unit-iii comparative readings in contemporary political systems

Unit-3 Culture & Politics 1

Unit-III Comparative Readings in Contemporary Political Systems

• Culture & Politics• Political System• Regime Change• East Asian Cases: South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore,

Malaysia• Japan & China• South Asia

By: Rajib Timalsina


Political-Anthropological Position

2 Million Years Ago: Gatherers

100,000 Years Ago: ICE AGE

32,000 Years Ago: Hunters

30,000 Years Ago: Clans & Communities

13,000 Years Ago: Warmer; Taming

Animals

7,000 Years Ago: Stone

Crafts

(427-347BC) PlatoUniversal Moral order & best form of State

(384 BC) Aristotle:Politics= natural

Concept of CitizenForms of Govts.

1648: The Treaty of Westphalia

1651: Leviathan(The Hobbes’ Idea of State)

1690:Locke’s Two Treaties on

Govt.

1762: Rousseau’s

Social Contract

French Rev..; Independence of US; Communist Manifesto; WWI; WWII; UN; Post-colonial; “Development Discourse”

Cold War; 1970s: Said’s Orientalism & Foucault’s Power (Post-modernism)

Based F. Korovkin and III Sem Syllabus


• Breakdown of USSR• Agenda for Peace 1992• War Against Terrorism- Aftermath of 2001

• Universal vs. Cultural Relativism• Culture and Political Assumptions

*Weber: Reln Democracy & Christianity

* Aristotle: Fertile Democracy in Greece

* Heartland Theory (in cold and core area)


Primitive Power(eg.:L. W. Pye)

Power(eg. : Various defns)

Micro-power + Governmentality(eg. : Foucault)


Aristotle’s Forms of Governments

(See page 69-70 of Aristotle’s Politics)

Rule by One Rule by Few Rule by Many

Pure Form Monarchy Aristocracy Polity

Perverted Form

Tyranny/ Absolute Monarchy

Oligarchy Democracy


Primitive Power

Vs.

Micro-power

Primitive State

Vs.

Modern State


Components of Political Systems

a) Rulers/ political leadersb) Subjects/ citizensc) Principles (ideology){without ideology, no state can exist}


Culture and Politics

Nation

State

Nation-State

State-Nation ??

Ethnicity

Multi-nation-state

Semi-nation-state

Single-nation-state

{Main points from: Berghart, R. (1996)}

Transnational Nationalism

Pan-Nationalism


Max Weber“State as legitimate institution having monopoly of

violence”

*Grounds of Legitimacy*

a. Traditional Ground (eg. Monarchy)

/ More Cultural ??????

*Based on ritual & personal loyalty

* Role as an Institution (No matter who is?)

b. Rational Legal Ground (eg. Elected Govt.)

c. Charismatic Ground (eg. From Revln or Social mvmnts)


Samuel P. Huntington’s Clash of Civilizations

“Cultural characteristics and differences are less mutable & hence less easily compromised and

resolved than political, economic ones.”


• Meiji State: meaning “enlightened rule”,

“period represents Empire of Japan during which society moved from isolated feudalism to modern. changes affected its social structure, internal politics, economy, military, and foreign relations” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiji_period, )

• Restoration Period of Japan (1868 to 1912)

Contributions:

a) Matsukata Economics

b) Struggle for Political Participation

c) The Meiji Constitutions

d) The Imperial Army

e) The Meiji Education

f) Role of Meiji Leaders

Case- I (Japan)Jansen, M.B.,(2002), “The Opening to the World- Imperial Japan”, page. 257-445.


Case-ii (China; a)Fairbank, J. K., and Goldman M., (2001), “Post-Mao Reform Era”, page 406-450.

Changes:• influx of FDI & Western as well as Japanese Firms• involvement in int’l trade & eco. Modernization• Collective and Private enterprizes•Political Reform under Deng Xioping (limited reform)•Collective decision making process

Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Concept• Shenzhen betn Guangdong and HK• Outside world & eco. Reform•Labor mobility from country-side to industrial area• Increased Banking system•Role of Non-state sector, Foreign JVs, Communal-private-local ownership• Increased “minimal state” / or limited govt.•Power delegation from central to local authority


Case-ii (China; b)Fairbank, J. K., and Goldman M., (2001), “Epilogue: China at the Close of the Century”, page 451-457.

At the turn of the Century (1990s)• Eco. Reforms• Dream : “Rich and Powerful” ------ Century old dream reviving• Greater Int’l presence

Current Challenges• Workers’ demonstrations•Farmers’ protests• Riot of migrant laborers• Increasing ecological damages• weakened party role and capacity•Int’l pressure

[More control over eco-cultural actvs, threatening to state capacity]


Case-iii (East Asia: a.)Vogel, Ezra F., (1991), “The Four Little Dragons: The Spread of Industrialization in East Asia”.

*Confucianism*Confucius: an intellectual admired in East Asia Power--- Ethics+Morality Values+Family Reln+Cultivation

{Key Success lies in Confucianism in East Asia}*East Asian Periphery*

Japan and Four Little Dragons ( South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong kong/ sometimes Malaysia?)

Max Weber’s view for East Asia:• Mixed (Capitalism+Confucian ethics) transform society to industrial• Teach how to achieve success• Unique time period and identifying appropriate sector toinvest• Success Occurred under: old Confucian style govt+ neo-confucianism society


Situational Factors

• Massive Aid From US•Destruction of the old Order•Sense of political and Economic Urgency•Eager and Plentiful Labor Force•Familiarity with Japanese model of Success

Major New Trends/ Challenges

* End of Cheap Labor* Accumulation of Financial assets* Growth of finance and other services* Growing cost* More Vocal Public (demanding with greater voice)


Case-iv (East Asia: b.)Pye, Lucian W., (1985), “ East Asia: Varieties of Confucian Authority”, pp. 55-89.

Confucian Authority Industrial Neo-confucianism

# Power as example of moral rectitude(Focus on exemplary individuals) # Politics as matter of ethics & harmonious relation among members# Family as proper model of Government# Relation betn Ruler & Subject as Parent & Child

Politics of Dependency• Power flow from morally superior• Reln between superiors & inferiors• Govt. as legitimate basis of power• Exemplary Conduct of powerful persons• Power of positions (not of individuals)

# Industrial achievement= spirit + organization + material + attitude & culture

Neo-confucian Attitudes

• Meritocratic Elite• Entrance Exam System• Importance of Group• Self-cultivation


Defn of Power: “The point about power is not who has it, but that

nobody should have too much of it because power is bad thing.”*Primitive Power: “Primitive power is the crude, brutal use of force to intimidate.”

-----“Relation of “Primitive power” and “government”----(why Govt. needed?)”

•Difference betn Asian Concept of Power and Western Concept of Power

* Stages/Development of Asian Concept of Power• Power as Ritual• Power as ethical, moral and social order• Power as support of cosmic order• Status as Substitute of Power (Ritual becomes Status & Status become Power)• High Status Role (Power as performing high-status role)

Case-v (Asia)Pye, Lucian W., (1985), “ The Evolution of Asian concept of Power”, pp. 31-54.


Case-vi (South Asia)Pye, Lucian W., (1985), “ The South Asia Subcontinent: Hindu and Muslim Power and the rewards

of Narcissism”, pp. 133-157.

* Buddhism, Hindu and Muslim Cultural impactsHindu Concept

# Caste System and Varna System* Hindu Thought & Ruler: Kshatriyas (Second position, but Govern)

-- Punishment for order (role of fear) -- blurred reln between state and religion

# Six functions (dharma) of God-King/Ruler/ State1. To protect the people from dangers2. To maintain law and use of land3. To uphold social order4. To levy taxes5. To promulgate laws and resolve Conflicts6. To promote people’s happiness by performing rituals‘Danda Neiti’, Legimate Violence (create fear), For Gandhi: moral power as supreme force of power (Non-violence)


Muslim Concept# The Creed: the prophet’s word# The Book: The Koran, precise text# The Brotherhood: The Principle

The Din• More than Hindu’s dharma• all have fixed nature, determined by divine power• Sense of unity of the universe (But Hindu acceptance of diversity)


Hindu# Secular Authority# Sacred Power

Islam# Sacred Authority# Sacred Power

Confucian# Sacred Authority# Secular Power


Group Work 1

i) Unitary, Confederate and Federal States

ii) Theocracies and Modern States

iii) Parliamentary and Presidential System

iv) Minimal Sate and Welfare State

v) Socialist State and Liberal State

vi) Protective, Independent (Sovereign), Suzerainty State


* Defining Regime

Group Work 2

i) Changing Pattern (How Changes Took Place)

ii) Reasons for Regime Change

iii) Conditions of State for Regime Change


Key Points

1. Political System and Different Forms

2. Traditional and Modern Categorization of Political System

3. Regime Change

4. Relation of Culture and Politics

5. Primitive Power, Power and Micro-power

6. Concept of Nation-state

7. Basis of Legitimacy

8. Political System in comparison with Hindu, Muslim and Confucian culture


9. Meiji State/ Causes of Change in Japan

10. SEZ / and Chinese Model of Success

11. Neo-confucianism

12. Challenges, Situational Factors and issues of Four Little Dragon

13. Asian Concept of Power (Compare with West)

14. Compare (a) East-Asia,(b) South Asia,(c) China, and (d) Japan


Thank You !!

(For Reference: see your Syllabus.)

unit-iii comparative readings in contemporary political systems

Documents

culture politicssamuel

culture politicsculture

culture politicsmeiji

culture politicsmax

political assumptions

restoration period of

cultural relativismculture

social structure