Download - Review session # 2
REVIEW SESSION # 2Sovereignty, Authority & Power
What is the difference between State, Nation, Country?
What is the difference between governments and regimes?
TYPES OF REGIMESDEMOCRACIESAUTHORITARIANTOTALITARIANMILITARY
DEMOCRACIES What are the indicators of a democracy?
Free and Fair Elections Competitive elections that allow opposition parties to
form and participate Government-developed polices based upon
procedures that guarantee due process, transparency in decision-making, and accountability of elected officials
Political rights and civil rights that are possessed by all citizens
An independent judiciary that upholds the civil liberties of citizens and oversees the rule of law
Elected government officials who exercise supreme authority over the government (civilian authority exists over the military & private powerholders)
Agreement that conflicts will be resolved peacefully according to legal procedures and without violence (rule of law)
LEVEL OF DEMOCRACY CONSOLIDATED
Relative consistent adherence to the 7 principles over an extended period of time
Examples: Great Britain, France, Germany, India, Japan and the United
States LIBERAL OR SUBSTANTIVE
Meets the 7 criteria – it is set up to be a democracy and functions as one
Also known as a functioning democracy Not necessarily consolidated – depending mostly on length of time
it has been engaged in truly democratic processes Example:
Mexico ILLIBERAL OR PROCEDURAL
Electoral process (but may be abused to keep someone in power) Only basic structures and institutions of democracy are in place May have regular, free, and fairly competitive elections but limit
other qualities found in democratic regimes such as civil liberties, rule of law, independent judiciary or civilian control of the military
Example: Russia under Vladimir Putin is often cited as a prime example
AUTHORITARIANISM What are the characteristics of an authoritarian regime?
Rule by single leader (e.g. dictator or monarch), small group or a single political party
Citizens have little or no input into selection of leaders and government decisions
Limitations placed upon political opposition and dissident groups No constitutional responsibility of leaders to the public – very low transparency Restriction of civil rights and civil liberties
Some based on communism, others may practices corporatism and have large patron-client systems
Which of the AP 6 would you place here? Nigeria – military authoritarianism Iran – Theocratic grip China Russia Mexico under PRI rule
TOTALITARIANISM How would you differentiate between
authoritarianism and totalitarianism? Particularly repressive, often detested regime –
seeks to control nearly every aspect of life Strong ideological goals Single mass political party Usually a single leader that has a monopoly on
political power Examples
Nazi Germany, Soviet Union under Stalin and China under Mao’s rule
SEMI-AUTHORITARIAN/SEMIDEMOCRACY (HYBRID REGIME) Elements of democracy are integrated into
otherwise authoritarian regime Political authorities likely to engage in
corruption, control of the media & Use illegal means to undermine political opposition
TRANSITIONAL DEMOCRACIES
Who in the AP 6? Russian, Nigeria & Mexico
MILITARY REGIMES How are military regimes established and what are their
characteristics?
Usually begins with a coup d’etat – a forced takeover of the government May or may not have widespread support of the people
Once in control restrict civil liberties Keep political parties from forming and prevent elections
Usually lacks a specific ideology Leaders often have no charismatic or traditional source of authority Join forces with the bureaucracy to form authoritarian regime May precede democracy (S. Korea & Taiwan) or it may create
instability as one coup d’etat follows another
How has the military been involved in the 6 AP countries? Nigeria, Mexico, Iran, Russia, China
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LEGITIMACY
POWER & AUTHORITY2 Types of Power: Coercive: Get what you want through rewards and
punishments Noncoercive: Results from a sense of legitimacy –
power relies on consent not coercion In Comparative politics – Power based on
legitimacy is called AUTHORITY…
WHAT IS LEGITIMACY? Right to rule as determined by the citizens Those obeying commands believe that
people who are making the rules have the right to command
WHAT ARE THE 3 BASIC TYPES OF LEGITIMACY?
TRADITIONALCHARISMATICRATIONAL-LEGAL
TRADITIONAL LEGITIMACY Legitimacy rests on the fact that it has
“always been that way” – Accepted because it has been accepted over long period of time
Power of leaders on family’s claim to throne and/or the belief that God has granted the leader the right to rule Incorporates the idea of the “divine right of
kings” Rituals and ceremonies all help to reinforce this
EXAMPLES OF TRADITIONAL LEGITIMACY
BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY RUSSIAN CZARS – HEAD OF CHURCH
http://monarchists.blogspot.com/2008/12/what-british-monarchy-is-not-about.html
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/NlgkXPjReVuQl2BIalYefA
CHARISMATIC AUTHORITY Legitimacy is based on the power of ideas Typically embodied in one individual who can move
move the public through these ideas & the manner they are presented
Not institutionalized… usually dies off with individual Can sometimes get transformed into traditional
legitimacy w/ the creation of rituals and values that are meant to capture the spirit and intent of the charismatic leader’s power Example?
Mao Ayatollah Khomeini
CHARISMATIC AUTHORITY TAKEN TO THE EXTREME?
Cult of Personality Hero –worship, extreme loyalty, propped up by media, propaganda Promotion of the image of a leader not merely as a political figure
– but as someone who embodies the spirit of the nation, possesses wisdom and strength far beyond the average individual & is thus portrayed in a quasi-religious manner
Attempts to generate charismatic form of authority from the top-down
Media & Culture play a vital role Successes are attributed to power of the leader Mistakes are blamed on mortal flaws of the public or external
enemies May function through terror – public may not believe praise, but no
one is willing to say so especially if it has faded and is only being held up by force Mao – Great Leap Forward when the grain production was not
what it appeared Possibly – Putin w/ theme song, consolidation of power and
apparent killings of journalists, etc.
RATIONAL-LEGAL LEGITIMACY Based on system of laws and procedures that are
highly institutionalized Leaders or political officials – legitimate because of rules
followed to put them in office People follow decisions because they believe that the
rules enforced serve the public’s best interests The person is not as important as the office he or she
holds – OFFICE is legitimate Lasts beyond the individual person- people obey the
rules – not their individual personality
2000 Election prime example of Rational-legal Legitimacy Weeks of bitter dispute…but after decision was made accepted
that GW Bush was president whether they voted for him or not
RATIONAL-LEGAL LEGITIMACY Constitutions
When were the constitutions of each of the AP 6 established?Comparison Chart - Crawford's World
Common Law or Code Law Common Law:
Based on tradition, past practices, legal precedents set by the courts through interpretation of statutes, legal legislation & past rulings
E.g. Plessy v Ferguson was law until overturned by Brown v. Board of Education
Code Law Based on comprehensive system of written rules (codes) – divided
into commercial, civil and criminal codes What systems do the AP 6 use?
Common: Great Britain, Nigeria*, Iran* Code: China, Mexico & Nigeria
ANOTHER FORM OF RATIONAL LEGITIMACY
Authoritarian & totalitarian regimes often claim they are “scientific” or “technocratic” (meaning rule by expertise) & they alone possess the knowledge and skills to guide the country
Implies that democracy is emotional, inefficient and inferior means of rule
Does this sound familiar? Lenin – Vanguard Party Current CCP justification for being in power Power play between the politicos and tecnicos in
Mexico
WHAT FACTORS ENCOURAGE LEGITIMACY IN BOTH DEMOCRATIC & AUTHORITARIAN REGIMES?
Economic well-being – credit government w/ economic prosperity – blame for economic hardships
Historical tradition/longevity Charismatic leadership – matters even in
democracies Nationalism/Shared Political Culture – Strong identity
w/ nation, not just state – more accepting of legitimacy of gov’t
Satisfaction w/ government’s performance/responsiveness If citizens receive benefits from government Country wins war Citizens are protected from violence & crime
LEGITIMACY OF AP 6: GREAT BRITAINTraditional until end of 17th century “Constitution of the Crown”
Magna Carta – nobles would be consulted before monarch made important decisions especially regarding taxes
Bill of Rights – Rights for parliament (NOT CITIZENS!) – gave important policymaking power to Parliament
Common Law – Legal system based on precedent
LEGITIMACY OF AP 6: GREAT BRITAIN How have economic factors played a role in Great
Britain’s legitimacy? Industrial Revolution & Colonial Mercantilism Colonialism – forces of nationalism & industrialization
“The sun never sets on the British empire” World Power diminished by 2 World Wars
What kind of benefits do the citizens receive from the government?
Collective Consensus during WWII & continued well into 1960’s– both Labour & Conservative Parties supported modern welfare system
(Prior to end of WWII) Beveridge Report – Social Insurance Program - all citizens eligible for health, unemployment, pension & other benefits – Goal was a subsistence income for every citizen
1948 National Health Service Created by Labour Party Thatcherism (neoliberalism)…Austerity Measures under
Cameron
LEGITIMACY OF AP 6: GREAT BRITAIN Other aspects of political culture:
Noblesse oblige Duty of upper classes to take responsibility for lower classes
Multi-Nationalism Relative cultural homogeneity – but united under one government
LEGITIMACY OF AP 6 Russia
Historically on strong authoritarian rule by Tsars & then dictators Under communist rule – democratic centralism (rule by few for
benefit of many) Constitution of 1993, Referendum by People to endorse
constitution (Yeltsin) Tested by attempted coup & intense conflict between Yeltsin and Duma 2000 Presidential transition showed resilience Putin stepping down from President lends legitimacy What will happen in 2012?
Economic Issues and Legitimacy… Tacit Social Contract under Stalin – You pretend to pay us…we’ll pretend to
work… Shock therapy..2002 – 30,000 rubles to equal a dollar Economy strengthened until 2008…and then the global economic crisis hit
Stock market dropped 70% Rescue Plan of over $200 billion for financial sector Tax cut plan for $ 20 billion of rcitizens Ruble still fell in value, unemployment grew & production dropped…
disillusionment
LEGITIMACY OF AP 6: RUSSIA History of centralized rule w/ tsars Eastern Orthodoxy and link to the
government – tsar was the head of the church Return to Eastern Orthodoxy since fall of USSR
LEGITIMACY OF AP 6 China
Dynastic rule – “mandate of heaven” Revolution of 1911 – legitimacy was supposed to be
based on democracy 1949 – Communist Party and Mao came to power
Democratic CentralismMass Line
Since Mao’s deathPolitburo & CCP remain legitimate source of power –
but criticism in recent years has become louderCCP maintains that they are the only party who have
the well-being of the citizens in mind…historic best interests
LEGITIMACY OF AP 6China Economic basis for legitimacy
Measured in terms of PPP – 2nd largest economy next to United States Economic growth over egalitarianism as a support for legitimacy Stronger legitimacy in Urban areas than Rural Iron Rice Bowl
Broken to increase incentive to work Public Health System once model for 3rd World - now in shambles Less than 10% of those who live in rural areas have health insurance WHO – ranks China among the worst countries in terms of allocation
of medical resources
PLA – important source of power for the PRC Old Guards that Marched w/ Mao – became PLA – never contested
for power but became some of the powerful elite Head of Central Military Commission plays important role in
policymaking (Deng-Xiaoping’s highest role) Old Guard became the PLA
LEGITIMACY OF AP 6 Mexico
Revolution of 1910 – 1911 Admiration for revolutionary leaders such as Michael Hidalgo,
Benito Juarez, Emilio Zapata, Pancho Villa & Lazaro Cardenas Revolutions accepted as path to change & charisma is highly
valued as leadership characteristic Formation of Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) in
1929 Constitution produced during this time 2000 lost presidency & one house of Congress – but in 2009
captured a plurality of seats in the Chamber of Deputies Sources of public authority & political power appear to
be changing rapidly
LEGITIMACY OF AP 6 Sense of National Identity
LEGITIMACY OF AP 6 Iran
Authoritarianism under the Pahlavi shahs (King of Kings) Charismatic leadership of Ayatollah Khomeini Revolution of 1979
Constitution of 1979 40 amendments written during last years of Khomeini’s life Anchored in Shiism Jurist’s Guardianship
Recent years crisis of legitimacy in Iran Sovereignty of the people vs. Divinely Inspired Clerical Rule(The whole tension between democratic and theocratic rule)Khatami – 1997-2005 – Reformers who support democratic ruleAhmedinejad 2005 – Present – Conservatives who support
theocracy
LEGITIMACY OF AP 6 Nigeria
Legitimacy is at a low ebb Lack of constitutionalism Strong impulses toward fragmentation
Tendency to fall apart along ethnic, regional and religious lines
Economic exploitation by the elite Corruption especially evident in General Ibrahim Babangida
& General Sani Abacha Why should we pay taxes when it goes right to them?
Use of Military Force Irony is that the military is one of the few truly national
organizations in Nigeria….so despite problems also gives stability
This stability lends legitimacy to Military’s right to rule Sharia
In the north