Unit 1: The Themes!Unit 1: The Themes!Sovereignty, Authority, & PowerPolitical InstitutionsCitizens, Society and the StatePolitical & Economic ChangePublic Policy

Sovereignty, Authority, & PowerPolitical InstitutionsCitizens, Society and the StatePolitical & Economic ChangePublic Policy

Theme 1: Sovereignty, Authority, & PowerTheme 1: Sovereignty, Authority, & Power

Nation State

A group of people claiming a A group of people org-

common identity + the right anized under a govern-

to be a state. May share ment. They must share

the following (to varying degrees):

Culture Government Territory Budget Language Borders Ethnicity Currency Religion Police Force/Military

Nation State

A group of people claiming a A group of people org-

common identity + the right anized under a govern-

to be a state. May share ment. They must share

the following (to varying degrees):

Culture Government Territory Budget Language Borders Ethnicity Currency Religion Police Force/Military

Examples of each…Examples of each…

Nation: The Kurds Palestine Kosovo (until this year) Chechnya Cherokee Scotland ?

Nation: The Kurds Palestine Kosovo (until this year) Chechnya Cherokee Scotland ?

State: United Kingdom Russian Federation PRC United Mexican States Federal Rep. of Nigeria Islamic Rep. of Iran

State: United Kingdom Russian Federation PRC United Mexican States Federal Rep. of Nigeria Islamic Rep. of Iran

Regimes & Institutions

Regime: A country’s institutions, rules, and practices that carry over across time, even though leaders and issues change. (the system of government in a country)

Institutions: Stable, long-lasting organizations that help to turn political ideas into policy. Examples: bureaucracies, legislatures, judicial

systems, political parties, military

Types of Regimes

Totalitarian Communist

MonarchyC o n stitu tio n a l

R e a l

Oligarchy(ru le by a sm al group)

Dictatorship

Authoritarian R egim es(decis ions are m ade by politica l e lites)

DemocracyAuthority is based on the will of the people

Direct people have

immediate say over governmental decisions

Representative people choose

representatives to make political decisions for them

Legitimacy(the right to rule, as determined by their own citizens)

Traditional: tradition should determine who rules and how (Ex: monarchies, G.Britain)

Charismatic: dynamic personality of an individual leader or small group. Often doesn’t go past its founder. (Ex: Revolutionaries)

Rational-legal: based on a system of well-established and institutionalized laws and procedures. Based on the acceptance of rule of law. (Ex: U.S.)

Theme 2: Political Institutions! Unitary/Federal/Confederate Supranational Organizations (UN, EU, NAFTA)

Globalization/Fragmentation Executives (Head of State/Head of Government)

Bureaucracies Legislatures (unicameral vs. bicameral)

Judiciaries (judicial review)

Linkage Institutions (parties, interest groups, media)

Electoral Systems (proportional, first-past-the-post)

Political Elite & Recruitment (leader succession)

Theme 3: Citizens, Society and the State!Theme 3: Citizens, Society and the State!• Society cleavages: ethnic, religious,

linguistic, regional, class, political, etc..

• Civil Society: organizations outside of the state that help people define and advance their own interests.

• Society cleavages: ethnic, religious, linguistic, regional, class, political, etc..

• Civil Society: organizations outside of the state that help people define and advance their own interests.

Theme 4: Political & Economic Change!Reform: does not advocate overthrow of

basic institutions.

Revolution: major revision or overthrow of existing institutions.

Coup d’etat: “blows to the state”. Replacement of leaders by force.

3 Trends in Change…

1. Democratization

2. Movement towards Market Economies

3. Revival of Ethnic or Cultural Politics

Democratization

Liberal Democracies: Civil liberties (such as freedom of

speech, belief, assembly….) Rule of Law (equal treatment of

citizens) Neutrality of the judiciary Open Civil Society Civilian control of the military

Theme 5: Public Policy!

Economic Performance Social Welfare Civil liberties, rights, & freedoms

(Freedom House) Environment Corruption (Transparency Int’l) Disease/HIV/AIDS Nationalization/Privatization