Comparative Politics: Domestic Responses to Global Challenges, Seventh Edition by Charles Hauss Chapter 1: Seeking New Lands, Seeing With New Eyes.

Learning Objectives After studying this chapter, students should be able to: describe comparative politics as a field of political science. explain at least one rationale for comparing political systems. explain why generalizations and theories are goals of comparative politics. describe how comparativists use scientific method. define state in the context of comparative politics. explain why the state is a focus of comparative politics in this textbook. distinguish between the types of states described in this chapter and offer examples of the types. recognize and offer initial definitions of other core concepts identified in the chapter. describe a generic political system and label its most important elements. identify historical, contemporary, domestic, and global factors that determine basic patterns of politics and government.

Two Common Themes The 2009 economic crisis was globalThe 2009 economic crisis was global The 2008 election of Obama was an important turning point in global politicsThe 2008 election of Obama was an important turning point in global politics

What is Comparative Politics? Compare political events and pose questions to learn about the eventCompare political events and pose questions to learn about the event Develop new and better theoriesDevelop new and better theories Work more deductivelyWork more deductively Falsify the theoryFalsify the theory

The State The State: All institutions and individuals that exercise powerThe State: All institutions and individuals that exercise power –Power: The ability to get people or groups to do what they otherwise would not do –Government: Set of institutions and people authorized by formal documents to pass laws and issue regulations –Does the government hold all of the power in a state?

The State Other aspects of the state: Governance: The exercise of political authority and the use of institutional resources to manage society’s problems and affairsGovernance: The exercise of political authority and the use of institutional resources to manage society’s problems and affairs Regime: Practices that endure from government to governmentRegime: Practices that endure from government to government –What does “regime change” mean? Nation: Cultural and linguistic identities that tie people togetherNation: Cultural and linguistic identities that tie people together

The State Industrialized democracies: Have the most resources and strongest built-in restraints on powerIndustrialized democracies: Have the most resources and strongest built-in restraints on power Current and former communist regimes: Characterized by central control that reinforces hostilityCurrent and former communist regimes: Characterized by central control that reinforces hostility Less Developed Countries: Very poor, unstable statesLess Developed Countries: Very poor, unstable states –Newly industrializing countries

The State Strong states take on more responsibilities, carry them out more effectively, and regimes have widespread supportStrong states take on more responsibilities, carry them out more effectively, and regimes have widespread support –What types of states are considered strong? Weak states cannot effectively carry out public policyWeak states cannot effectively carry out public policy –Repression only strengthens in the short term

Key Concepts State, government, regime, systemState, government, regime, system Democracy and capitalismDemocracy and capitalism Political culture and identityPolitical culture and identity Political participationPolitical participation –What are different types of political participation? Public policy: Shapes how countries deal with political issuesPublic policy: Shapes how countries deal with political issues

Key Concepts ImperialismImperialism TotalitarianismTotalitarianism Cold WarCold War Globalization: Rapid shrinking of social, economic, environmental, and political lifeGlobalization: Rapid shrinking of social, economic, environmental, and political life

Figure 1.1 The Political System

Three Templates # 1: Systems Theory Inputs: Ways average citizens and groups engage in political lifeInputs: Ways average citizens and groups engage in political life –Can support or place demands on state –Interest groups and political parties –Inside the system vs. outside the system –Political participation is shaped by a country’s political culture

Three Templates # 1: Systems Theory InputsInputs Decision makingDecision making Output or public policy: Regulates behavior or redistributes resourcesOutput or public policy: Regulates behavior or redistributes resources Feedback: People find out about public policy and react to it (the media)Feedback: People find out about public policy and react to it (the media) Environment: Everything outside the political systemEnvironment: Everything outside the political system –What outside forces can limit states’ abilities to shape their own destinies?

Three Templates # 2: Historical and Contemporary Factors Imperialism Imperialism State and nation building State and nation building Economic globalization and the end of the Cold War Economic globalization and the end of the Cold War The international political economy The international political economy

Figure 1.2 The Impact of Global and Domestic Forces on the State

Three Templates # 3: State, Society, and Globalization State and society exist in an inverse relationship State and society exist in an inverse relationship

Using the book Each country chapter follows a format –An introductory anecdote to raise questions about the peculiarities of the nation –A profile of the nation and society –A section on the stakes of politics (what is to be gained and lost) –A description of the state –A summary of public policy issues –A summary of historical background –A description and analysis of political culture –An analysis of political participation –A conclusion with some speculation about the future