Regime = pattern of politics, policies, institutions Politics = way people compete for political power Policies = outcome of political conflict Institutions = rules of game; structure

competition Regime types

Social democratic (Denmark, Norway, Sweden) Conservative (Austria, Belgium, Germany,

Netherlands) Christian democratic (Canada, Ireland, United States)

Scandinavian countries Gradual, smooth democratization No linguistic, ethnic, religious

cleavages Unique alliances

Disunity among opponents, social homogeneity, strong working-class attachments, appeal to middle-class voters beyond working-class base

Capitalist Big government

High state expenditures and government revenues

High percentage public sector employees Social democratic welfare state

Universal Comprehensive Generous Quality of life detached from labor market Service intensive Redistributive

Welfare state efficient and productive High labor force participation Dynamic and competitive Moderates workers’ wage demands Active labor market policies

Highly competitive capitalist economies and large redistributive welfare states

Centralized Parliamentary democracies

Strong parties, disciplined majorities, fused executive-legislative

Unitary Gives dissenting groups few opportunities to

block legislation majority prefers Large, powerful labor movement

High percentage of unionized workers Unions and party closely allied

Corporatist interest groups Unions and employers engage in centralized

bargaining

Goods and services left to market; marginal state

Weak left-wing parties Absent (e.g., U.S.) Class-voting low Class cleavages less intense; other sources of

conflict Business dominates

Interest group advantage Low voter turnout (lowest among working class;

class divide subdued) Policies appeal to wealthy voters; ignore demands

of working-class Business interests identified with interests of society

as a whole (“What’s good for GM…”)

Good creating new jobs, increasing economic growth

Small public sector Regulation constrained Low welfare effort Low levels of public spending Circumstances of non-poor determined

through private sector Policies suit wealthy

Low costs of welfare limits taxes Purchase welfare (i.e., healthcare, daycare,

retirement, etc.) privately through market

Federal and Unitary Parliamentary and presidential Bicameral (differences in power of second

chamber) Electoral systems (PR and plurality) Judicial review Centralization U.S.: strong federalism, bicameralism,

independent Congress, weak parties, judicial review minorities (e.g., upper class) can capture part of state and thwart will of majority (e.g., middle and working class)

Similar interest group structures (pluralist) and smaller, weaker union movements

Class and church-state cleavages (emergent parties and other political issues)

Centrist in orientation (“catch-all” parties) Workers, farmers, shopkeepers,

business executives Move right or left in seeking coalition

partners PR electoral systems

Big government (but < social democratic regimes)

High welfare expenditures (= social democratic regimes)

Public sector employment (< average for conservative regimes)

State -- large fiscal presence, small social presence

Social policy reinforce traditional family values; mitigate effects of inequality Benefits preserve differentials among occupations

and reinforce class differences

Parliamentary democracies Bicameral (differences in power of

houses) Differences in judicial review, unitary-

federal forms Corporatist interest groups

Limited number of hierarchically structured associations participate in policy-making process

Degree of corporatism varies

Physical well-being Christian democratic (CD) regimes marginally >

Social democratic (SD) > Conservative (C); CD >= SD > C

C -- highest rate of absolute poverty Informed decision-making: SD > CD > C Safety: SD > CD > C Civil and political rights/quality of democracy

SD = CD = C press freedom, political rights, civil liberties, competitive elections

“Voice and accountability” SD > CD > C Voter turnout SD > CD > C

SD regimes best meets “good society” standards Quality of democracy, safety, informed decisions CD > SD (physical needs)