States Comparative Politics States Intro How do countries

States Comparative Politics

States Intro How do countries create and maintain political power?

States Pakistan - 2013 Mini Case Study Pakistan Muslim League sweeps elections, making Nawaz Sharif prime minister First time ever that one democratically elected government handed power over to another Every other transfer of power had been martial law or military coup since 1947 Pakistan is unable to meet the electricity needs of its people. Poor management, inability to collect payments lead to half of all electricity produced being stolen State is weak. State lacks capacity.

States Comparative Politics

States Define States Have a monopoly of violence over a territory Population, Territory, Government, Sovereignty Has sovereignty Have a set of institutions to make & carry out policy Are typically highly institutionalized

States Sovereignty The ability to carry out actions and policies within a territory independent of external actors Indicates than an actor is the primary authority over a territory If a state cannot defend its territory or faces powerful opponents within its territory, its policies will be undermined Must have army and police force to maintain sovereignty

States Institutions that seek to wield force within a territory – maintaining order and deterring challengers (inside or out) Set of institutions that society deems necessary to achieve its goals such as: police, taxes, judiciary The state is almost permanent. The regime seems permanent to people in a state, but can change in extreme circumstances

States Regime The political system of a state Fundamental rules and norms of politics Endure beyond individual governments Long term goals that guide the state. Ex: where power resides, how power is used, freedom vs equality

States Regime Most basic level = democratic or nondemocratic Democratic Regime Nondemocratic Regime Rules and norms of politics give public a large role Limits public participation and favors those in power There are rights and liberties for individuals In some places may just refer to the leader himself

States Regimes are… Regime Norms and rules regarding freedom and collective equality, the locus of power, and the use of that power Institutionalized but can be changed by dramatic events like a revolution Categorized at the most basic level as either democratic or authoritarian Often embodied in a constitution

States Governments Leadership that runs the state Holds particular ideas about goals like freedom vs equality Make and carry out policies Must work within the existing regime that has build up over time

States Government A government is. . Leadership or elites in charge of running the state Weakly institutionalized Limited by the existing regime Often composed of elected officials, such as a president, or unelected officials such as a monarch

States Comparing the three Essentials of Comparative Politics, 5 th Edition Copyright © 2015, W. W. Norton & Company

States Comparing the three State A computer Regime The operating system – the programming that defines the capabilities Government The individual user – who is operating the machinery

States Essentials of Comparative Politics, 5 th Edition Copyright © 2015, W. W. Norton & Company

Origins of States

States Origins of the State Origins Sedentary humans in the Middle East allowed complex political systems to form Food surpluses led to population increase, trade, inequality, competition States emerge out of violence. Conquering of others or groups coming together to better defend. Earliest states include taxes, bureaucracy, laws, militaries, leadership, economic planning

States Urbanization or state building? Endogenity Did leadership cause urbanization by building complex institutions that attracted people? Did urbanization cause political institutions to form? Did these institutionalize simultaneously?

States Origins of state Thinks humans submitted to authority in order to overcome anarchy – giving up their rights to gain security Hobbes Negative view of human nature – this system ensures neither freedom nor equality Humans create a social contract to create a system of authority that helps them meet their collective needs Rousseau Human nature is instinctively compassionate & egalitarian. The state corrupted them by imposing inequality

Modern States Modern State Rome collapses Fragmentation Modern states Anarchy in Europe Political organizations develop Reaction to crime Infrastructure disappears Constant competition Crime dominates Strength controls terrirory Groups survive or are absorbed Control more profitable than crime

Modern States Europe vs. China Ethnically & linguistically fragmented Centralized for a thousand years already Geographic boundaries prevent one large empire No geographic boundaries to stop growth Small competing local governments form Highly developed with no rivals for power

Modern States Advantages States encourage economic development Rulers made law that protected private property Gave the state more resources to tax Encouraged people to earn profits Helped states build stronger armies

Modern States Advantages States encourage technological innovation Stimulated even further economic development Viewed new tech as way to enhance power A function of competition for cultural dominance

Modern States Advantages Domestic stability Increased trade and commerce Commerce facilitated common language and shared identity Allowed the development of infrastructure Ethnicity became an asset for the state

Modern States Spread Modern states in 1500 Consequences 20% of countries Religious rivals lost political power Had better technology and economic resources Economic growth led to colonizing other states Had developed ideas of national identity Organizational structure of modern state imposed on rest of world

Legitimacy States

Legitimacy What is it? People recognize something as right. A legitimate institution is widely accepted by the public Allows institutions to have power without having to rely on force People obey rules even when the threat of punishment is small. Power relies on the consent of the people

Legitimacy Traditional Legitimacy Built over a long period of time. Rituals and ceremonies help reinforce legitimacy Has power of history on its side Ex: monarchy ruled by one family

Legitimacy Charismatic Legitimacy Based on power of ideas or beliefs Typically embodied by persuasive individuals Not institutionalized, dies with the person Ex: Muhammad, Hitler

Legitimacy Rational Legal Rational-Legal Legitimacy Based on system of laws and procedures Officials gain legitimacy through the rules Legitimacy belongs to the office, not person Ex: Barack Obama

Centralization States

Centralization Control of territory How to they control? unitary Political power is concentrated at national level – local authority is limited federal Some powers are devolved to regional bodies or local legislatures confederation Most power is controlled by regional bodies

Centralization Unitary States Benefits Drawbacks Central govt has more capacity to solve problems Too much centralization can be dangerous Territorial divisions are still allowed but they have no political power Can allow local interests to be marginalized

Centralization Unitary States Federalism Benefits Drawbacks Helps represent local interests better Weakens state efficiency Serves as a check on the growth of central power Can exacerbate ethnic or regional conflict

Centralization Asymmetric Federalism Power is divided unevenly between regional bodies. Some have more power than others over things like tax or language rights Most likely in a country with significant ethnic divisions

Centralization Devolution Federalism Recent trend Decentralization – taking power from the central government and giving it to the regional bodies Typically increases legitimacy of the state by moving more political power closer to the people. Is a way to resolve problems like ethnic or religious differences by giving power to regions where these groups are dominant.

Power, Autonomy, & Capacity State

States Strength Strong Weak States Able to fulfil basic tasks Cannot execute basic tasks Highly institutionalized Not well institutionalized, lack legitimacy

States Capacity Ability of the state to use power to carry out basic tasks States with high capacity can make and carry out policies States with high capacity can ensure stability Requires money, organization, and effective leadership

States Autonomy Ability of the state to use its power independently of the public Autonomous states can carry out a policy without having to consult the public Act on behalf of the public, no matter what public opinion says

States High Capacity Low Capacity Autonomy & Capacity High Autonomy Low Autonomy State is able to fulfill basic tasks with minimum public intervention; power highly centralized; strong state State is able to fulfill basic tasks, but public plays a direct role in determining policy and is able to limit state power and the scope of activity State is able to function with State lacks ability to fulfill basic tasks, and is subject to direct a minimum of public control and interference – interference or direct power highly decentralized among control, but its capacity to state and nonstate actors, weak fulfill basic tasks is limited state

States Autonomy & Capacity High Autonomy Low Autonomy High Capacity Too high may undermine democracy State may be unable to develop new policies or respond to new challenges owing to the power of organized opposition Low Capacity State is ineffectual, limiting development, and slow development may provoke public unrest Too low may lead to internal state failure Dangers

States Failed States Fragile States Not well institutionalized Lack legitimacy Lack capacity State structures have broken down Fragile States that are in danger of becoming failed states

States Fragile State Index Fragile States Published annually by Foreign Policy and Fund for Peace think tank Attempts to assess a state’s vulnerability to collapse Ranks all states in the UN Uses 12 indicators What are they?

States Fragile States Social Political Factions of elites – flawed elections, nationalized rhetoric Demographic pressure – population relative to food supply State legitimacy – corruption, transparency External Intervention – intervention by other militaries Internally Displaced Persons – refugees coming & going Public Services – disappearance of basic state functions Economic Group Grievances – tension between groups Human Rights & Rule of Law – civil liberties, press freedom Uneven Development – group based inequality, fair housing Brain drain – migration of educated population Security Apparatus – emergence of special police Poverty – per capita income, unemployment levels

States Fragile States Essentials of Comparative Politics, 5 th Edition Copyright © 2015, W. W. Norton & Company

States Fragile States Essentials of Comparative Politics, 5 th Edition Copyright © 2015, W. W. Norton & Company

States Fragile States Essentials of Comparative Politics, 5 th Edition Copyright © 2015, W. W. Norton & Company

States Fragile States Essentials of Comparative Politics, 5 th Edition Copyright © 2015, W. W. Norton & Company

States Fragile States Essentials of Comparative Politics, 5 th Edition Copyright © 2015, W. W. Norton & Company

Mini Case Study: Pakistan Slides Towards Failure STate

States Why has Pakistan slid toward failure? Mini Case Study Read the passage In what ways has it failed to meet the definition of state? What kinds of institutions does it lack or are weak that lead to continued military rule? What is meant by describing it as an irrational state?

Wrap Up States

Main Ideas States STATES VS REGIMES Development of modern states Results of legitimacy, capacity, authority Fragile States Remember this… OR ELSE