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PLSC 452: Introduction to Comparative Politics

University of La Verne Fall 2011

A Shrinking World
Events around the world affect us all Globalization
how international economic, social, cultural, and technological forces are affecting events inside individual countries.

The world is changing significantly and quickly

Why we compare?
Alexis de Tocqueville Democracy in America Although I very rarely spoke of France in my book, I did not write one page of it without having her, so to speak, before my eyes Without comparisons to make, the mind does not know how to proceed

Why we compare?
Comparison is fundamental to all human thought Comparison is the methodological core of scientific study of politics
compare the past and present compare experiences of various nations develop explanation test theories

How we compare?
Description of political phenomena
conceptual framework

Explanation of political phenomena


causal relationship test theories:
large numbers (large n): statistical studies small numbers (small n): case studies

Prediction of political phenomena

Case studies
A look at a specific political feature in a single country Comparison is implicit

Comparing
Background: history, geography, socioeconomic conditions, culture, philosophy/ideology

Political Process: political parties,


participation, electoral process

Political Institutions Public policy: foreign, domestic, budget

Political Culture
The system of beliefs influencing political process

Political Development
Traditional Charismatic Bureaucratic

Economic system
Capitalist / market capitalism Mixed systems Planned systems

The Political Process


Representation: Functional / Territorial Political Parties: Single / multi / dominant Interest Groups The Political Executive The Legislatures The Judicial Branch Public Policy

Political system /interdependence


System
interdependent parts and boundaries

Political system
set of institutions and agencies
government political organizations (parties, interest groups)

formulate and implement collective goals of a society or of groups within it

An Introduction to the Vocabulary of Comparative Politics


Power Authority Legitimacy State

Power and Authority


Power: the ability to get someone to do something that they would not otherwise do Power can be exercised by persuasion, influence, incentives, the threat of force Authority: the use of power power that is viewed as proper and accepted by those who are governed

Legitimacy
Legitimacy: where people freely accept those who wield power over them, power is legitimate Source of legitimacy: democracy, meeting expectations of the people, etc. Legitimacy is a key factor in understanding the survival of regimes

State
State (a sovereign state): a compulsory political institution that maintains a monopoly of the legitimate use of force within a certain territory Distinguished from state/province, nation, country

State
State
a particular type of political system has sovereignty (independent legal authority)

night watchman state (minimal, libertarian) police state (totalitarian, communist) welfare state (socialist)

Classification of states/systems
Democracies / Industrial Democracies Communist/Post-communist/Transitional Developing Countries Democracies Authoritarian Totalitarian Systems Communist / Non-communist Theocratic

Government
Government organizations of individuals authorized by formal documents make binding decisions on behalf of a particular community philosophical debates why government exist? state of nature

Government serve functions


community-building
nation
large-scale communities common perceived identity

political culture
public attitudes toward politics and their role within the political system

political socialization

Government serve functions


promoting economic efficiency and growth
market failures in capitalist economies
property rights, competition, and information

undersupply of public goods


parks, roads, national defense, environment

negative externalities
environmental degradation

Government serve functions


providing security, law, and order
external security
national defense forces

internal security
police forces

government monopoly

protecting economic, social, and political rights

social justice
redistribute resources
equal opportunities

Input
Political Parties Social Organizations Interest Groups Also: political culture, world view, philosophy, ideology,

Decision making
The Institutions of Government

Outputs
Public Policy Domestic Foreign

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