1. Political Science: An Introduction
Fourteenth Edition
Roskin | Cord | Medeiros | Jones
Chapter 5
Regimes

2. Table 5.1 Main Regime Types
Democratic
U.S., West Europe
Transitional
Egypt, Russia
Authoritarian
Iran, China
Totalitarian
N. Korea, Cuba
media
free
curbed
obedient
state-controlled
parties
several
one dominant
none or one
one
elections
competitive
flawed
rigged
fake or none
power
alternates among parties
rigid one man
in hands of small group
concentrated in one leader
ideology
many
limited range
none or pretend
one militant
constitution
restrains government
selectively interpreted
restrains individuals
worships state
civil liberties
protected
vulnerable
few
none
Table 5.1 illustrates the main regime types and their differences.
It breaks the regimes into four categories:
Democratic
Transitional
Authoritarian
Totalitarian
It then uses the categories of media, parties, elections, power, ideology, constitution, civil liberties, interest groups, economy, military, and corruption to fill out the the general categories.

3. Table 5.1 (continued) Main Regime Types
Democratic
U.S., West Europe
Transitional
Egypt, Russia
Authoritarian
Iran, China
Totalitarian
N. Korea, Cuba
interest groups
many and
autonomous
few and cowed
state-supervised
no autonomous
ones
economy
market
partly market
partly state-run
state-run
military
subordinate to
elected officials
plays a political role
intertwined with
regime
controlled by ruling party
corruption
minor
widespread
pervasive
major
Table 5.1 illustrates the main regime types and their differences.
It breaks the regimes into four categories:
Democratic
Transitional
Authoritarian
Totalitarian
It then uses the categories of media, parties, elections, power, ideology, constitution, civil liberties, interest groups, economy, military, and corruption to fill out the the general categories.

4. Representative Democracy (1 of 3)
5.1 Explain why representative democracy is the only feasible kind.
There are many different ways to understand the meaning of democracy.
Generally speaking, it means rule by the people.
Many think that democracy equals freedom, but they are not the same thing.
Some are “pretend” democracies with controlled media, rigged elections and obedient parliaments and parties.
Others flux between more or less democratic and are called transitional regimes
democracy: Political system of mass participation, competitive elections, and human and civil rights.
illiberal democracy: Regimes that are elected but lack democratic qualities such as civil rights and limits on government.
referendum: A mass vote on an issue rather than for a candidate; a type of direct democracy.
representative democracy: One in which the people do not rule directly but through elected and accountable representatives.

5. Representative Democracy (2 of 3)
5.1 Explain why representative democracy is the only feasible kind.
Representative Democracy – People do not rule directly but through elected and accountable representatives
Constitutional Democracy – A democracy with a limited government that can wield its authority only in specific ways
illiberal Democracies – regimes that are elected but lack democratic qualities such as civil rights and limits on government - exist that regularly run roughshod over freedoms at the request of the people.
democracy: Political system of mass participation, competitive elections, and human and civil rights.
illiberal democracy: Regimes that are elected but lack democratic qualities such as civil rights and limits on government.
referendum: A mass vote on an issue rather than for a candidate; a type of direct democracy.
representative democracy: One in which the people do not rule directly but through elected and accountable representatives.

6. Characteristics of Democratic Regimes
Popular Accountability requires that policy makers must obtain the support of citizens in addition to being accountable directly to citizens.
Political Competition means voters must have at least two distinct choices and those parties must have freedom & time to organize and campaign
Alternation in Power means power must change hands peacefully from time to time
Uncertain Electoral Outcomes elections must have an element of suspense or non-predetermined result

7. Characteristics of Democratic Regimes
Popular Representation when representative legislators voice and protect the general interest of voters
Mandate – Representatives carrying out the specific wishes of the public
Trustee – Representatives deciding what the public needs without specific instructions from the voters
Majority Decision means legislating for the masses not the few.
Absolute Majority – Half plus one of the number of votes cast
Simple Majority – Less than half the total # of votes but still enough to win
Super Majority – A number greater than an absolute majority (60%)

8. Characteristics of Democratic Regimes
Right of Dissent and Disobedience a citizen or minorities right to resist commands of the government they deem wrong
Political Equality the ability for everyone to participate in politics or have equal political or social protection
Popular Consultation means effective government/leaders must know what the people want and be responsive to those needs
Free Press means mass media is free to criticize government and can often act as a check to political corruption

9. Democracy in Practice: Elitism or Pluralism? (1 of 6)
5.2 Contrast elitist and pluralist theories of democracy.
There will always be a struggle over power in society and political power can never be evenly distributed.
For political scientists, the core question then is how much elites in society are accountable to the public and their interests.
elites: The "top" or most influential people in a political system.
pluralism: Theory that politics is the interaction of many groups.
interest group: An association that pressures government for policies it favors.

10. Democracy in Practice: Elitism or Pluralism? (2 of 6)
5.2 Contrast elitist and pluralist theories of democracy.
There are two general theories that follow:
Elite theories of politics
These theories maintain that there is very little accountability on the parts of elites to the general public.
Pluralist theories of politics
These theories maintain that elites are ultimately held accountable to the public through interest groups.

11. Democracy in Practice: Elitism or Pluralism? (3 of 6)
5.2 Contrast elitist and pluralist theories of democracy.
Two key elite theorists
Gaetano Mosca
Italian political scientist who argued that government always ends up in the hands of a few.
Robert Michels
German sociologist developed the iron law of oligarchy
Any organization who, no matter how democratic its intention, will end up being run by a few people.
Elite theorists are radicals NOT conservatives.

12. Democracy in Practice: Elitism or Pluralism? (4 of 6)
5.2 Contrast elitist and pluralist theories of democracy.
Key pluralist theorist
Robert Dahl
American political scientist who argued that in any large society decisions are made by small groups, but those groups are ultimately accountable.

13. Democracy in Practice: Elitism or Pluralism? (5 of 6)
5.2 Contrast elitist and pluralist theories of democracy.
Arguments of elitists
Money gives elites access to political power and those who wield it. This is enhanced by the connections held by the wealthy.
A great deal of influence from elites comes in the form of campaign contributions.
Politics is essentially a a single pyramid with the elites sitting at the top of it.

14. Democracy in Practice: Elitism or Pluralism? (6 of 6)
5.2 Contrast elitist and pluralist theories of democracy.
Pluralists' arguments
Politics functions through interest groups that compete with each other for access to government and bargain with each other.
This is what Dahl called polyarchy and Lijphart called consociational democracy.
Interest groups collide with each other like billiard balls in their attempts to influence policy and it is through their efforts that citizens are heard, because any citizen can form a group to try and influence politics.

15. Totalitarianism
5.3 List the features attributed to totalitarianism.
Totalitarian systems are systems of government in which the elites are completely unaccountable.
Very difficult to oust the elites.
There are very few totalitarian systems left.
It is a relatively modern phenomenon and really starts with Lenin's seizure of power in Russia.

16. What Is Totalitarianism? (1 of 3)
Totalitarian states have several specific characteristics.
There is an all-encompassing ideology
Single Party
Organized Terror
Monopoly of Communications
Monopoly of Weapons
State Controlled Economy
hierarchy: Organized in a ranking of power from top to bottom, as if on a ladder.

17. Authoritarianism (1 of 2)
5.4 Distinguish authoritarianism from totalitarianism.
Authoritarian states differ from totalitarian states in that they do not seek to control all aspects of society.
A small group runs the regime and minimizes popular input.
There are heavy limits on individual freedoms in exchange for order in society and control.
Dissent is stifled and resistance is generally exterminated through brute force and imprisonment.

18. Authoritarianism (2 of 2)
5.4 Distinguish authoritarianism from totalitarianism.
Some authoritarian states will have trappings of democracy, but they are only for show and really have no meaning.
According to Jeanne Kirkpatrick, the main difference between authoritarian states and totalitarian states is that an authoritarian state can reform, but once it slips into totalitarianism there is no way for the system to reform itself.

19. The Democratization of Authoritarian Regimes
5.5 Explain why new democracies often fail.
Economics plays a critical role in the democratic transition.
As economies improve, so do the prospects for democracy.
Economic growth creates a middle class with a stake in the political system.
Rising education levels make the people less susceptible to demagogues and extremist ideas.
People are more aware of their interests and express them.
Modernization theory – Economic growth fosters a large middle class which demands democracy (Aristotle talked about this in Politics – best constitutions are controlled by a numerous middle class)
modernization theory: Economic growth fosters a large, educated middle class that demands democracy.
petrostate: Country based on oil exports, such as Saudi Arabia.
kleptocracy: Rule by thieves, used in derision and jest.
democratic peace: Theory that democracies do not fight each other.