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People in Europe after the French and the Industrial Revolutions
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A 19th century dilemma Dilemma of liberalism: who has the right to elect and to be elected? Despite the exclusion of the majority of the citizens from voting based on the property and education criteria, by late 19th century, democratization seemed inevitable Universal male suffrage already existed in France, Germany, Switzerland, Denmark in late 19th century In Britain, Belgium, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Italy, the electorate was widened gradually by late 19th and early 20th century Outside of Europe, the US, Australia, New Zealand, and Argentina were also democratic (yet suffrage only covered 30 and 40 of the adult population).
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Different mechanism to limit democratic politics
Limit on the political role of assemblies, i.e. German parliament under Bismarck Second chambers, sometimes composed of hereditary members like the case of Britain Property criterion was retained, sometimes reinforced by educational qualifications, i.e. additional votes for citizens with higher education in Belgium, Italy, and the Netherlands Japan also introduced parliamentarism with such limitations in 1890 In some instances, the borders of the electoral districts were redrawn (gerrymandering) Use of open ballots to “caution” the voters, i.e. Denmark until 1901, Prussia until 1918, Hungary until 1930s
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An early 20th century anti-suffrage ad from the US
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Consequence: Mass political participation
Organization of mass movements, mass parties, the politics of mass propaganda and the developing mass media Who were the masses who became mobilized for political participation? The working class Old petty-bourgeoisie Peasantry Divisions along religious and national lines
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Changes in the political system
Emergence of country-wide party organizations, which overwhelmed once powerful notables Challenge posed to especially the multinational states due to party organizations along the national lines Rapid turn-over in governments, which meant parliamentary instability Room for manipulating the votes also resulted in corruption SO, the introduction of the masses to into politics was challenging for political stability; the old political elite; and the bourgeoisie, which did not fight for the representation of all, but itself!
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Major political controversies
Labor and socialist movement of the late 19th century Employers also stood against the labor demands; hence political integration was not easy. Unionization was quite a challenge in both the US and Germany before In Britain, unionization was accepted in principle, yet the 1890s witnessed counter- offensive of employers against unions Revolutionary labor groups also denied compromise with the bourgeoisie state However, mass electoral politics proved instrumental for labor’s integration into the political system
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State level implications
States’ centralizing impulse grew the stronger as it assumed responsibility in fields of health, unemployment, old age pensions (the process of the welfare provisions were slow however) Growth in the role and weight of the state apparatus: bureaucratization States also involved in crafting national identities to secure citizens’ attachments to state’s authority: use of mass media in the service of the state propaganda; crafting new symbols of the state: the national flag, anthem and the military march; control over school system, also the ceremonies of birth, marriage and death
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Relative political stability came to Western Europe between (except multi-national Austria-Hungarian Empire), which crystallized the modern state system as well as the modern man.
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SO, HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE THE MODERN STATE SYSTEM AND THE MODERN MAN?
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