COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS INTRODUCTION

COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT AND

POLITICS

INTRODUCTION

WHAT IS COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS?

GOVERNMENT: leadership and institutions that make policy decisions for the country.

POLITICS: All about power. Who gets it? How? What do they do with it?

WHAT IS COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS?

TOPICS for Each Country Under Consideration: The Comparative Method Sovereignty, Authority and Power Political and Economic Change Citizens, Society and the State Political Institutions Public Policy

TOPIC ONE: THE COMPARATIVE METHOD

Scientific Method THREE WORLD APPROACH (PRE

1990) 1ST – The United States and its Allies 2nd – The Soviet Union and its Allies 3rd – Economically underdeveloped and

deprived. Did not fit into the other two categories.


Newer Types of Comparisons 1. Impact of Informal Politics

Civil Society – the way that citizens organize and define themselves and their interests.

Informal politics – ways politicians behavior outside their formal powers as well as beliefs, values, and actions of ordinary citizens have on policymaking.


2. Importance of Political Change The nature of world politics has

changed. Three World Approach not needed

anymore.

3. The Integration of Political and Economic Change- Linking of the political and economic systems. For Example: Communism and Capitalism.


Groups With Similar Political and Economic Institutions and Practices:

ADVANCED DEMOCRACIES – Well established democratic governments and high level of economic development.

Great Britain United States of America European Union Included in this discussion.


Communist and Post-Communist Countries – Limited individual freedom in order to divide wealth more equally.

Russia – Post-Communist Country China – Communist Country


Less Developed and Newly Industrializing (or developing) Countries – “Third World” Some are experiencing rapid growth,

tendency toward democratization and social/political stability. Examples are Mexico and Iran.

Lesser Developed countries lack significant economic development and may have authoritarian governments. Example is Nigeria.

TOPIC TWO: SOVEREIGNTY, AUTHORITY, AND POWER

States are countries that control what happens within their borders.

Institutions are long lasting, stable organizations that help to turn political ideas into policy.

Sovereignty is the ability to carry out actions or policies within their borders without interference.

Nationalism – Sense of belonging to the nation that binds people together.

Democracies Indirect vs. Direct Parliamentary vs. Presidential

Parliamentary – citizens vote for legislative representatives who select the leaders of the executive branch. Head of Government

Presidential – citizens vote for legislative representatives and the executive branch who function within a system of separation of powers and checks and balances. Head of State and Head of Government.

Semi-Presidential – Prime Minister coexists with a president elected by the power and has power. (example is Russia)

Parliamentary systems

Parliamentary systems- citizens vote for legislative

representatives which in turn select leaders of the executive branch

Parliamentary sovereignty- Legislature makes the laws, controls the

finances, appoints and dismisses the prime minister and the cabinet, and debates public issues

Parliamentary Systems

Parliamentary sovereignty continued: strong party discipline within the

legislature MP’s will vote for bills proposed by its

leadership the cabinet initiates legislation and

makes policy no real separation of power between

executive and legislative branches

Parliamentary Systems

Typically there is a separation in the executive branch:

head of state- a role that symbolizes the power and nature of the regime

in Britain- this is the Queen head of government- a role that deals

with the everyday tasks of running the government in Britain- this is the prime minister

Presidential Systems

citizens vote for legislative representatives as well as for executive leaders

Legislative and executive branches function with separation of powers

Roles of Head of state and head of government are given to the president

Checks and Balances between the legislative and executive branches

Presidential systems

Separation of Powers ensures that power is shared and that one branch does not become more powerful than the other

Each branch must have an independent base of authority

power is diffused policymaking process slowed because one

branch may question decisions of the other branch

Semi Presidential

The prime minister coexists with a president who is directly elected by the people Russia is the example

Authoritarian Regimes

Decisions made by political ELITES. Ruled by single dictator, hereditary

monarch, small group of aristocrats, or single political party.

State Corporatism – Government officials interact with people/groups outside of government before making decisions.

Patron-Client System – Reciprocal favors and services to supporters.


Characteristics of Authoritarian Regimes Small group of elites with power over

the state. Citizens with little or no input into the

selection of leaders and decisions of government.

No constitutional responsibility of leaders to the public.

Restriction of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties


Totalitarianism – Term used to describe a particularly detested regime with a strong ideological goal (communism).

Military Regimes – Military intervention into politics in a country where letimacy is low and stability is in question. Lacks specific ideology with

noncharasmatic leaders. May join forces with state bureaucracy to form an authoritarian regime.

Not opposed to use of force COUP D’ETAT.

CORPORATISM

CORPORATISM – Method through which business, labor, and/ or other interest groups bargain with the state over economic policy.

STATE CORPORATISM – Eliminates any input from groups not sanctioned or created by the state.

PATRON-CLIENTELISM – system in which the state provides specific benefits or favors to a single person or group for their support.

CORPORATISM

PLURALISM – Power split among many groups with a chance to influence decisions.

DEMOCRATIC CORPORATISM Formation of interest groups is

spontaneous. Dialogue between interest groups and

the state is voluntary. Develop institutionalized and legally

binding links with the state becoming semi-public agencies limiting freedom of people.

LEGITIMACY

The right to rule; given by the people. Three Forms of Authority:

1. Traditional Authority – Tradition should decide who will rule and how.

2. Charismatic Authority – based on dynamic personality of a leader or small group.

3. Rational-Legal Authority – Based on a system of well-established laws and procedures.

Common Law – Tradition, past practices, legal precedent.

Code Law – System of written rules of law divided into commercial, civil, and criminal codes.

LEGITIMACY

Legitimacy of leaders is based on FAIR, FREE, COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS.

Factors that encourage legitimacy in both Authoritarian and Democratic Regimes: Economic Well-Being Historical Tradition/Longevity Charismatic Leadership Nationalism/Shared Political Culture Satisfaction with the Government’s

Performance/Responsiveness

POLITICAL CULTURE AND IDEOLOGIES

POLITICAL CULTURE – Collection of beliefs, values, practices, and institutions that the government is based on.

SOCIAL CAPITAL – A method to measure the Political Culture based on the amount of reciprocity and trust that exists among citizens and the state.


Types of Political Culture Consensual Political Culture –

Acceptance of both the legitimacy of the regime and solutions to major problems although there may be disagreement on political processes and policies.

Conflictual Political Culture – Citizens are sharply divided on legitimacy of the regime and solutions to major problems. Subcultures may develop. Effective rule may be subdued.


Political Ideologies – Sets of political values held by individuals regarding the basic goals of government and politics. 1. Liberalism – Emphasis on individual

political and economic freedom. (freedom for all, free speech, religion, and association). The right to disagree with the state and leaders. Action to change the decisions of leaders present.


Political Ideologies 2. Communism – Values equality over

Freedom. Result of the competition for scarce resources is that a small group will come to control the government and the economy. Private ownership of property is abolished.

Individual liberties give way to the needs of society as a whole.


Political Ideologies 3. Socialism – Shares the value of

equality of Communism with the freedom of liberalism.

Accept and promote private ownership & free market.

State regulation of economy and benefits to public to ensure equality.


Political Ideologies 4. Fascism – Devalues individual

freedom. Rejects the value of equality. People and groups exist in degrees of

inferiority and superiority. State has the right and responsibility to

mold society and economy and to eliminate obstacles.

Nazi Germany is example.


Political Ideologies 5. Religions – Source of group identity.

Separation of Church and State in advanced democracies.

Source of interest group activity within the civil society.

Varies in importance to governmental regimes in the world. (Iran = Theocracy).

TOPIC THREE: POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC CHANGE

Comparative Political Scientists are interested in the impact that change has on the policymaking process.

Political and economic changes occur together and influence one another. If one happens without the other, tensions and instability can occur with serious consequences.

Three Types of Change

1. Reform – does not advocate the overthrow of basic institutions. Reformers want to change some of the methods used to reach goals.

2. Revolution – Basic level change that involves major revision or overthrow of existing institutions

3. Coup d’etat – Replacement of the leader of a country. Use of force and assassination can happen.

Attitudes Toward Change

1. Radicalism – Rapid, dramatic changes need to me made in society and/or political system. System cannot be saved and must be replaced (Bolsheviks).

2. Liberalism – Gradual reform and change. Economic/Political system not broken but in need of gradual repair or improvement.

Attitudes Toward Change

3. Conservatism – Less supportive of change. Change is seen as disruptive and can have unforseen outcomes. Change can be a threat to law and order.

4. Reactionary – Find status quo unacceptable but generally similar to conservatives. Regress to an earlier era regarding political, social, and economic institution that once existed.

Three Trends (Patterns)

1. Democratization – Requirement is competitive elections that are regular, free, and fair. Liberal Democracy Characteristics

Civil Liberties Rule of Law Neutrality of the Judiciary Open Civil society Civilian Control of the Military


1. Democratization Illiberal democracies – Countries that

have regular, free, and fair elections but lack elements listed in previous slide.

Third Wave of Democratization – Samuel Huntington- Modern World is here.

1st Wave – Post 18th Century Revolutions 2nd Wave – Post WWII until 1960’s –

De-colonization


1. Democratization – Causes Loss of legitimacy Expansion of an urban Middle Class Emphasis on Human Rights Snowball Effect (domino theory in

reverse)

*Political discontent is triggered if preceded by a period higher standard of living, a condition called “revolution of rising expectations.”


2. Movement Toward Market Economies Command Economies (socialist

principles, state ownership) are fading from existence unless partnered with Market Economies

Mixed Economy – Market Economy that allows for control from the central government.


Movement Toward Market Economies Two Factors precipitating movement

toward market economies: Belief that Government is Too Big Lack of success of command economies.**MARKETIZATION – state’s recreation of a

market in which property, labor, goods and services can function in a competitive environment to determine value.

Privatization – Transfer of state-owned property to private ownership.


3. Revival of Ethnic or Cultural Politics Fragmentation – divisions based on

ethnic or cultural identity. Politicization of Religion has

dominated world politics in the 21st century.

Huntington argues a dangerous future will be based on clashes of civilizations, not socioeconomic or ideological differences.

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COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS INTRODUCTION