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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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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
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Government serve functions
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