By Alex Woo Political Theories

What are Political Theories? Proposed explanations that describe and evaluate future patterns of a group or nation. This includes the political orientation of a group Ex: Socialist, Communist, Conservative Purpose Allow us to predict political behavior Compare governments

Important to Note: For every theory, there are always several other theories that criticize the theory and oppose it. These are THEORIES not laws or rules so there is almost always deviation from these rules Results in lots of argument and angry politicians

List of Political theories Structural Theory Rationale Expectation Theory Deterrence Vs. Cultural Theory Systems Theory Vs. Structural- Functional Theory Dependency Theory Vs. Free Market Ideology Others

Structural Theory Interpreting aspects of human cognition, behavior, culture, and experience that focuses on relationships of contrast between elements in a conceptual system that reflect patterns underlying a superficial diversity. Areas of Study: Why societies formed/ what holds them together Religon Suicide Deviance/ Crimes Affirmation of cultural norms and values Clarification of right and wrong Unification of others in society Promoting social theory

Rationale Expectation Theory When faced with a decision, people will always choose the route that yields the highest benefit Balancing costs against benefits to arrive at best action Utilitarian Political realism Acting for ones own interest “Zero-sum” Assumptions: Motivated by the wants/ goals that express preferences Act based on balance of benefits to attaining goal vs. the costs Act on the basis of the information that they have about the conditions

Criticism/ Opposing Theory Culture Theory Nature of politics is based from culture Individual ideas usually does not influence decisions To understand political behavior, look at the culture of the ethnicity Deterrence The presence of a threat of punishment/ promise of reward may motivate people just as much as the punishment or reward itself Rational calculations would lead offenders to not commit crimes Ex: Death penalty

Criticism/ Opposing Theory Democracy-Peace Theory Will try to maintain peace among different countries, even though it may be more beneficial to attack the country.

Dependency Theory Critiques the relationship between developed and developing countries As time goes on developing nations depend more on developed nations Developing countries must stay in a in economic ruts for developed nations to grow and thrive. Developing nations provide resources/ goods for Developed Nations Kept in ruts buy economic sanctions and free-trade policies.

Free Market Ideology Goes against Dependency Theory Claims that developed nations actually help developing nations when they buy the recourses from them. Opens the market for developing nations and provides some economic stability Short Run: Painful and lots of conflict Long Run: Economic stability Many times results a problem of developed countries forcing democracy on developing ones

Modernization Theory Argues that societies develop in a predictable stages through which they become increasingly complex Depends primarily on the importation of technology and the resulting political/ societal changes believed to come as a result Increased levels of schooling & Development of mass media Democratic political institution Fosters Increasingly sophisticated transportation & communications Extended family declines in importance Organizations become more bureaucratic Religion declines in public influence Cash-driven markets take over as primary mechanism for goods exchange

Systems Theory Politics should be seen as a whole, not as a collection of different problems that need to be solved Step 1: Changes in society produce demands and supports (inputs) towards the political system. Step 2: these demands and supporting groups stimulate competition in a political system, leading to decisions (outputs) answering the demands Step 3: The decision “interacts” with society, and if it produces change in the environment, there are "outcomes." Step 4: These outcomes may generate new demands or supports and groups in support or against the policy ("feedback") or a new policy on some related matter. Step 5:Rinse and Repeat

Other Political Theories The “Great Man” Theory— history is decided by a few influential and powerful individuals Game Theory: Views politics in terms of a game: everything is either a player, strategy or payoff Strategic decision making Prisoners Dilemma Risk versus reward

Works Cited Almond, Gabriel A., et al. Comparative Politics Today. Vol. 7. New York: Longman, n.d. ""Dependency Theory: An Introduction," Vincent Ferraro, Mount Holyoke College, July 1966." N.p., Web. 5 Jan "Structuralism." Missouri University of Science and Technology. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Jan “What is System Theory?” Principia Cybernetica Web. 26 Apr Department of Sociology - Iowa State University. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Jan "Rational Choice and Deterrence Theory." University of Missouri-St. Louis. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Jan "Great man theory." Princeton University - Home. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Jan "What is Game Theory?" David Levine's Economic and Game Theory Page. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Jan Prisoner's Dilemma - A Game Theory Simulation." Copy / Paste by Peter Pappas » Dedicated to relinquishing responsibility for learning to the students. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Jan "Modernization Theory." About.com Sociology. N.p., n.d. Web. 5 Jan

Prisoner’s Dilemma