1. Comparative Government

2. What is Political Science? The study of the state - countries that control and keep order within their borders The study of political systems – whole collection of related, interacting institutions and agencies

3. Why Study Comparative Politics? The only way to truly understand our system of government is to compare it to others. Comparison is fundamental to all human thought “Without comparisons to make the mind does not know how to proceed” - Alexis de Tocqueville

4. The Comparative Approach Comparing governments helps explain past and current events and predict future events Public policy Political and economic change Citizens, society, and the state Political institutions Sovereignty, authority, power Comparisons at multiple levels *the content areas illustrated above are assessed criteria from the AP test

5. How to Study Comparative Politics: Topic 1: The Comparative Method A. Empirical Data –Based on facts, statistics –No judgments in political science –Ex. GNP, exports B. Normative Data –Based on value judgments –Believe data can be meaningless –Ex. Do statistics fare well or ill for a country?

6. How to Study Comparative Politics: Topic 1: The Comparative Method C. Scientific Method –Steps used to objectively evaluate data –Hypothesis –Variables –Data collection and analysis

7. How to Study Comparative Politics: Topic 1: The Comparative Method D. Three World Approach –Largely based on Cold War politics 1 st World: United States and allies 2 nd World: Soviet Union and allies 3 rd World: Third World (economically undeveloped) E. Democracy vs. Authoritarianism F. Capitalism vs. Communism

9. Three Categories of Countries 1 st world = “Advanced” Democracies: well- established, high economic development (Ex. United Kingdom and United States) 2 nd world = Communist & Post-Communist: limit individual freedom, divide wealth equally (Ex. Russia, China) 3 rd world = Less Developed/Developing: newly industrialized econ. growth, can be authoritarian (Ex. Mexico, Iran, Nigeria)

10. Integration of Political & Economic Systems Citizens turn to government for solutions to economic problems If govt. does not respond, unrest can occur.

11. How does politics work? Formal politics =politicians operate inside their formal powers Formal politics = politicians operate inside their formal powers Ex: Senators voting on a bill

12. How does politics work? Informal politics =politicians operate outside their formal powers, Informal politics = politicians operate outside their formal powers, the political activities and social organization that include people not overtly included in formal political processes political ties that are outside of the established and institutionalized procedures. Ex: Mexico = patron – client system, China = Guanxi

13. Civil Society Citizens, participants, voters, engaging in social and political interaction, free of state or governmental control or regulation –Non-governmental organizations –Interest groups –Voluntary associations –Religious groups Access to free media crucial for the growth of civil society

14. Topic 2: Sovereignty, Authority, Power States: countries that control and keep order within their borders –Use institutions to turn ideas into policies Institutions : Institutions : formal organizations of government and public services. Ex: Congress, Parliament, Executive Branch, Bureaucracy – –Bureaucracy : non-elected members of the government – –Ex: DOD, postal service, IRS

15. Topic 2: Sovereignty, Authority, Power States CONT. - States Exercise sovereignty – independent legal authority, the ability to carry out actions or policies Internal vs external sovereignty –No sovereignty, no autonomy (self rule). Ex. Developing countries (Nigeria) InternalExternal The right to make decisions concerning one’s own citizens Ex: taxes The right to make binding agreements, treaties with other states

16. Nations vs States Nation: Group of people bound together by a common political identity (language, religion, etc) –Nationalism Ex: Tibetans in China –Globalization’s impact The Iroquois nation competes globally with an independent lacrosse team

18. Regime Regime: rules a state sets and follows in exerting power –Lasts over time –Democratic or Authoritarian

19. Democratic Regimes Direct –Individuals have immediate say over govt. Indirect –Elected officials represent people Three major branches Parliamentary or presidential

20. Parliamentary –Legislature makes laws, controls money, appoints Prime Minister –Strong party loyalty –No separation of powers –Head of State (Monarch) and Head of Govt (Prime Minister and Cabinet) –Socialist, free-market economy Presidential –Checks & balances, separation of power –Weak party loyalty –Exec. Branch is President, cabinet and bureaucracy –Mixed to capitalist economy –Semi-presidential: Pres. & Prime Minister (Russia)

21. Authoritarian Regimes Small group of powerful elites –Elites = small group of people who control a disproportionate amount of power and wealth Little citizen input selecting leader; leader has no responsibility to them Restricted civil rights and liberties Usually only one political party Command economy Ex: Totalitarianism, Military Rule

22. Corporatism: Authoritarian Regimes Corporatism: business, labor, interest groups bargain with state over economic policy - Makes state appear less authoritarian Co-optation: the means a regime uses to get support from citizens –Patron-clientelism: provide benefits to a group for their support (exists in a small part in all politics) –Ex. China, Russia, Mexico, Nigeria

23. Corporatism: Democracies Corporations negotiate, advise and compete for influence in economic policy Pluralism exists where democracies do not have nationalized industry –Pluralism = many parties compete –Competition basis of any market economy Socialist systems control most of business

24. Legitimacy: The right to rule Legitimacy - is the popular acceptance of a governing law or régime as an authority POWER+AUTHORITY=LEGITIMACY

25. 3 Types of Legitimacy Traditional authority: family, divine right (ex Queen Elizabeth II) Charismatic authority: personality… often short-lived (ex. Hitler, Napoleon) Rational-legal authority: systems of laws & procedures, institutionalized. Based on common law (traditions) and code law (written).

26. Factors influencing Legitimacy –Charismatic leadership –Supranational systems International organizations that join member states for a common purpose (EU) –Religious, social movements –Economic well-being –Nationalism/shared political culture –Historical tradition –Satisfaction with govt. performance

27. Factors Influencing Legitimacy CONT. Political Culture: collection of beliefs, values, practices, institutions of govt. Consensual: citizens agree on how decisions are made –Disagree on policies ok, but agree on process or problems –Usually Unitary govt. –Accepts regime’s legitimacy

28. Factors Influencing Legitimacy CONT Conflictual: citizens sharply divided on regime legitimacy and problems –Divided into many political subcultures –Federal govt. –Difficult to rule

29. Political Ideologies: values held by individuals regarding politics *See handout* LiberalismCommunismSocialism FascismReligions

31. Types of Political Change Reform – occurs the most often – –Want to change the methods of basic economic and political institutions, not overthrow them.

32. Revolution – –Want a major revision or overthrow of existing institutions; usually impacts many areas of life. Coup d’etats – –Most limited change; replaces country’s leader, often by force.

33. Attitudes Toward Change Radicalism – –Need for rapid, dramatic changes – –Think they can’t save current system Liberalism – –Support reform, repair and gradual change – –Do not support revolution

34. Conservatism – –See change as disruptive – –Value law and order Reactionary beliefs – –Hate the status quo – –Turn back the clock – –Oppose revolution and reform – –Will use violence

35. How do Countries Grow and Develop Democracy? Democracy: political system in which citizens enjoy a number of basic civil and political rights; leaders are chosen through fair and free elections 2 types –Liberal vs Illiberal

36. 2 Types of Democracies Liberal – –Civil liberties – –Equal treatment of citizens, due process of law – –Neutrality of the judiciary – –Open civil society – –Civilians control military Illiberal –Have free, regular and fair competitive elections –Are missing liberal qualities

37. 1 st Trend of Development: Democratization Democratization: The growth of democracy –The expansion and enhancement of human rights and freedoms

38. 1 st Trend of Development: Democratization Need regular, free, fair competitive elections Expansion of urban middle class Loss of legitimacy by authoritarian regimes New emphasis on human rights – –Speech, petition, religion etc growth of education, health care etc.

39. Snowball” effect Obstacles: Poverty, 2 peaceful transitions of power, willingness of elite to share power 3 waves: Up to late 1800s,1950- 1960s,1970s

41. FREEPARTLY FREENOT FREE

42. 2 nd Trend of Development: Movement toward Market Economies Market economy: right to own property, most industry is privately owned, govt. does not control competition and profit Changes occurs/ Influenced by belief that government is too big, lack of command economy success Continuum: Command  Mixed  Market. Countries move along this over time and have aspects of more than one type.

44. 3 rd Trend of Development: Revival of Ethnic or Cultural Politics Moving away from nationalism, toward fragmentation: division along ethnic, cultural differences 21 st century: Influence of politicization of religion Emphasis on differences, rather than commonalities, among nations today

45. Topic 3: Political and Economic Change Examine the common character of change within a country Economic change can bring about political change, and vice versa Identify and analyze the forces that promote or deter democratization

46. Topic 4: Citizens, Society, and the State How do citizens and society interact both with one another and with the state itself? –To answer we must consider politically relevant cleavages and their effect on the state –The media and advocacy groups also influence state operations

47. Topic 4: Citizens, Society, and the State Cleavage: divisions among citizens and or voters Cultural Geographic Historic Ethnic Economic Racial Politically relevant cleavages

48. Topic 5: Political Institutions Formal and informal structures of authority & their interactions, such as between: –Branches of a single government –Governments of different countries –Countries and international organizations How those in power gain their legitimacy Executive Legislative Judicial

49. Topic 6: Public Policy Public Policy: all the authoritative public decisions that governments make Objective is to promote results or political outcomes

50. Topic 6: Public Policy Developing public policy is like squeezing a balloon Public policy implementation reflects the structure and power flow of the state Formal and informal influences affect policy decisions Examine policy issues (especially persistent ones) and impact of decisions Rival political parties Branches of government Domestic and international organizations Formal influences Economic changes Grassroots movements Changes in social values/beliefs Informal influences