one.
- China’s reforms make a key comparative point: **economic liberalization does not require political liberalization**. Use China versus post-Soviet Russia to show that market reform can pair with authoritarian control (China) or with disruptive privatization and oligarchy (Russia).
- Always ask whether change alters the **regime** (revolution — Iran 1979) or only the **government/leaders** (a coup, or a normal election). And watch for **democratic backsliding**: an elected leader keeping democratic forms while gutting their substance is a frequent, high-value exam concept.
Practice Comp Gov
Our practice bank is drawn from across the whole course rather than filtered to one unit, which is closer to how the exam asks anyway — it will not tell you which unit a question is testing.
Questions about this unit
How much of the AP Comparative Government & Politics exam is Unit 5?
Unit 5, Political & Economic Changes, is worth 16–24% of the Comp Gov multiple-choice section according to the published course framework. Across all 5 units that makes it one of the heaviest units on the exam, and worth front-loading.
What topics are covered in Comp Gov Unit 5?
Political & Economic Changes covers Globalization, Development, Reform and Policy.
How should I study Comp Gov Unit 5?
Read the 3 lessons below first — about 40 minutes — then work practice questions on these topics. Finish with practice questions and read the explanation for every one you get right by elimination as well as the ones you miss.
All 5 units of AP Comparative Government & Politics
Unit names, topics and exam weights follow the published College Board course framework for AP Comparative Government & Politics. AP® is a trademark registered by the College Board, which does not endorse this site.