Democracies, Semi-democracies and authoritarian political systems

STARTING WEDNESDAY, POSC 2300 WILL MEET IN SN 2105 ROOM CHANGE STARTING WEDNESDAY, POSC 2300 WILL MEET IN SN 2105

TYPES OF POLITICAL SYSTEMS: Democratic vs. Semi-democratic vs. Authoritarian <-----------------------------------------------------------------> Consolidated vs. Transitional states <----------------------------------------------------------------> Developed vs. Developing states

DEMOCRACY & LIBERAL DEMOCRACY Democracy in its simplest form: Rule of the many: popular control, participation Representative democracy: a variant of democracy in which popular control is exercised through elected representatives Liberal democracy: a form of representative democracy involving majority rule, respect for minority rights, and the rule of law

Typically realized through: Extension of right to participate to all citizens Political Competition Freedom of Expression

TYPES OF LIBERAL DEMOCRACY Monarchy Republic Presidential Semi- Parliamentary UNITARY FEDERAL

OTHER WAYS IN WHICH DEMOCRACIES CAN VARY: ADVERSARIAL v. CONSENSUS ◄-------------------------------------------------------► DEVELOPED VS. UNDER-DEVELOPED ◄--------------------------------------------------------------► STABLE v. UNSTABLE ◄---------------------------------------------------►

Authoritarian systems Characteristics? non-democracy? A system in which power is held (or arrogated) by a single individual or group without reference to elections or popular control

Varieties of authoritarianism Tyranny? Simple dictatorship Rule by a single individual or group Military government Monarchy? Fascism? Communism?

Totalitarianism A form of authoritarianism characterized by: Frequent mobilization of the population Recourse to terror A total grip of the state on its citizens: Atomization of the population Reduction, if not elimination of any private space Relatively rare -- a 20th c phenomenon

Examples of totalitarian systems Nazi Germany The Soviet Union (USSR) under Stalin The People’s Republic of China (PRC) under Mao Zedong North Korea Cuba?

Communist regimes A form of authoritarianism characterized by a dominant Communist Party constitutionally mandated to control and guide the state apparatus, implement socialism and prepare the way for an eventual communist system in which The state has withered away Society is organized on the principle “from each according to his (her) means; to each according to their needs

`Actually existing’ Communism A party-state system, characterized by A single communist party monopolizing of dominating political life The Communist Party inter-penetrates and dominates the state The Communist Party organizes and mobilizes the population The Communist Party monopolizes access to the political system

Authoritarianism vs. Totalitarianism Authoritarian systems lack (or fail to maintain) the total grip characteristic of totalitarian systems – there is some private space beyond the grasp of the state Less recourse to force or arbitrary terror: What is and is not acceptable is more predictable There may be a state of law

Examples of authoritarian systems: The Soviet Union after Stalin The People’s Republic of China after Mao Portugal from 1926-1974 (Salazar gov’t 1932-1968) Spain from 1939-1975 (Franco dictatorship

ILLIBERAL DEMOCRACY What is it? Illiberal democracy v. semi-democracy? Is there a difference Semi-democracy v. semi-authoritarian: is the glass half empty or half full? Does it matter?

ILLIBERAL DEMOCRACY How does illiberal democracy differ from Authoritarianism? Examples of illiberal democracy? Is illiberal democracy becoming a more common form of government? If so, why?

(follow directions on p. 2 of the course outline) REMINDER PLEASE SIGN UP FOR THE POSC2300 LISTSERV (follow directions on p. 2 of the course outline)

STARTING WEDNESDAY, POSC 2300 WILL MEET IN SN 2105 ROOM CHANGE STARTING WEDNESDAY, POSC 2300 WILL MEET IN SN 2105

STUDENT INFORMATION CARD Political Science 2300 Name Student number Local address Home address (if different) Telephone E-mail Year of study Major minor