topics in comparative government

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TOPICS IN COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT Political Institutions

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Political Institutions. Topics in Comparative Government. So you know…. One of the most important parts of Comparative politics is studying the political institutions of a country. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Page 1: Topics in Comparative Government

TOPICS IN COMPARATIVE GOVERNMENT

Political Institutions

Page 2: Topics in Comparative Government

So you know… One of the most important parts of Comparative

politics is studying the political institutions of a country.Some are more elaborate, but all have some

similarities… but remember, just because they have the same type of institutions, don’t assume they serve the same functions.

Common structures that exist in most countries include levels of government executives, bureaucracies, legislatures, judicial systems, linkage institutions, and armies.

Page 3: Topics in Comparative Government

Levels of Government Every states has multiple levels of authority

—it is the distribution of power that varies. Unitary—concentrates all policymaking powers in

one place—central governmentConfederacy—spreads power among many sub-

units. Federal system divides power between central

government and the sub unites.

More Centralization Less Centralization

Unitary Systems Federal System Confederate System

Page 4: Topics in Comparative Government

Supranational Organizations and Globalization NOTE: All political systems are affected by

other governments—but more and more they are affected by supranational organizations (NATO, United Nations, NAFTA, OPEC, EU)

These organizations reflect the trend towards integration—states pooling their sovereignty to gain political, economic, and social power.

This is globalization. Changed the nature of comparative politics because

it breaks down the distinction between international and domestic politics.

Page 5: Topics in Comparative Government

Modern Challenges to the Nation-State Globalization

think EU. Is it really possible for a large supranational organization to replace smaller political states?

Centripetal v. Centrifugal ForcesCentripetal—bind people together (think nationalism).

Encourages allegiance to a single country. Hard to have globalization in this situation.

Centrifugal—oppose centripetal. Usually a destabilizing force. Example: the Russian Orthodox Church in U.S.S.R. ○ Separatist movements are also a type of centrifugal force. ○ One Reaction to stop this force is devolution.

Page 6: Topics in Comparative Government

Devolution (Ethnic/Economic/ Spatial) What is it?

The tendency to decentralize decision making to regional government as a way to keep power.

3 typesEthnic Forces

○ Remember an ethnic group shares a well-developed sense of belonging to the same culture. If a group has an identity that differs from the majority—ethnonationalism can occur. (When a ethnic group sees itself as a distinct nation with a right to autonomy or independence.

Economic Forces○ Economic inequalities can split countries in two… ex. Italy.

Spatial Forces○ Distance, remoteness, peripheral location can be devolutionary

—especially if physical features separate the area from the central power.

Page 7: Topics in Comparative Government

Executives/Cabinet Carries out the laws and policies of the state. Can be split into two distinct roles—Head of

state and head of government (a.k.a. chief executive).

Chief executive is most important person in policy making process in a presidental system

Cabinet is most important in a parlimentary system because it’s ministers head all the major departments.

Page 8: Topics in Comparative Government

Bureaucracies Made up of agencies that generally implement

government policy. According to Max Weber (father of the bureaucracy),

bureacracies are well organized complex machine that helps the organization of a business.

Has 4 characteristics:Hierarchical authority structureTask specializationExtensive rulesClear GoalsMerit principleImpersonality

Page 9: Topics in Comparative Government

Common Characteristics of a Bureaucracy All bureaucracies whether they are

democratic or authoritarian, tend to have these features in common:Non-elected positionsImpersonal, efficient structuresFormal qualifications for jobsRed tape/inefficiencyHierarchical organizations

Page 10: Topics in Comparative Government

Legislatures Branch of the government that makes laws

80% of all U.N. countries have a legislature Can be bicameral or unicameral

93% of those countries with a legislature are bicameral.

Function is to formulate, debate and vote on political policies.

Often control the countries budget (fund raising and spending)

Can have varying degrees of power within a nation state. Ex. U.S. vs. China

Page 11: Topics in Comparative Government

Judiciaries Role in political system varies

considerably from one country to another.

All have some form of legal structure.

Page 12: Topics in Comparative Government

Linkage Institutions What are they? Groups that connect the people to the

government.Political parties, elections, interest groups,

and media. Size and function depends on the

population and the scope of government.The larger the population and complex the

government’s policy making activities, the more developed are their linkage institutions.

Page 13: Topics in Comparative Government

Political Parties Party System—the array of parties

operating in a particular country and the nature of the relationship amount them.

NOTE: Political parties perform many functions in a democracy. Bring ideas/people together and establish

majority rule.Provide labels for candidates that help citizens

decide how to voteHold politicians accountable to the electorate

Page 14: Topics in Comparative Government

The Party System One-party system

Most communist countries have this systemSome theocracies and totalitarian states use this system

as well. Two-party system

Is a rarity.About 15 countries world wide (including the United

States) use this system. Multi-party system

Most European countries use a multi-party system. Are found in countries with a strong parliamentary

system and use proportional representation for elections.

Page 15: Topics in Comparative Government

Electoral Systems Electoral systems are the rules that decide how

votes are cast, counted, and translated into seats in a legislatures. All divide populations by electoral boundaries, but use

different arrangements.○ Ex. US/GB use single member districts (a.k.a. the

plurality system) where voters vote for individual.○ South Africa uses a multi-member district (a.k.a.

proportional representation) where people vote for party not individual.

○ Mixed system uses some form of both for the system. Ex. Lower house is elected plurality system, where upper house

is multi-member.

Page 16: Topics in Comparative Government

Types of Elections Elections of Public Officials

Number of elected officials varies… even in a unitary state, state and local officials are elected.

ReferendumA vote on particular policy issues. It allows the

public to make direct decision about policy itself. ○ In US—it is at local or state level only.○ Other countries use it a national level.

InitiativeVote on a particular policy issue that is initiated by

the people.

Page 17: Topics in Comparative Government

Interest Groups Like minded people whose goal is to influence and shape

public policy. Similarities and differences vs. political parties..

Both represent political points of view of people wanting to influence policy.

Political parties represent the electoral process where interest groups support the electoral process.

The strength of interest groups lies in they degree of autonomy they have from the government. In authoritarian states groups have almost no independence… for

example in China only state supported interest groups exist. Other extreme is in western industrial systems where they guard

their independence by selecting their own leaders and raising their own funds.

Page 18: Topics in Comparative Government