Intro to Comparative Government Comparative Politics Methodology

Intro to Comparative Government

Comparative Politics Methodology § “All comparative methods are scientific; therefore, all scientific method is comparative. ”

3 Basic Questions of Comparative Politics § What are we comparing? Units of analysis—states and governments § How do we systemitize our understanding of comparative politics? Can’t study all, so we take small samples and generalize. § How can we make the comparisons? --Across cultures/nations (vertical) --Across groups/social movements (horiz. ) --Across time (temporal)

3 Shifts in Scope of Analysis § General theory is not helpful; limit research to a few cases and address middle range theory § Shift #1: Middle-range theory § Shift #2: Methods § Deductive Method: General to specific § Inductive Method: Specifics to general conclusion. Best method: case study § Shift #3: Cross-temporal analysis

Comparative Approaches (David Apter) § Institutionalist: look at institutions. (What makes a strong state? Military, economy, resources, legitimacy, adaptive power of states. Is regime Totalitarian, Authoritarian, Transitional, or Democratic? ) § Developmentalist: look at society, culture. § 2 types: Modernization and Dependency school § Must understand socioeconomic forces § Ethnic Composition plays a role § State aggression/frustration/identity § I. Couldn’t explain Fascist Italy, Weimar German failure (really due to Versailles, economic collapse)

Methods of Analysis § Clinical Method—Controlled settings, operate within confinement (lab climate). Highly objective, very analytical, devoid of personal, emotional interference. Manipulate variables to shape experiment § Statistical Method—Gather random data, look for correlation, hopefully diagnose causation § Case Study— 1 element. Good that it relates to that element only. Ex: Marxism believes that economy is the most important; not always true § Comparative Method—Contains “old” and “new” methods

Comparative Politics Approaches § Traditional—look at cultures, study to learn similarities. Focus: formal institutions only § Behaviorist Approach—Feelings, attitudes, functions as opposed to institutions. Shift to infrastructure. Use mass media, foreign policy, public opinions, ideology to analyze. Focus: crossnational, cross-cultural (“Western world”). Take a prescriptive approach and analyze data empirically § Post-Behaviorism-reaction to precision and quantification

The Comparative Method: Stages § 1. Identify a problem/question (Ex: What causes/promotes democracy? ) § 2. Gather data, collect info thru observation § 3. Formulate connection between data, make a hypothesis § 4. Make prediction/projection (inference) from generalization (if/then statement) § 5. Verify/Falsify (Falsification more useful) § 6. Theory

Political Culture— Building Civil Society § Def’n: A buffer between state and individual § Ex: Legal association, doctor’s association § There are moral, legal, and economic concerns in building civil society. § Moral: Soviets had tradition of strong state crushing religion, had no morals under communism. Soviet people saw free market as “cheating. ” § Legal: Soviets had no experience with contracts, ownership, bankruptcy, judges taught to rule the way the party wanted them to § Economic: Soviets used command economy exclusively, no entrepreneurial knowledge

What Causes War? § § § Self-defense Collective self-defense Help a helpless 3 rd party Dissatisfied with status quo (Hitler and Versailles Treaty) Nationalism/Jingoism Perception of leaders (Galtieri, Hussein) Preemptory strikes more effective, self-defense implications (Bush 43 and Iraq) Religion Conquest (outlawed by UN Charter) Parity—both sides are evenly matched and think it would be possible to beat the other Preponderance—one side really believes it can clean the other side’s clock

What Promotes Peace? § § Communication Prisoner’s Dilemma § Interdependence—if you really need something from the other state, you can’t risk war § Alliances—collective security mechanisms make aggressors less likely to attack

25 -27 First World Industrial Countries § USA, UK, France, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Norway, New Zealand, Australia, Belgium, Austria, Denmark, Canada, Finland, Iceland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Ireland, Greece § Iffy: Israel

Evolution of the 1 st World § 1648: Treaty of Westphalia lays ground for the modern state with the principles of territorial integrity and government § All faced questions about the role of religion in politics § Industrial Revolution impacts countries, leads to social unrest/problems/basis for sociology

Industrial Democracies: Similarities and Differences Similarities: § Wealth: $15 K-30 K § GNP/person). § Charles Hauss ID’s wealth as reason for democracy § Evolution similar § § Stability-- Dall (Yale): Polyarchy means different groups share power on different issues § Post-industrial § (Service economy) § Post-materialist Differences: Political systems Economic systems range from USA market capitalism protected capitalism in JPN socialism in SWE Culture (GER, ITY, FRA, JPN have penchant for strong “father state”. Huntington claims culture makes democracy—but if this is true, why are these countries different? Foreign Policy orientations (sanctions on Iraq)

Post-Materialism: (Ronald Inglehart, U-M) In the industrial world, there are 2 kinds of people: § Materialist: § § Post-Materialist § Wealthy, well educated Poor UC/MC Uneducated § Concerned with Older, environment, feminism, concerned with consumer protection, civil living from day liberties, support peace to day movements. § They think about selfactualization

Western Europe What is Western Europe? Cultural distinction Religion Languages: Slavic, Romantic, Germanic Pre-iron curtain Post-iron curtain NATO EU creates “in/out” division Neutrals? Austria, Switzerland, Sweden Borders: Turkey? EU requires democracy and human rights § Legal systems based on Common Law, Roman Law, Napoleonic Code § § § § §

Political Ideology: Quick Review § Def’n: A coherent and consistent set of beliefs about who ought to rule, what principles rulers should obey, and what policies rulers ought to pursue § People regularly have “inconsistent” opinions (ex: wanting to spend more on both national defense and welfare)

European Ideology § Classical Liberalism § Classical Conservatism § § Against State § Intervention in § Economy § Favors personal and economic liberty. § Would have supported free market and opposed government § regulation of trade § Pro-Status quo Economic Inequality Opposed excesses of French Revolution and its emphasis on personal freedom, wants to restore power of the State, Church, and aristocracy Doesn’t favor EUR integration “Thatcherite Conservatism” different, more like American Conservatism

The Concept of “Regime” § Institutions and practices that typically endure from government to government § Iraqi “regime” removed 2003

Women in National Parliaments

Benjamin Barber: Jihad v. Mc. World Fragmentation and Globalization compete Tribal enclaves lure members Mc. Donalds and MNCs now have global operations § These two forces collide to produce catastrophe and anomie § § §

Fareed Zakaria: “Illiberal Democracy” § Most democracies before third wave of democratizations were liberal democracies § Protect civil liberties § Allow for free elections § Recent development: only 1 of 2 present § Hong Kong: civil liberties but no voting § Haiti: voting but no civil liberties

The United Nations

History of the UN • Formed after the fall of the League of Nations which could not successfully rule as a governing body and WW II • Has the ability to maintain and deploy its member nations' armed forces as peace keepers. • The term "United Nations" was suggested by Franklin D. Roosevelt during World War II, to refer to the Allies. § From August to October 1944, representatives of France, the Republic of China, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the Soviet Union met to elaborate the plans at the Dumbarton Oaks Estate in Washington, DC. Those and later talks produced the framework of the UN (finalized in San Francisco) • Originally 51 member countries in 1945 • Now over 200 members

UN Financing § Financed by two methods: Assessed and Voluntary § Assessed is decided by how large and wealthy the member country is, therefore determining the amount of money it is able to allocate to the UN (decided when the UN makes it’s budget every two years). § There is a ceiling rate for countries so the UN is not dependent one country for its money. The ceiling rate is now 22%. Only the United States meets this amount.

UN General Assembly § Meets in regular yearly sessions under a president elected from among the representatives. § Only UN organ in which all members are represented, § Serves as a forum for members to discuss issues of international law and make decisions on the functioning of the organization. § Begins on the third Tuesday in September and ends in mid-December § President elected at the beginning of each session § Hold special session under request of Security Council if majority of members or majority of a single member § “Uniting for Peace” Resolution has not been effective

Voting in the General Assembly § Voting -important questions § recommendations on peace and security; election of members to organs; admission, suspension, and expulsion of members; budgetary matters § is by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting. § Other questions are decided by majority vote. § Each member country has one vote

Security Council § Security Council has the power to make decisions which member governments must carry out under the United Nations Charter. § decisions of the Council are known as UN Security Council Resolutions. § Presidency of the Security Council is rotated and lasts for one month. § Members must always be present at UN headquarters in New York so that the Security Council can meet at any time—weakness in League of Nations § president sets the agenda, presides at meetings and oversees any crisis - alternates in alphabetical order § Permanent Members (5) Republic of China, French Republic, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America § Elected Members. (10) elected to 2 year terms

The Secretariat • One of the main organs of the UN • Headed by the Secretary General, and other civil servants, and provides information for UN Assembly meetings. It also carries out tasks as directed by the UN Security Council, the UN General Assembly, the UN Economic and Social Council, and other U. N. bodies. • The United Nations Charter provides that the staff be chosen by application of the "highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity, " with due regard for the importance of recruiting on a wide geographical basis § § § § The Secretary General’s duties include: -helping resolve international disputes, -administering peacekeeping operations, -organizing international conferences, -gathering information on the implementation of Security Council decisions, and -consulting with member governments regarding various initiatives. The Secretary General may bring to the attention of the Security Council any matter that, in his or her opinion, may threaten international peace and security.

Offices under the Secretariat § § § § § United Nations Office of the Secretary-General United Nations Office of Internal Oversight Services United Nations Office of Legal Affairs United Nations Department of Political Affairs United Nations Department for Disarmament Affairs United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs United Nations Department of General Assembly and Conference Management United Nations Department of Public Information United Nations Department of Management United Nations Office of the Iraq Program United Nations Office of the United Nations Security Coordinator United Nations Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime United Nations Office at Geneva United Nations Office at Vienna United Nations Office at Nairobi

UN Secretaries General § Trygve Lie, Norway (1945 -1953) § Dag Hammarskjöld, Sweden (1953 -1961) § U Thant, Burma (1961 -1971) § Kurt Waldheim, Austria (1972 -1981) § Javier Pérez de Cuéllar, Peru (1982 -1991) § Boutros-Ghali, Egypt (1992 -1996) § Kofi Annan, Ghana (1997 -2006) § Ban Ki-moon, South Korea (2006 -present)

The International Court of Justice • Composition: Rosalyn Higgins, President (United Kingdom); Awn Shawkat Al. Khasawneh, Vice-President (Jordan); Judges: Raymond Ranjeva (Madagascar), Shi Jiuvong (China), Abdul G. Koroma (Sierra Leone), Gonzalo Parra-Aranguren (Venezuela), Thomas Buergenthal (US), Hisashi Owada (Japan), Bruno Simma (Germany), Peter Tomka (Slovakia), Ronny Abraham (France), Kenneth Keith (New Zealand), Bernardo Sepulyeda Amor (Mexico), Mohamed Bennouna (Morocco), Leonid Skotnikov (Russian Federation); Registrar: Mr. Philippe Couvreur (Belgium). • There always 15 judges on the court elected by members of the UN and the Security Council. Elected for 9 year-terms. Elections held every three years for one-third of the assembly. • Only one person per nationality and if the State is not presented by a justice in a case involving that State, the State can elect an ad hoc justice. • Nominees have to meet the requirements of their country’s requirements for their highest court of law, or can be jurists of recognized competence in international law. • Both countries must submit to ICJ jurisdiction (Case of Certain Norwegian Loans)

International Court of Justice

Learning Objectives After mastering the concepts presented in this chapter, you will be able to: § Describe and define state, nation, regime, and government. § Understand the definition of a nation-state. § Gain introductory knowledge of the process of comparative political analysis. § Comprehend the difference between globalization and imperialism. § Recognize the essence of political system and system theory and be able to apply this theory in comparative analysis. § Describe the ‘input-output’ process of political system operation. § Identify roles and positions of states and nation-states in international politics. § Explain the applicability of the international political economy. § Understand the three-way classification of states and regimes. § Define the fundamentals of the public policy and the process of its analysis.

Learning Objectives After mastering the concepts presented in this chapter, you will be able to: § Gain knowledge of democracy as a political system. § Become aware of the latest electoral results and their impact on political realities in the USA, Great Britain, France and Germany. § Understand concepts and criteria of democracy, such as rights, elections, the rule of law, civil society and capitalism in the free market. § Define liberal and liberalism. § Describe and define the origins of the democratic state empowered by the evolution of political thoughts on democracy. § Differentiate between philosophical positions of Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. § Recognize the process of democracy building § Understand the challenges of democratization. § Define and explain legitimacy and the process of political legitimization. § Comprehend the role of political parties in political system. § Identify different political ideologies and recognize the difference between left and right political ideologies and parties.

Learning Objectives § § § § Classify leading political parties in France, Germany and Great Britain. Understand political positions of Liberals, Radicals, Social Democrats and Christian Democrats. Define catch-all political parties. Understand postindustrialism and post materialism and their affect on the development of the political system. Recognize mechanisms of party dealignment and realignment. Describe interests groups and understand factors contributing to the political protest. Recognize differences between presidential and parliamentarian forms of government and their impact of government formation, duration, stability and effectiveness. Define cabinet responsibility and vote of confidence in parliamentarian systems. Recognize the role of bureaucracy. Define the “law of iron triangle. ” Describe the process of public policy formation and implementation. Define the interventionist state. Understand challenges of economically liberalized democratic state. Describe the impact of foreign policy on international relations. Recognize balances that democratic states should achieve to be more effective and efficient.

Learning Objectives After mastering the concepts presented in this chapter, you will be able to: § Discuss the summary of the book, including the summary of the current economic and political situation in the world. § Understand the definitions and components of crisis, danger, and globalization. § Comprehend the basics of global warming challenges in the contemporary world. § Define the concept of interdependence in the process of globalization. § Recognize the key elements of the historical formation and impact of imperialism. § Understand the concept of challenges in the way of thinking. § Discuss differences between zero-sum and positive-sum outcomes. § Gain complete understanding of the whole book and recognize the importance of studying politics and international affairs, especially in comparative prospective.