🗳️AP Comparative Government Review
What Memes Are Perfect for AP Comparative Government?
What Memes Are Perfect for AP Comparative Government?
You probably took CompGov so you would understand the memes. Kidding...but seriously if that's why you took it, that's okay. You do you! Some people like memes about TV shows, others like memes about school.
🚨 Quick note: we credited the creators of all of the memes and Tweets in this article. Go show them some love!
Meme #1
If you know about Russia's record of controlling the media...
Before I say anything else, F in the chat for online AP tests... Anyways, let's talk about Russia and media freedom. Or, really, the lack of media freedom in Russia.
Russia has a long history of restricting media freedom. The government exerts strong influence over major television networks and other media outlets, and journalists who criticize the regime often face pressure, censorship, or intimidation. In AP Comparative Government, Russia is best understood as having limited media freedom rather than a fully independent press.
You might be thinking "there's gotta be independent local news channels, right? 🤔" Yeah, good train of thought there, but you're not gonna enjoy hearing about self-censorship. It's pretty much where media outlets avoid talking about controversial topics that could upset the political establishment (aka topics that criticize Putin and/or the government).
Meme #2
If you know about how differently course countries prioritize institutions and public spending...
Look, I can't say a lot about how this person's AP test went...but I do know a bit about Nigeria's military and the role it plays in politics.
Nigeria is not best understood by focusing on a single military-spending statistic. In AP Comparative Government, the more important point is that the military has historically played a major political role in Nigeria through coups, periods of military rule, and responses to internal security challenges such as Boko Haram. Low or moderate spending as a share of GDP does not necessarily mean the military lacks political influence.
Meme #3
If you're taking CompGov and trying to keep all six course countries straight...
This one doesn't need too much explanation, let's just say one of the hardest parts of AP Comparative Government is keeping straight how the political systems of the six required course countries work and how they compare to one another 😩.
Meme #4
If you can't remember what you learned in class...
In AP Comparative Government, legitimacy refers to the extent to which a government's right to rule is accepted by its citizens. A government can be legal under a constitution and still struggle with legitimacy if citizens do not believe it should rule. Governments try to build and sustain legitimacy through elections, economic performance, nationalism, ideology, coercion, or effective public policy. International recognition can matter, but legitimacy in the AP course is primarily about domestic acceptance of rule.
Side note: legitimate governments also abuse human rights, just because they're accepted by citizens or institutions doesn't mean they're perfect!
That's why governments do everything they can to increase acceptance of their rule. Essentially, they don't want to lose their power or authority, and they want to keep people believing that the regime should continue governing.
Meme #5
If you learned about the Great Firewall and the Chinese government's surveillance...
China heavily censors and monitors online activity through the Great Firewall and other state controls. The government blocks many foreign websites, removes politically sensitive content, and surveils digital communication, which limits freedom of expression and reinforces state authority.
It's very Orwellian and def reminds us of the surveillance state that exists in 1984.
Meme #6
If you're still upset about Brexit...
In 2016, the United Kingdom voted in a referendum to leave the European Union. Brexit became a major political and economic issue because the EU is a supranational organization that affects trade, movement, regulation, and sovereignty. Supporters of leaving argued that the UK should regain greater control over its laws, borders, and policymaking, while opponents emphasized the economic and political benefits of EU membership. In AP Comparative Government, Brexit is an important example of tensions between national sovereignty and supranational integration.
Meme #7
If you wish democracy was just a little bit easier to do...
A coup d'etat is the seizure of state power by a small group, often members of the military or political elites, rather than by mass popular participation. In AP Comparative Government, coups are important because they can undermine political stability, interrupt democratization, and shift power outside normal constitutional procedures.
So, ya know, read up on coups.
Meme #8
If you realize that these Russian term limits don't really seem to be limiting Putin...
Russia's 2020 constitutional changes reset Vladimir Putin's previous presidential terms, allowing him to run again and potentially remain in power until 2036. This is an AP Comparative Government example of how formal term limits may exist but can be altered or circumvented in less democratic regimes.
Meme #9
If you love free speech...
There are many AP Comparative Government examples of states restricting free speech and civil liberties, especially in China, Russia, and Iran. For China, students should connect censorship, surveillance, internet controls such as the Great Firewall, and restrictions on political expression to the broader course concept of limited civil liberties under an authoritarian regime. If Hong Kong is mentioned, it should be treated only as supplementary context related to China, not as a separate course country.
Think of internet censorship and surveillance in China. Or, the detainment of journalists in Russia for exposing corruption. Or, even mass arrests in Iran in response to protests.
Unfortunately, these are only a few examples of countries that silence people for speaking out against them, and human rights organizations continue to expose abuses like these all around the world.
Meme #10
If you read about Nigeria's Fourth Republic...
After the start of Nigeria's Fourth Republic in 1999, media freedom generally expanded compared with earlier periods of military rule, in part because the constitution protects freedom of expression. However, journalists and media outlets have continued to face pressure, harassment, and uneven enforcement of those protections.
Buut, just because Nigeria started to democratize doesn't mean it's perfect. There's still a lot that the country can do to protect free speech and journalists. Even today, journalists in the country face human rights abuses, and laws to protect speech often are not enforced.
Closing Thoughts
There's nothing quite like being in the know when it comes to memes. Or knowing that you're one of the 15 people on the planet that understand one. Good thing you took CompGov so you get to feel that every time you see one of these.
And, feel free to spread the love! Share 'em with your friends in the class, or make your own and tag @thinkfiveable or me on Twitter!