Intro to Comparative Politics Key Comparative Concepts The

Intro to Comparative Politics Key Comparative Concepts

The Big Ideas & Goals • Big Ideas – Identify and understand various political systems – Identify and understand the purpose and role of government – Compare and contrast different political theories and systems – Analyze the different inputs and outputs of political systems and societies – Identify and describe the major systems and structures of political systems across a variety of nations – Analyze current events through the comparison of different national interests and political cultures § Goals § AP Exam – Thursday, May 16, 2019 8: 00 AM, stats later that day, Micro the next day, last exam § (US Gov: Monday May 6, 8: 00 AM) it is the 1 st exam!

What are we learning about?

RUSSIA USA UK PRC MEXICO NIGERIA IRAN

The Nations • The United States of America – our common point of comparison, Decline of the USA? • United Kingdom – modern democratic state, although different from the US • China – the rising superpower, Communism in name only • Russia – Putin & the Superpresidency, Russian democracy or a return to USSR? , Demographic issues • Mexico – The end of one party rule, the Oil Curse, NAFTA, drug cartels, Mexico rising or falling? • Iran – the Pariah State, theocracy and fundamentalism, President vs. Ayatollah, Persian & Shia Islam • Nigeria – Oil Curse, Tribalism, Religious fractures, Nigerian political culture – The Nigerian Identity?

I. Methods of Comparison

The Comparative Approach Comparing governments instills understanding and helps explain past and current events and predict future events Comparisons at multiple levels Sovereignty, authority, and power Political institutions Citizens, society, and the state Political and economic change Public policy

Types of Questions • Normative Questions – Value based questions, subjective answers, depends on your point-of-view • Empirical Questions – Questions that can be answered with data

Empirical or Normative? • The rate of population growth has decreased in China since 1990

Empirical or Normative? • Developing countries should adopt population growth policies similar to China’s policy.

Quantitative vs. Qualitative • Quantitative research is based on the measurement or amount and can be expressed in terms of a number. It is used to attempt to make conclusive decisions. (Large N) • Qualitative research is by definition exploratory, and it is used when we don’t know what to expect, to define the problem or develop an approach to the problem. It is descriptive in nature. A common collection method is a survey. (Small n)

Correlation vs. Causation • Correlation studies – Measures the degree of association between two variables and is expressed as a coefficient from 0 to 1 (highest) – Correlation is not the same as causation: • The more firemen are sent to a fire, the more damage is done to a property. • Children who get tutored get worse grades than children who do not get tutored • Causation studies – The capacity of one variable to influence another.

II. Sovereignty, Authority, & Power

Sovereignty • Defining feature of a state • Not all states possess it at all times • State’s claim to exercise authority and effective control of political decisions within a given territory • A state’s ability to carry out actions independently

Nation • A self-aware segment of society, united by shared cultural and possessing a belief in the right to political control over a particular territory. • A psychological sense of identity – Ethnic Nations • Common ethnic identity • Kurds and Chechens – Civic Nations • Heterogeneous population, but united by shared citizenship values • US & Great Britain • What unites people in America?

State • Institutions, people, and groups that have the power to effect change, including a monopoly on the use of force over territory • Has sovereignty: an independent legal authority over a population in particular territory, based on the recognized right to self-determination • 192 according to the United Nations • In America, we use the term differently • Characteristics – Permanent population – Defined geographic border – Governing institutions – Sovereignty – International recognition

Nation States • Word “nation” is sometimes used to mean almost the same as state, but refer to vastly different ideas in Political Science. • Strictly speaking, nation refers to a group of people with a common identity. • Cases in which national identification and the scope of legal authority largely coincide are called nation-states. • Examples: Japan, Koreas, Egypt, Portugal, Bangladesh, & Iceland (Basically means no minority groups) • Often, the correspondence between a nation and a state is not so neat. – Multinational states: consist of a multitude of different nations; Example: The Soviet Union, Yugoslavia, and Czechoslovakia were multinational states that have now broken apart.

Stateless Nations • Kurds • Chechynia

Supranational-states • United Nations • European Union

Classification of States • Industrialized Democracies (MDCs, 1 st world) – Advanced economies, build in restraints on power, elections, and responsive to public opinion, UK • Communist States (2 nd World) – Rely on repression and political violence to control domestic opposition – Cuba, China, North Korea • Less-Developed States (LDCs) (3 rd world) – Most countries, 130, Nigeria • Failed States – Cannot maintain law & order or provide basic services – Sierra Leone, Somalia, & Afghanistan

1 st World 2 nd World Former Communist States 3 rd World

Regimes • The set of institutions and practices that endures when one government is replaced by the next government. • It’s not the people, but the traditions, the established norms • Not necessarily a negative connotation (authoritarian), but that has become the common usage of the term • Regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad Vs. • Regime of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia

Analogy • “The state is the machinery of politics and the regime is its programming, the government is the operator. " • Can you think of another analogy to describe the relationship between these three?

The peaceful transfer of authority from George W. Bush to Barack Obama is an example of a A. continuation of both the government and the regime. B. change of regime and the continuation of the government. C. continuation of the regime and a change of government. D. change in both the government and the regime. E. change in the international system.

Regime Types • Democratic 1. Free and fair elections that are competitive and allow opposition parties 2. Citizen control (popular sovereignty) 3. Policies implemented based on procedures that guarantee due process, usually found in a Constitution 4. Transparency in decision making and accountability of leaders 5. Rights enjoyed by all citizens 6. Independent judiciary 7. Civilian control over the military 8. Agreement that political conflicts will be resolved peacefully according to legal procedures, rule of law • Consolidated Democracies (A history of adhering to these 8 principles for an extended period of time) • Britain, France, Germany, India, Japan, & US

Liberal Democracy • Also known as substantive or functioning democracy • Meets the criteria democracy, but has not been established long enough to be consolidated • Mexico

Illiberal (procedural) Democracy • Has elections, but not freedoms – No open media often • A governing system in which, although elections take place, citizens are cut off from knowledge about the activities of those who exercise real power because of the lack of civil liberties. • It is not an 'open society‘ • Russia under Putin, Singapore, US before universal suffrage, new Egypt

Semiauthoritarian • AKA-Hybrid regimes, transitional democracies • Elements of democracy present in an otherwise authoritarian regime • Ruling elites keep themselves in power despite the presence of some institutional features of democracy • Elections are often not competitive and political liberties are constrained • Russia, Mexico of old, and Nigeria

Authoritarianism • A regime type defined by the rule of a single leader, small group, or single political party • Severe limits are put on political opposition and are often suppressed by the misuse of the military power • Leaders exercise a high degree of control over social and economic activity • Little transparency • Iran, China, Cuba, North Korea

Totalitarianism • Attempts to control nearly all aspects of public and private life • Characterized by a single leader, a strong ideology, and a strong security forces to repress dissent • Nazi Germany, Stalin’s USSR, and Mao’s China

Make a regime continuum on the board

Types of Power • Power – The ability to make people do what they otherwise would not do. – 2 types • Coercive power – The use of rewards and punishment (force) to get what you want • Noncoercive power – Results from legitimacy » Legitimacy is a concern for all regimes » Belief by those obeying commands that the people who are making the rules have the right to govern » A legitimate regime will be able to produce and enforce policies more effectively that a system that lacks legitimacy

Types of Authority – Authority • Power based on legitimacy rather than through coercion – Types • Traditional Authority – Inherited, divine right of kings, rituals, symbols, myths, and ceremonies all help support it. • Charismatic Authority – Cult of Personality, hero worship – Personal attachment to the leader – Does not last beyond the life of the leader – Mao, Stalin, & Iran’s Ayatollah Khomeini • Legal Authority – Power based on established rules that governs how leaders are selected and how policy decisions are made. – Authority comes from established institutions such as a constitution – Authority lasts beyond the rule of one person, like the UK

Sovereignty, Authority & Power • Power – The ability to direct the behavior of others through coercion, persuasion, or leadership • Authority – Legal right exercise power on behalf of society and/or gov’t • Sovereignty is not given, it is taken. ” -- Kemal Ataturk (Turkish soldier) – Legal right and ability (power) “I have as much authority of a state to carry out actions as the Pope, I just don't as many people who & policies within its territory have believe it. ” -- George Carlin (comedian)

Legitimacy • Generally accepted view that the government has the right to rule • Popularly accepted use of power by a government. • Difficult concept to measure. • Lack of legitimacy is probably easier to identify but still hard to quantify. • The answer to if a state’s government is legitimate is situational dependent – A state’s history of governance (authoritarian, democratic, role of religion etc. ) influences perceptions of legitimacy,

Sovereignty + Authority + Power = Legitimacy • A government’s legitimacy comes from its sovereignty, authority, and power • Without sufficient sovereignty, authority, and power to lend legitimacy to its government, a state cannot function. • Factors influencing legitimacy might include: – The state’s history of leadership – Economic considerations – Foreign Recognition – Role of Religion The scepter, a monarchical symbol of sovereignty, authority, and power all in one

Common areas to test for Legitimacy: Remember it all depends on the history of the state • Elections (peaceful transfer of power) • Economic well-being • • • • Foreign recognition Foreign support, esp. economic investment Historical tradition/longevity Ideology Charismatic leadership Nationalism, national identity, symbols Political participation/mobilization Role of Military is subdued; civilian control Satisfaction with system Sense of Efficacy and Sense of Representation Shared mass political culture Socialization process through media/schools/religion Supportive public opinion Tolerance of opposition (best example: UK) Written constitution/ respect for the Rule of Law Think of how many of these the early U. S. had!!!!!

Concept of Legitimacy • How does this clip demonstrate a lack of legitimacy for the king?

Constitutions • • • Rules of the game Lists official powers Puts limits on government Adds to legitimacy if followed Written (US) vs. Unwritten (UK)

Rule of Law • The legal principle that law should govern a state and not arbitrary decisions by individual government officials • Laws rule, not people • No one is above the law, not even leaders • Refutes divine right philosophy • Without Rule of Law, the state loses legitimacy • Quotes: – "The rule of law is better than that of any individual“ and “The only stable state is the one in which all men are equal before the law. ” -Aristotle – “We must be governed by the force of law, not by the law of force. ” – “We have a problem when the same people who make the law get to decide whether or not they themselves have broken the law. ”

Rank the six from most legitimate to least legitimate governments: • • • Russia Great Britain Mexico Iran Nigeria China

Rank the six from most legitimate to least legitimate governments: • • • Russia-3 Great Britain-1 Mexico-2 Iran-5 Nigeria-6 China-4`

Give open note quiz • Saved as quiz intro Day one

III. Economic Systems • Free-Market Capitalism – Private ownership of property, rejects state involvement, can result in stratification of social classes • Socialism – Public ownership of the means of production and egalitarian distribution of wealth • Command Economy (Centrally Planned) – State owns the capital and workers work for the state – Decisions about production in the hands of a few bureaucrats – Lack efficiency and leads to black markets

Mixed Economies – Social Welfare Capitalist System • Mainly capitalist, but the government sets up many welfare benefits, UK, US: Social Security & Medicare – Mercantilism • Free-Market to a degree, except with world trade, protectionist, Imperialism economic model, colonies under UK – Socialist Market Economy • Mix of state control and market forces, China – State Capitalism • Greater role for state ownership of economic entities, but less of a role in regulation and social welfare protection • The state is a major economic player, especially in lucrative industries, like energy • Russia

VI. Political Ideologies • Guiding set of principles about the proper design and function of politics and society • Both normative & prescriptive • Can be used to contrast the Western democracies & communism, or Democrats & Republicans

Types of Ideologies • Liberalism (Classical) – Favors free-market capitalism and extensive freedoms, Open society • Liberalism (American Democratic Party Version) – Economic regulation to help defend the common person and believes in little social regulation • Communism – State ownership of property, equality over freedom, one-party rule, USSR

• Conservatism – Minimum regulation of the economy, against income distribution, defends the status quo (Republican Party) • Libertarian – Promotes an even more limited government role than conservatives, especially with social values • Reactionary – Champions a return to traditional arrangements • Fascism – Based on nationalism and militarism – State is the most important entity – Nazis, Italy during WWII

Political Culture • Social Relations with authority – Vertical social relations • Emphasize hierarchy – Horizontal social relations • Highlights equality • Group Welfare vs. interests of the individual • Liberty vs. Security • Legitimacy of the political system and its leaders – Can leaders be trusted and monitored? • Political community – Does the population identify with the nation or a religion, region, or ethnicity more? – Civil Society

Do practice multiple choice • 7 -B • 12 -D

Practice Multiple Choice Answers 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. A E B B B D 9. C 10. E 11. A 12. D, not important 13. A 14. A 15. B