Unit I: Introduction to Comparative Government and Politics Gildea

Unit I: Introduction to Comparative

Government and Politics

Gildea

I. What is comparative government and politics? I. What is comparative government and politics? Comparative politics involves

comparing domestic political institutions, processes, policies, conflicts, and attitudes in different countries.

Comparative politics involves comparing domestic political institutions, processes, policies, conflicts, and attitudes in different countries.

11.16.10

II. The Scientific MethodsII. The Scientific Methods

A. Normative vs. Empirical

B. Causation vs. Correlation

A. Normative vs. Empirical

B. Causation vs. Correlation

III. Methodology III. Methodology

A. Three World Approach (what’s in a name?)

B. Informal politics: understanding civil society’s connections to formal institutions.

C. Political change: Post 1991: world is no longer dominated by two superpowers.

D. Integration of political and economic systems: attitudes and behavior of citizens is connected to economic systems and desires for government intervention

A. Three World Approach (what’s in a name?)

B. Informal politics: understanding civil society’s connections to formal institutions.

C. Political change: Post 1991: world is no longer dominated by two superpowers.

D. Integration of political and economic systems: attitudes and behavior of citizens is connected to economic systems and desires for government intervention

Vocabulary BreakVocabulary Break

StateRegimePowerNationGovernmentLegitimacy

StateRegimePowerNationGovernmentLegitimacy

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/06/21/2010_failed_states_index_interactive_map_and_rankings

http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2010/06/21/2010_failed_states_index_interactive_map_and_rankings

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

Review from 11.17.10Review from 11.17.10

Industrialized DemocracyCommunistLDC/NICState RegimePowerGovernmentNation

Industrialized DemocracyCommunistLDC/NICState RegimePowerGovernmentNation

Thinking about vocabulary:

•What is it?

•Why does it matter?

VocabularyVocabulary

LegitimacyLegitimacy

IV. Too legit to quit…Max Weber and LegitimacyIV. Too legit to quit…Max Weber and Legitimacy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cdk1gwWH-Cg&feature=related

IV. Too legit to quit…Max Weber and LegitimacyIV. Too legit to quit…Max Weber and LegitimacyA. Traditional Legitimacy:

1. Often involves important myths and legends2. Ritual and ceremony (monarchies)3. Can be shaped by religion (god-ruler)4. Closest modern exp.: Middle East and sharia

law

A. Traditional Legitimacy: 1. Often involves important myths and legends2. Ritual and ceremony (monarchies)3. Can be shaped by religion (god-ruler)4. Closest modern exp.: Middle East and sharia

law

B. Charismatic Legitimacy

1. Dynamic personality

2. Notoriously short-lived because it does not survive its founder

B. Charismatic Legitimacy

1. Dynamic personality

2. Notoriously short-lived because it does not survive its founder

C. Rational-legal Legitimacy1. Well-established laws and procedures2. Anchored by strong institutions3. Rule of law

a. Common law (Great Britain)b. Code law (China, Mexico, and Russia)

****Most modern states are based on rational-legal legitimacy********

C. Rational-legal Legitimacy1. Well-established laws and procedures2. Anchored by strong institutions3. Rule of law

a. Common law (Great Britain)b. Code law (China, Mexico, and Russia)

****Most modern states are based on rational-legal legitimacy********

D. Factors supporting legitimacy1. Economic well-being2. Historical tradition/longevity3. Charismatic leadership4. Nationalism/shared political culture5. Satisfaction with government’s

performance

D. Factors supporting legitimacy1. Economic well-being2. Historical tradition/longevity3. Charismatic leadership4. Nationalism/shared political culture5. Satisfaction with government’s

performance

Vocabulary BreakVocabulary Break Democracy and capitalism Political culture Identity Political participation Public Policy Globalization Inputs Support Demand Outputs Interest Group Political Parties

Democracy and capitalism Political culture Identity Political participation Public Policy Globalization Inputs Support Demand Outputs Interest Group Political Parties

IV. Types of Political Culture IV. Types of Political Culture A. Consensual political culture:

1. Disagreement over processes and policies

2. Accepts legitimacy and regime

B. Conflictual political culture:1. Sharply divided2. Ex. Capitalism vs. communism, or

secular vs. Islam

A. Consensual political culture:1. Disagreement over processes and

policies2. Accepts legitimacy and regime

B. Conflictual political culture:1. Sharply divided2. Ex. Capitalism vs. communism, or

secular vs. Islam

V. Industrialized Democracies

V. Industrialized Democracies

“Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others that have been tried.”

--Winston Churchill

“Democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others that have been tried.”

--Winston Churchill

A. Criteria:1. Basic freedoms (belief, speech, and

assembly)2. Rule of law3. Competitive, fair, and free elections4. A strong civil society and civic

culture5. Capitalism and affluence

A. Criteria:1. Basic freedoms (belief, speech, and

assembly)2. Rule of law3. Competitive, fair, and free elections4. A strong civil society and civic

culture5. Capitalism and affluence

VocabularyVocabulary

SuffrageElectoral systemSingle member districtProportional representationRule of law Cleavages

SuffrageElectoral systemSingle member districtProportional representationRule of law Cleavages

B. Bases of Social Cleavages1. Social class:

a. UK: working class traditionally voted for the Labour Party, middle-class for the Conservatives

2. Ethnic cleavages: a. based on different cultural identities (language,

religion)

3. Religious cleavages:a. Often closely linked to ethnicity (Northern Ireland

nationalist Catholics and loyalists Protestant)

B. Bases of Social Cleavages1. Social class:

a. UK: working class traditionally voted for the Labour Party, middle-class for the Conservatives

2. Ethnic cleavages: a. based on different cultural identities (language,

religion)

3. Religious cleavages:a. Often closely linked to ethnicity (Northern Ireland

nationalist Catholics and loyalists Protestant)

4. Regional cleavages:a. Often linked to economic developmentb. Uneven development between northern

and southern Nigeria.

5. Coinciding and cross-cutting:a. Coinciding: disputes align b. Cross-cutting: groups may conflict in

one area but cooperate on others. Social conflict is minimized.

4. Regional cleavages:a. Often linked to economic developmentb. Uneven development between northern

and southern Nigeria.

5. Coinciding and cross-cutting:a. Coinciding: disputes align b. Cross-cutting: groups may conflict in

one area but cooperate on others. Social conflict is minimized.

Reading ConnectionsReading Connections

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

http://www.freedomhouse.org/template.cfm?page=363&year=2009

Reading Connections: Freedom House

Reading Connections: Freedom House

United Kingdom

Russia

China

Mexico

Nigeria

Iran

How “free” are these countries?

Reading ConnectionsReading Connections

1. Fully Democratized: Great Britain and Mexico

2. Partially Democratized: Russia and Nigeria

3. Undemocratic: Iran and China

Prospects for Democratization???

1. Fully Democratized: Great Britain and Mexico

2. Partially Democratized: Russia and Nigeria

3. Undemocratic: Iran and China

Prospects for Democratization???

C. Political Spectrum:LeftSocial DemocracyLiberals/RadicalsChristian DemocratsRight

C. Political Spectrum:LeftSocial DemocracyLiberals/RadicalsChristian DemocratsRight

VocabularyVocabularyCatch-allMembers of Parliament (MP)Post-industrial Society/Post-modernGreensRealignmentCabinet responsibilityVote of confidenceCoalitionBureaucracyIron TriangleIntegrated EliteInterventionist State

Catch-allMembers of Parliament (MP)Post-industrial Society/Post-modernGreensRealignmentCabinet responsibilityVote of confidenceCoalitionBureaucracyIron TriangleIntegrated EliteInterventionist State

Let’s play password!!Let’s play password!!

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

VI. Current and Former Communist Regimes

VI. Current and Former Communist Regimes

Good Bye, Lenin!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJb4efZcFUM

Good Bye, Lenin!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJb4efZcFUM

QuickTime™ and a decompressor

are needed to see this picture.

“Writing about Communism in the early 21st century is like trying to shoot at a rapidly moving and even more rapidly shrinking target.”

--Charles Hauss

“Writing about Communism in the early 21st century is like trying to shoot at a rapidly moving and even more rapidly shrinking target.”

--Charles Hauss

Chapter 8 Vocabulary Chapter 8 Vocabulary

A. 1989: The year that changed the worldA. 1989: The year that changed the worldRevolution in Poland

Agreement to elections and Communists agreed to give up power

HungarySoviets dismantled the iron curtain along

Austrian borderLed to free elections in 1990 and people

fleeing Hungary

Revolution in PolandAgreement to elections and Communists

agreed to give up power

HungarySoviets dismantled the iron curtain along

Austrian borderLed to free elections in 1990 and people

fleeing Hungary

1989: The year that changed the world

1989: The year that changed the world

Tiananmen Square:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N

NUaXEcpLX4&feature=fvw

Fall of the Berlin Wall:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK

1MwhEDjHg&feature=related

Tiananmen Square:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N

NUaXEcpLX4&feature=fvw

Fall of the Berlin Wall:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fK

1MwhEDjHg&feature=related

B. Remnants of the Communist World B. Remnants of the Communist World 1. 2007 only five Communist

countries left:a. Chinab. North Koreac. Vietnamd. Laose. Cuba

1. 2007 only five Communist countries left:

a. Chinab. North Koreac. Vietnamd. Laose. Cuba

2. Time period is important for two reasons:

a. Evolution of liberal democraciesb. To understand the present, we must

acknowledge the past.

2. Time period is important for two reasons:

a. Evolution of liberal democraciesb. To understand the present, we must

acknowledge the past.

VII. The Less Developed Countries

VII. The Less Developed Countries

“Decisions made in Washington are more important to us than those made here in Dar es-Salaam. So, maybe my people should be allowed to vot in American presidential elections.”

--Julius Nyerere, former President of

Tanzania

“Decisions made in Washington are more important to us than those made here in Dar es-Salaam. So, maybe my people should be allowed to vot in American presidential elections.”

--Julius Nyerere, former President of

Tanzania

TED TalksTED Talks

Hans Rosling: new insights on poverty

http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_reveals_new_insights_on_poverty.html

Hans Rosling: new insights on poverty

http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_reveals_new_insights_on_poverty.html