Comparative Intro

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PLSC 452: Introduction to

Comparative Politics

University of La Verne

Fall 2011


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A Shrinking World

Events around the world affect us all

Globalization

how international economic, social, cultural, andtechnological forces are affecting events inside

individual countries.

The world is changing significantly and

quickly


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Why we compare?

Alexis de Tocqueville

Democracy in America

Although I very rarely spoke of France in mybook, I did not write one page of it without

having her, so to speak, before my eyes

Without comparisons to make, the mind doesnot know how to proceed


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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


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How we compare?

Description of political phenomena

conceptual framework

Explanation of political phenomenacausal relationship

test theories:

large numbers (large n): statistical studies

small numbers (small n): case studies

Prediction of political phenomena


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Case studies

A look at a specific political feature in

a single country

Comparison is implicit


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Comparing

Background: history, geography, socio-economic conditions, culture,

philosophy/ideology

Political Process: political parties,participation, electoral process

Political Institutions Public policy: foreign, domestic, budget


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Political Culture

The system of beliefs influencing politicalprocess


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Political Development

Traditional

Charismatic

Bureaucratic


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Economic system

Capitalist / market capitalism

Mixed systems

Planned systems


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The Political Process

Representation: Functional / Territorial

Political Parties: Single / multi / dominant

Interest Groups The Political Executive

The Legislatures

The Judicial Branch Public Policy


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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 asociety or of groups within it


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An Introduction to the Vocabulary

of Comparative Politics

Power

Authority

Legitimacy State


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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 bythose who are governed


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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


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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


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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)


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Classification of states/systems

Democracies / Industrial Democracies

Communist/Post-communist/Transitional

Developing Countries

Democracies

Authoritarian Totalitarian Systems Communist / Non-communist

Theocratic


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Government

Government

organizations of individuals

authorized by formal documentsmake binding decisions on behalf of a

particular community

philosophical debateswhy government exist?

state of nature


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Government serve functions

community-building

nation

large-scale communities

common perceived identity

political culture

public attitudes toward politics and their role withinthe political system

political socialization


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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


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providing security, law, and order

external security

national defense forces

internal security

police forces

government monopoly

protecting economic, social, and politicalrights


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social justice

redistribute resources

equal opportunities


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Input

Political Parties

Social Organizations

Interest Groups

Also: political culture, world view,

philosophy, ideology,


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Decision making

The Institutions of Government


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Outputs

Public Policy

Domestic

Foreign

Documents

Comparative Intro