1. COMPARATIVE
GOVERNMENT AND
POLITICS
INTRODUCTION

2. WHAT IS COMPARATIVE
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS?


GOVERNMENT: leadership and
institutions that make policy decisions for
the country.
POLITICS: All about power. Who gets
it? How? What do they do with it?

3. WHAT IS COMPARATIVE
GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS?

TOPICS for Each Country Under
Consideration:




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The Comparative Method
Sovereignty, Authority and Power
Political and Economic Change
Citizens, Society and the State
Political Institutions
Public Policy

4. TOPIC ONE: THE
COMPARATIVE METHOD


Scientific Method
THREE WORLD APPROACH (PRE 1990)



1ST – The United States and its Allies
2nd – The Soviet Union and its Allies
3rd – Economically underdeveloped and
deprived. Did not fit into the other two
categories.

5. TOPIC ONE: THE
COMPARATIVE METHOD


Newer Types of Comparisons
1. Impact of Informal Politics
Civil Society – the way that citizens organize and
define themselves and their interests.
 Informal politics – ways politicians behavior
outside their formal powers as well as beliefs,
values, and actions of ordinary citizens have on
policymaking.


6. TOPIC ONE: THE
COMPARATIVE METHOD

2. Importance of Political Change


3.
The nature of world politics has changed.
Three World Approach not needed anymore.
The Integration of Political and Economic
Change
- Linking of the political and economic
systems. For Example: Communism and
Capitalism.

7. TOPIC ONE: THE
COMPARATIVE METHOD

Groups With Similar Political and Economic
Institutions and Practices:

ADVANCED DEMOCRACIES – Well established
democratic governments and high level of
economic development.
Great Britain
 United States of America
 European Union Included in this discussion.


8. TOPIC ONE: THE
COMPARATIVE METHOD



Communist and Post-Communist Countries
– Limited individual freedom in order to
divide wealth more equally.
Russia – Post-Communist Country
China – Communist Country

9. TOPIC ONE: THE
COMPARATIVE METHOD

Less Developed and Newly Industrializing
(or developing) Countries – “Third World”


Some are experiencing rapid growth,
tendency toward democratization and
social/political stability. Examples are Mexico
and Iran.
Lesser Developed countries lack significant
economic development and may have
authoritarian governments. Example is
Nigeria.

10. TOPIC TWO: SOVEREIGNTY,
AUTHORITY, AND POWER




States are countries that control what happens
within their borders.
Institutions are long lasting, stable
organizations that help to turn political ideas into
policy.
Sovereignty is the ability to carry out actions
or policies within their borders without
interference.
Nationalism – Sense of belonging to the nation
that binds people together.

11. Democracies


Indirect vs. Direct
Parliamentary vs. Presidential



Parliamentary – citizens vote for legislative
representatives who select the leaders of the
executive branch. Head of Government
Presidential – citizens vote for legislative
representatives and the executive branch who
function within a system of separation of powers
and checks and balances. Head of State and Head
of Government.
Semi-Presidential – Prime Minister coexists with a
president elected by the power and has power.
(example is Russia)

12. Authoritarian Regimes




Decisions made by political ELITES.
Ruled by single dictator, hereditary monarch,
small group of aristocrats, or single political
party.
State Corporatism – Government officials
interact with people/groups outside of
government before making decisions.
Patron-Client System – Reciprocal favors and
services to supporters.

13. Authoritarian Regimes

Characteristics of Authoritarian
Regimes




Small group of elites with power over the
state.
Citizens with little or no input into the
selection of leaders and decisions of
government.
No constitutional responsibility of leaders to
the public.
Restriction of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties

14. Authoritarian Regimes


Totalitarianism – Term used to describe
a particularly detested regime with a
strong ideological goal (communism).
Military Regimes – Military intervention
into politics in a country where letimacy is
low and stability is in question.


Lacks specific ideology with noncharasmatic
leaders. May join forces with state
bureaucracy to form an authoritarian regime.
Not opposed to use of force COUP D’ETAT.

15. CORPORATISM



CORPORATISM – Method through which
business, labor, and/ or other interest groups
bargain with the state over economic policy.
STATE CORPORATISM – Eliminates any input
from groups not sanctioned or created by the
state.
PATRON-CLIENTELISM – system in which the
state provides specific benefits or favors to a
single person or group for their support.

16. CORPORATISM


PLURALISM – Power split among many
groups with a chance to influence
decisions.
DEMOCRATIC CORPORATISM



Formation of interest groups is spontaneous.
Dialogue between interest groups and the
state is voluntary.
Develop institutionalized and legally binding
links with the state becoming semi-public
agencies limiting freedom of people.

17. LEGITIMACY


The right to rule; given by the people.
Three Forms of Authority:



1. Traditional Authority – Tradition should decide
who will rule and how.
2. Charismatic Authority – based on dynamic
personality of a leader or small group.
3. Rational-Legal Authority – Based on a system
of well-established laws and procedures.


Common Law – Tradition, past practices, legal precedent.
Code Law – System of written rules of law divided into
commercial, civil, and criminal codes.

18. LEGITIMACY


Legitimacy of leaders is based on FAIR, FREE,
COMPETITIVE ELECTIONS.
Factors that encourage legitimacy in both
Authoritarian and Democratic Regimes:

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Economic Well-Being
Historical Tradition/Longevity
Charismatic Leadership
Nationalism/Shared Political Culture
Satisfaction with the Government’s
Performance/Responsiveness

19. POLITICAL CULTURE AND
IDEOLOGIES


POLITICAL CULTURE – Collection of
beliefs, values, practices, and institutions
that the government is based on.
SOCIAL CAPITAL – A method to
measure the Political Culture based on the
amount of reciprocity and trust that exists
among citizens and the state.

20. POLITICAL CULTURE AND
IDEOLOGIES

Types of Political Culture


Consensual Political Culture – Acceptance
of both the legitimacy of the regime and
solutions to major problems although there
may be disagreement on political processes
and policies.
Conflictual Political Culture – Citizens are
sharply divided on legitimacy of the regime
and solutions to major problems. Subcultures
may develop. Effective rule may be subdued.

21. POLITICAL CULTURE AND
IDEOLOGIES

Political Ideologies – Sets of political
values held by individuals regarding the
basic goals of government and politics.

1. Liberalism – Emphasis on individual
political and economic freedom. (freedom for
all, free speech, religion, and association).
The right to disagree with the state and
leaders. Action to change the decisions of
leaders present.

22. POLITICAL CULTURE AND
IDEOLOGIES

Political Ideologies

2. Communism – Values equality over
Freedom. Result of the competition for scarce
resources is that a small group will come to
control the government and the economy.
Private ownership of property is abolished.

Individual liberties give way to the needs of society
as a whole.

23. POLITICAL CULTURE AND
IDEOLOGIES

Political Ideologies

3. Socialism – Shares the value of equality
of Communism with the freedom of liberalism.
Accept and promote private ownership & free
market.
 State regulation of economy and benefits to public
to ensure equality.


24. POLITICAL CULTURE AND
IDEOLOGIES

Political Ideologies

4. Fascism – Devalues individual freedom.
Rejects the value of equality.
 People and groups exist in degrees of inferiority
and superiority.
 State has the right and responsibility to mold
society and economy and to eliminate obstacles.
 Nazi Germany is example.


25. POLITICAL CULTURE AND
IDEOLOGIES

Political Ideologies

5. Religions – Source of group identity.
Separation of Church and State in advanced
democracies.
 Source of interest group activity within the civil
society.
 Varies in importance to governmental regimes in
the world. (Iran = Theocracy).


26. TOPIC THREE: POLITICAL AND
ECONOMIC CHANGE


Comparative Political Scientists are
interested in the impact that change has
on the policymaking process.
Political and economic changes occur
together and influence one another. If
one happens without the other, tensions
and instability can occur with serious
consequences.

27. Three Types of Change


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1. Reform – does not advocate the overthrow
of basic institutions. Reformers want to change
some of the methods used to reach goals.
2. Revolution – Basic level change that
involves major revision or overthrow of existing
institutions
3. Coup d’etat – Replacement of the leader of
a country. Use of force and assassination can
happen.

28. Attitudes Toward Change


1. Radicalism – Rapid, dramatic changes
need to me made in society and/or
political system. System cannot be saved
and must be replaced (Bolsheviks).
2. Liberalism – Gradual reform and
change. Economic/Political system not
broken but in need of gradual repair or
improvement.

29. Attitudes Toward Change


3. Conservatism – Less supportive of
change. Change is seen as disruptive and
can have unforseen outcomes. Change
can be a threat to law and order.
4. Reactionary – Find status quo
unacceptable but generally similar to
conservatives. Regress to an earlier era
regarding political, social, and economic
institution that once existed.

30. Three Trends (Patterns)

1. Democratization – Requirement is
competitive elections that are regular,
free, and fair.

Liberal Democracy Characteristics
Civil Liberties
 Rule of Law
 Neutrality of the Judiciary
 Open Civil society
 Civilian Control of the Military


31. Three Trends (Patterns)

1. Democratization


Illiberal democracies – Countries that have
regular, free, and fair elections but lack
elements listed in previous slide.
Third Wave of Democratization – Samuel
Huntington- Modern World is here.
1st Wave – Post 18th Century Revolutions
 2nd Wave – Post WWII until 1960’s –


De-colonization

32. Three Trends (Patterns)

1. Democratization – Causes


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Loss of legitimacy
Expansion of an urban Middle Class
Emphasis on Human Rights
Snowball Effect (domino theory in reverse)
*Political discontent is triggered if preceded by
a period higher standard of living, a condition
called “revolution of rising expectations.”

33. Three Trends (Patterns)

2. Movement Toward Market
Economies


Command Economies (socialist principles,
state ownership) are fading from existence
unless partnered with Market Economies
Mixed Economy – Market Economy that
allows for control from the central
government.

34. Three Trends (Patterns)


Movement Toward Market Economies
Two Factors precipitating movement toward
market economies:
Belief that Government is Too Big
 Lack of success of command economies.
**MARKETIZATION – state’s recreation of a market
in which property, labor, goods and services can
function in a competitive environment to determine
value.
Privatization – Transfer of state-owned property to
private ownership.


35. Three Trends (Patterns)

3. Revival of Ethnic or Cultural
Politics



Fragmentation – divisions based on ethnic
or cultural identity.
Politicization of Religion has dominated
world politics in the 21st century.
Huntington argues a dangerous future will be
based on clashes of civilizations, not
socioeconomic or ideological differences.