POLITICAL THEORIES Amalia PerezPd. 7

WHAT IS A POLITICAL THEORY?o Definition: Abstract intellectual thinking

about politics from a specific perspective “A theory having to do with the political

relationships among men, one concerned with the organization and basis of government” –A.S. Kaufman

Purpose: To explore politics; further understand its

complexities predict political behavior Compare governments

MAIN THEORIES Rational Choice Theory

Dependency Theory (versus Free Market Theory)

Culture Theory

Systems Theory

Structural Functional Theory

RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY When put in a situation, political actors will

choose route that yields highest benefits Political behavior can always be predicted by

simplified models of choice Objective perspective Based on four main components:

Assumption of rationality Constraints given Strategic Interaction Equilibrium

CRITICISMS Disregards influence of political culture Overly objective Does not take into account legal norms and

constitutional constraints

DEPENDENCY THEORY… Marxian critique of global economy How do developed and developing countries

interact? Developed countries maintain their position by

keeping developing nations in subservient position Economic force, free market practices

Developing nations must stay in economic and political ruts for developed nations to thrive Free markets facilitate demise of developing nations

Developing nations provide goods to developed these maintain the latter’s high living standards

…VERSUS FREE MARKET THEORY opposing theories FMT asserts that developing countries benefit

from free, open markets as they “climb” towards becoming established powers Recognizes it will be painful at first; justified by

long term benefits Liberal politics aid developing countries

Becomes an issue of democratization/ dominant countries forcing democracy upon developing ones

Many conservatives are strong supporters of this (capitalism!!!)

HISTORICAL CONTEXT OF DEPENDENCY THEORY VERSUS FREE MARKET THEORY

Post WW2- Free Market Theory gains popularity World Bank and IMF emerge with liberal recipes

for escaping debt

1960s/1970s- Free Market Theory proves to be near demise of many countries; dependency theory arises to directly oppose it Dependency theory arises to counter the

capitalistic, imperialistic powers that were attempting to dominate world politics (hint…United States)

CRITICISM

Dependency Theory: It’s success is contingent upon wealth always

increasing over time Lack of competition

Free Market Theory: Promotes imperialistic power regimes Capitalism is the enemy

CULTURE THEORY

Nature of politics derives from culture collective society influences decisions,

individual calculations do not Argument against rational choice theory

Decisions are based on how people react to the two social dimensions: grid and group Grid- influence of societal rules/norms in decision

making Group- to what degree do people identify with

societal groups

CULTURE THEORY CONT: Four distinct worldviews dictate ones values;

derive from ones group/grid preferences Hierarchism (high grid, high group) Individualism (low grid, low group) Egalitarianism (low grid, high group) Fatalism (high grid, low group)

CRITICISM Overly embraces collective entities

Overly embraces a functionalist perspective Disregards individual conviction

SYSTEMS THEORY David Easton applies it to political science:

1953 Asserts that all political systems are

essentially the same (all are subject to input/output cycle)

Connection amongst all political institutions Reliance, free trade between all

Easton proposed political systems to be looked at as a delimited and fluid set of decision making steps: Changes in surrounding environmentdemands

for action (inputs)policy made in response (outcomes)generate feedbackchanges in surrounding environment…(and so on)

CRITICISM Limited view of system Why does a political system become

authoritative? Systems theory doesn’t know…

Can’t be applied to developing countries

STRUCTURAL FUNCTIONAL THEORY Almond and Powell apply it to political science:

early 1970’s Can’t understand a political system without

understanding both its structures and each structures’ function By studying the functions, one can discern between

countries with similar political institutions

Each institution (structure) has a function each function is integral in maintaining the political system

Conservative by nature

CONT. Ex: Interest groups articulate political issues;

parties express them coherently; government enacts new policies….etc

Multiple institutions can have overlapping functions

CRITICISM: Too ideologically based (conservative) Approach is too methodological

OVERVIEW Rational Choice Theory vs Culture Theory

RCT: individuals calculate what route will most benefit them

CT: collective entities (group) influence political decision making

Free Market Theory vs Dependency Theory FMT: Developing nations benefit from free

markets/liberal policies DT: Developed nations benefit from developing

nations struggles; they keep them in subservient position through free market practices

Systems Theory vs Structural Functional Theory ST: everything is based off the same system; the

input/output process can be applied to all systems

SFT: focuses on the functions that are unique to each system and its structure

OTHER THEORIES The Great Man Theory: Through charismatic

authority, military prowess, intelligence, etc, leaders throughout history have altered history dramatically

Modernization Theory: Technological advancements, division of labor, social evolution all lead to political change; change in social and cultural values

Game Theory: Views politics in terms of a game: everything is either a player, strategy or payoff

Strategic decision making Prisoners Dilemma Risk versus reward

As are all theories, political theories are abundant and ideologically diverse. Each

seeks to explain based on different perspectives. With this diversity, you all can develop your own opinions about political

systems by drawing inspiration from whichever theory (or theories) resonates

most with you

WORKS CITED http://ww2.odu.edu/al/jchen/Comparative%20

Politics%20(Graduate)/Review%20Essays/Week%205/Min%20Xia.pdf

http://consumptionreadinggroup.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/cox-the-empirical-content-of-rational-choice-theory.pdf

http://www.carlislerainey.com/CPO2002_Files/Models.pdf

http://frameworksinstitute.org/ezine28.html  

http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-dependency-theory.htm

 

WORKS CITED http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges

/SPA/BuechnerInstitute/Centers/WOPPR/diggingblog/Documents/Jenkins-Smith%20WOPPR%20Blog.pdf

http://www.shareyouressays.com/112575/12-important-criticism-of-eastons-systems-theory-of-political-science

http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/40969897?uid=3739256&uid=2129&uid=2134&uid=2474261127&uid=2&uid=70&uid=3&uid=2474261117&uid=60&purchase-type=none&accessType=none&sid=21102980996087&showMyJstorPss=false&seq=3&showAccess=false

http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/docs/Great_man_theory.html