Comparative Government I Comparative Method 1 I Comparative

Comparative Government I. Comparative Method 1

I. Comparative Theory A. WHY teach Comparative Gov’t? 1. Not enough govt 2. Who is the enemy? 3. Establish reference points for comparison 4. It’s a small world. . . we need to understand others. . . 5. Environment (surroundings) has more impact on a system than the government itself. I. Comparative Method 2

B. HOW -- Ecological perspective 1. 6 “systems” -- ecological concept implies an organism interacts w/ an environment, influencing and being influenced by many internal parts. a. A system provides for accepted (legitimate) coercion. b. A system taxes, makes war + peace. . . Somehow it must convince its citizens to follow 2. It turns to structures (Parliaments, courts, political parties to perform functions. . . make laws. 3. In total, systems need to be examined within their environments. a. One can’t examine structures by themselves. The Structures functions also need to be examined. I. Comparative Method 3

C. Structures + Functions 1. Three Process functions –Goal - make policy a. interest articulation -- ideas are expressed -- by Legislative branch b. interest aggregation -- policy is consolidated by executive branch c. neither interest is self-sustaining. . structures need IMPUTS 1). Demands + support from the masses! 2. ) Also authoritative policy making from within the structures. It is enforced and implemented -withinputs d. process of adjudication --policy is interpreted -judicial I. Comparative Method 4

e. ALSO there are systems function outside of structures. 1). socialization -- SPERM 2). Recruitment = Political elites (politician) 3) Communication All 3 determine whether or not the system will be changed or maintained via POLITICAL PARTICIPATION 4). POLITICALIZATION --Gov’t influences the masses for its support. i. e. flag, holidays. voting. . . speeches. (show chart) I. Comparative Method 5

f. In total -one has diagrammed a political culture. . . A Polity – An organized political unit!!!!! D. Inputs Political culture Outputs Is a Gov’t meeting the people’s needs? 1. What are the mechanisms of support? 2. How does one qualify (determine) if a gov’t is producing? Performance efforts vs. Actual outcomes And if not, then what? (Show chart) Ponder: How well is the art of politics being performed by the 6 political systems? Thesis statement? I. Comparative Method 6

Thesis statement “Human beings as physical organisms are subject to continual change. . . Bound together in an increasingly interdependent world. All governments confront challenges that demand the best of their capabilities. ” Assess the validity of this statement by examining how a political scientist compares the polities of developed countries, developing countries and lesser developed countries, in determining how well a system meets its peoples needs. I. Comparative Method 7

g. Conceptual Ideas 1. 2. 3. 4. The Studer Model Conceptual Exercise Country Search Comparative Pre-test I. Comparative Method 8

D. The state of the “states” address . . . pre-industrial to post-industrial comparisons. . . where do our countries fall? 1. Our view of other states is often narrow + “Eurocentric. . . based on Ethnocentrism. --Your society is superior a. BEHAVIORIALISM -- COVERs EVERYTHING. . . b. Comparative approach is much more -- systems oriented 2. Shifting control a. 1800’s - era of empire b. 1900’s era of nations, more than half of nations arrived since 1945. c. 21 st Century - Democratization v. Authoritarian I. Comparative Method 9

All are STATES -- organized geographical body that possesses political idea that transmits inputs into outputs. 3. Big Nations vs. Small -- size can be a determining factor i. e. population. USSR vs. Mexico. . . or geography. . . But BIG isn’t necessarily good or dominant. Iran vs. US (’ 79) or Ukraine vs. USSR (’ 88) Russia vs. Chenycha (‘ 980 IRA vs. England. Taiwan vs. China (’ 05). As we have discovered. . . Terrorism is an equalizer. US vs. Al Queda I. Comparative Method 10

4. Rich and poor -- a. GNP -- value of goods + services. . . high GNP - education, TEC, Living styles. (Industrial or post-industrial society). This all costs money and poorer nations suffer from that attempt to develop. 1) Industrialized societies worry about “post-materialism” issues = social equality, environmental protection, cultural pluralism, and self expression. These issues have spawned new SIGs who have pressured gov’t to conform while gov’t attempts to pay for this idealism. b. GDP -- Gross domestic product -value of goods and services produced within one’s borders. i. e. Mexico sent 69% of its oil to US making it very dependent on the US for development. (NAFTA) c. Purchasing power parity --PPP indicates that developed nations have increasingly higher income levels than previously reported. I. Comparative Method 11

d. In total -- smaller the GNP, more subsistence work force = ag related e. Rich nations develop classes, poor nations develop castes of inequality -- oligarchies control. f. Dependence game -- - DEPENDENCE THEORY Who is your best friend and is it a “good” friend. 1)The Alliance game. Every modern country seeks international political and economic dependence. But poorer countries lose out more in this relationship. . . 2) The imperialistic game. Only the “big” guys” who produce large alliance structures are truly “independent”. g. Per capita basis -- ratio of the national income from Rich to poor runs about 35: 1 I. Comparative Method 12

h. pre-industrial -- ag dominated; industrial -- machine-dominated. post-industrial -- service-oriented I. Import substitution – Gov’t subsidies i. e. , Mexico – gov’t subsidized industry from 19501980 and economy boomed in the short term but also created long term debt. . . lack of incentives for private entrepreneurs. . so economy finally tanked in late 80’s, created false sense of security and largest 3 rd world debt at the time. j. Key question. . . socialism or capitalism? ? ? I. Comparative Method 13

5. Overall Problems -- Crisis of state -- How do nations cope? a. Industrial nations -- implement agencies for making policies. Civil servants adapt + sustain. 1) Established nations possess an identity -Politicalize its people to accepting what it has. 2) Culturally diverse groups are assimilated. b. Pre-industrial nations take stop gap approaches. 1). Cultural heterogeneity -- What do you do with a melting pot -- It has a tendency to bubble over 2) Assimilation or Denial – TV can develop nat’l ID I. Comparative Method 14

c. Economic woes -- Post industrial (POI) + Preindustrial (Pre) have different concerns. . . (1) POI - how maintain growth? Pre - how grow? POI - how handle inflation? Pre - How do you spell inflation? POI - Improve social services? - Which service is most needed? POI - Quality of life is an issue? PRE - Feeding the masses I. Comparative Method 15

PRE- environment, overcrowding, conservation are back burner issues. One lacks an infrastructure to manage crises. . . Both- pursue modern weaponary, Both-pursue economic interdepedence. . but the poor is more dependent than the other BOTH- internalizing communications BOTH-economic growth Both- the citizen’s state of mind. Both seek legitimate coercion I. Comparative Method 16

d. Four distinct trends 1. Democratization – Is it too complex? 2. Decentralization – Big gov’t is expensive – Devolution of interests. . . Back to the people or smaller gov’ts. 3. Regionalization – i. e. NAFTA. . . EU. . . Asian summit? ? ? 4. Globalization – UN type movements inspired by economic forces. v. Fragmentation – Ethnic rivalries exist. Jihad v. Mc. World I. Comparative Method 17

e. Foreign security -1. Post-Industrial nations rely on it 2. Pre-industrial become dependent on it because they are the battle grounds. 3. Terrorism brings it home f. In conclusion – A State must set priorities in how its going to function. One must answer the question of. . . Where are we? ? And where are we going? ? ? I. Comparative Method 18