Alexis de Tocqueville

Why We CompareWhy We Compare••““Without comparisons to make the Without comparisons to make the mind does not know how to proceed.mind does not know how to proceed.””Alexis de TocquevilleAlexis de Tocqueville

••Comparison is fundamental to Comparison is fundamental to human thoughthuman thought

••Comparisons act as tests because Comparisons act as tests because controlled experiments are controlled experiments are impossibleimpossible

How We CompareHow We Compare••3 ways: describe, explain, predict3 ways: describe, explain, predict

••Without description, everything else is impossibleWithout description, everything else is impossible

••Explain: determines relationships for government typesExplain: determines relationships for government types

••Predict: from theories from relationshipsPredict: from theories from relationships

••Large “n” studiesLarge “n” studies-- statistical studiesstatistical studies

••Small “n” studiesSmall “n” studies-- case studiescase studies

••Large: variety of cases sufficient numberLarge: variety of cases sufficient number

••Small: go deeper into casesSmall: go deeper into cases

Systems: Structure and Functions Systems: Structure and Functions

••Three general concepts that are usedThree general concepts that are used••1. System1. System••2. Structure2. Structure••3. Function3. Function

••System: an object having moving parts interacting System: an object having moving parts interacting with setting or an environmentwith setting or an environment

••Political system: is a set of institutions and agencies Political system: is a set of institutions and agencies concerned with formulating and implementing the concerned with formulating and implementing the collective goal of a society or group within itcollective goal of a society or group within it

Systems: Structure and Functions Systems: Structure and Functions

••Government or statues: are the policy making Government or statues: are the policy making parts of political systemsparts of political systems

••Structures: specialized agenciesStructures: specialized agencies

••Parliaments, bureaucracies, administrative Parliaments, bureaucracies, administrative agencies and courtsagencies and courts

Systems: Structure and Functions ContinuedSystems: Structure and Functions Continued

••Functions: enable the government to formulate, Functions: enable the government to formulate, implement, and enforce its policies implement, and enforce its policies

••The policies reflect the goals: the agencies provide the The policies reflect the goals: the agencies provide the means. means.

Key terms:Key terms:

1.) Political Regime1.) Political Regime

2.) Structural2.) Structural

3.) Dense and Sparse trade relations3.) Dense and Sparse trade relations

4.) interdependence of nations4.) interdependence of nations

5.) Fluctuations5.) Fluctuations

Section 4: Structures and Section 4: Structures and FunctionsFunctions

Locates within the political Locates within the political system six types of political system six types of political structures: political parties, structures: political parties, interest groups, legislatures, interest groups, legislatures, executives, bureaucracies, and executives, bureaucracies, and courtscourtswill not carry far when will not carry far when comparing different political comparing different political systems b/c such structures systems b/c such structures are found in almost all modern are found in almost all modern political systemspolitical systemsBritain & China have all 6 Britain & China have all 6 political structures (at least in political structures (at least in name)name)

BritainBritainMonarchyMonarchyPolitical Executive: Prime Minister, ministers Political Executive: Prime Minister, ministers assigned to the Cabinet & larger industry (all assigned to the Cabinet & larger industry (all heads of departments/agencies)heads of departments/agencies)Political executive is usually selected by Political executive is usually selected by Parliament & have substantial policymaking powerParliament & have substantial policymaking powerHas a legislative body (House of Commons)Has a legislative body (House of Commons)

ChinaChinaNo specialized ceremonial No specialized ceremonial executiveexecutiveHas a president elected by Has a president elected by the National People’s the National People’s Congress who performs Congress who performs ceremonial and political ceremonial and political functionsfunctionsPolitical Executive: similar Political Executive: similar structure to Britain but is structure to Britain but is called the State Council called the State Council and is headed by the and is headed by the PremierPremier

Political Executive is Political Executive is closely supervised by the closely supervised by the general secretary of the general secretary of the Communist Part, Politburo, Communist Part, Politburo, and the Central Committee and the Central Committee of the partyof the partylegislative body (National legislative body (National People’s Congress) which People’s Congress) which meets for brief periods, meets for brief periods, ratifying decisions mainly ratifying decisions mainly made by the Communist made by the Communist Party authoritiesParty authoritiesCommunist Party controls Communist Party controls the the wholewhole political processpolitical process

The Political System & Its The Political System & Its FunctionsFunctions

shows how we relate structure shows how we relate structure function & process function & process

performanceperformanceUnder “process functions”: Under “process functions”: distinctive activities distinctive activities necessary for policy to be necessary for policy to be made/implementedmade/implementedThe political process begins as The political process begins as interests are interests are expressed/articulated, but expressed/articulated, but must be combined/aggregated must be combined/aggregated into policy alternatives to be into policy alternatives to be effective; alternative policies effective; alternative policies are THEN consideredare THEN considered

System functionsSystem functions(socialization, recruitment, communication)(socialization, recruitment, communication)

Not directly involved in Not directly involved in making/implementing public making/implementing public policypolicyDetermine whether or not the Determine whether or not the system will be system will be maintained/changedmaintained/changedPolitical socializationPolitical socialization ––involves families, schools, involves families, schools, communications media, communications media, churches, and various political churches, and various political structures that develop, structures that develop, reinforce, and transform reinforce, and transform attitudes of political attitudes of political significancesignificance

Political recruitmentPolitical recruitment –– refers refers to the selection of people for to the selection of people for political activity & government political activity & government officesofficesPolitical communicationPolitical communication ––refers to the flow of refers to the flow of information through the information through the society and through the society and through the various structures that make various structures that make up the political systemup the political system

OutputsOutputs –– implementations of implementations of the political processthe political process

Policy functionsPolicy functions –– substantive impacts on society, substantive impacts on society, economy, and culture (Using these functional categories, economy, and culture (Using these functional categories, we can determine how institutions in different countries we can determine how institutions in different countries combine in the making/implementation of different kinds combine in the making/implementation of different kinds of public policy)of public policy)–– RegulationRegulation of behaviorof behavior–– ExtractionsExtractions of resources in the form of taxes, etc.of resources in the form of taxes, etc.–– DistributionDistribution of benefits and services to various groups of benefits and services to various groups

in the populationin the populationOutcomesOutcomes –– result in new inputs, demands for legislation result in new inputs, demands for legislation or administrative action, and increases/decreases in or administrative action, and increases/decreases in amount of support given to the political system and amount of support given to the political system and incumbent officeholdersincumbent officeholders

Little TidbitsLittle Tidbits

interest groups are autonomous interest groups are autonomous organizations <play important roles in organizations <play important roles in the polity and economy>the polity and economy>Trade unions/professional Trade unions/professional organizations have to be viewed as organizations have to be viewed as parts of the official apparatus, parts of the official apparatus, dominated by the Comm. Partydominated by the Comm. Party

An Illustrative ComparisonAn Illustrative ComparisonBrief Example:Brief Example:

--YeltsinYeltsin--15 Member Republics15 Member Republics--ParliamentParliament--independent political independent political parties. Etc.parties. Etc.

--GorbachevGorbachev--USSRUSSR--CommunismCommunism

Russia in 1998Russia in 1998Russia in 1985Russia in 1985

--Comparisons look at changes, contrasts, and functions of Comparisons look at changes, contrasts, and functions of Institutions over timeInstitutions over time

An Illustrative Comparison ContinuedAn Illustrative Comparison Continued

Structural Analysis:Structural Analysis:

--Looks at the number of political parties, Looks at the number of political parties, organization of legislature, executive branch, organization of legislature, executive branch, bureaucracy, mass media, etc.bureaucracy, mass media, etc.

--Tries to determine how all of the above Tries to determine how all of the above function together.function together.

The Policy Level: Performance, Outcome The Policy Level: Performance, Outcome and Evaluation and Evaluation

--"structural"structural--functional" differences determine relationship between functional" differences determine relationship between politics and society on things such as welfare, justice, freedompolitics and society on things such as welfare, justice, freedom, , equality, peace and prosperity. equality, peace and prosperity.

--GovernmentGovernment’’s efficiency is not determined by spending. s efficiency is not determined by spending. Other Other factors come into play, such as technology, culture, etc. factors come into play, such as technology, culture, etc.

--Public Policy is never wholly determined by the people or their Public Policy is never wholly determined by the people or their leaders. leaders. There are other factors that influence them. There are other factors that influence them.

--The output of a political system is its performance. The output of a political system is its performance.

The Policy Level: Performance, Outcome and The Policy Level: Performance, Outcome and Evaluation continuedEvaluation continued

--Evaluation of political systems is determined Evaluation of political systems is determined by things such as security, welfare and by things such as security, welfare and liberty. liberty.

--Another part of evaluation is considering Another part of evaluation is considering how the govt. policies affect individuals and how the govt. policies affect individuals and subgroupssubgroups