Comparative PoliticsAn Introduction

Globalization

The world we live in grows more interconnected by the day.

As the global economy grows, the interactions among the people of the world does as well.

With comparative politics, you have the opportunity to understand those connections, and to compare and contrast the different nation-states of the world.

The Ever-Important Vocabulary

Political science: studying the political process and its impacts on citizens

Normative questions: value-based questions

Empirical questions: data/fact-based questions

State: refers to the political power exercised over a defined geographic territory through a set of public institutions

Nation: a human community with a shared culture and history

Nation-state:

Government: collection of individuals who occupy political office or exercise state power

Regime: set of rules and institutions that control access to, and exercise of, political power and that typically endure from government to government

More vocabulary

Legitimacy: popularly accepted use of power by a government

Authority: formal power rests in individuals or groups whose decisions are expected to be carried out and respected

What do Governments Do?

What would life be like without a government?

Types of government:

Ron Teaches Andy

Expected to engage in community and nation-building

Helps instill common world views, values, and expectations

Can create a shared political culture

Provide security and order

Protect rights (think John Locke!)

Promote economic efficiency and growth

Provide social justice (income inequality?)

Protect the weak

Government as the problem?

Destroy community

Violate rights

Inefficient economy

Using government for private gain

Vested interests and inertia

Supranational OrganizationsEU-European Union-a political and economic union with 28 member

statesECOWAS-Economic Community of West African States-economic

integration union with 15 member nations

Problems Facing Nations Today

Developing world

Income inequality

Rapid industrialization

Erosion of culture

Environmental impacts

Developed World

Post-industrialization-Where do economies go from here?

Changing global alliances/globalization

Nuclear power

“Rogue states” and terrorism

Multiculturalism

Types of governmental

systems Authoritarian

Oligarchies South Africa under apartheid

Dictatorships Egypt (supported by military)

Totalitarian systems Soviet Union

North Korea

Types of Government Systems

Democracies

Direct

Representative

Presidential

Parlimentarian

Democratization

Happens first in most Western states

Spreads after WWII

Final, huge wave since 1974

Not necessarily stable democracies

Crisis can disrupt democracy See Arab Spring