Introduction to Comparative Politics
Political Science
2015-2016
Ms. Gorski
How & Why We Compare
What’s the point of comparative politics?
Why We Compare
“Without comparisons to make, the mind does not know how to
proceed.” –Alexis de Tocqueville
Comparing >> only way to understand our own political system
Deepens understanding of own institutions
See wider range of political alternatives
Illuminate virtues & shortcomings of political life
Describe & explain combinations of political events and
institutions found in societies
How We Compare
 Describe political process or event
 Compare within a structural-functional systems framework
 System – interdependent institutions & agencies found in all governments
 Exists in international & domestic environments
 Receives inputs from the environment
 Structure – specialized agencies
 Political Parties, Interest Groups, Legislatures, Bureaucracies, Courts
 Function – things performed by structures
 Enables government to form, implement, & enforce policies
 In different countries, the same structure may perform different functions
What Will We Compare?
Types of Governments
Democracy
Parliamentary vs. Presidential
Case Studies:
Great Britain
Iran
Authoritarianism
China or Russia
Oligarchy
Research Paper!
Monarchy
Communism
Dictatorship
Junta
State of Nature
Why do people have governments?
Purpose of Government
Alleviate negative conditions in the state of nature
Condition of man without government
Is it every man for himself?
Are humans innately cooperative?
3 Theorists: Hobbes, Locke, & Rousseau
1: Thomas Hobbes
 1588-1679
 Views shaped by English Civil War
 Author of Leviathan
 State of Nature = State of WAR
 No morality
 Live in constant fear, so no one is really free
 All are equal though, as even the weakest could kill the strongest
 Purpose of Government = impose law order to prevent war
 Gov’t should control, not necessarily represent
 Gov’t should protect the people from themselves (seen in American gov)
 Supported monarchies
 No right to rebellion
2: John Locke
 1632-1704
 “Father of Liberalism”
 Influenced American Declaration of Independence & Constitution
 Advocated separation of powers
 Supported revolution
 Two Treatises on Government
 State of Nature = perfect freedom to do what you want
 Not good or bad necessarily, but is chaotic
 Men give up total freedom to secure advantages of civil society
 Purpose of Government = secure natural rights, namely property &
liberty
 Representation ensures gov’t is responsive to the people
 Gov’t should protect people from the gov’t!
3: Jean-Jacques Rousseau
 1712-1788
 The Social Contract
 Popular philosophe during the French Revolution
 “Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains”
 State of Nature = free & equal “noble savages”
 Initially lacked laws & morality  choose benefits of cooperation
 Civilization is what corrupts man
 Division of labor & private property fosters competition, threatening survival &
freedom
 Purpose of Government = unite people under the general will
 Good for the most people
 Individual wills are subordinate to the general will
 Citizens must be actively involved in government (direct democracy)
Review
Why do we have government?
What is the major purpose of government?
Which theorist asserted the government should protect
the general will?
Which theorist did NOT support rebellion against the
government?
Which theorist was a major advocate of natural rights?
Political Goods & Values
What factors shape political decisions made by governments?
Political Goods & Values
 Expectations & obligations that
inform political decisions
 States fail when they cease delivering
positive political goods
 Motivate public policies
 Examples of Political Goods:
 Public Policy = all the authoritative
public decisions governments
make
 Outputs of the political system
 Promote end results called political
outcomes
 Is the outcome good or bad?
Depends on political goods & values
 Security
 Judicial System
 Laws
 Rights to Participate in Politics
 Medical & Health Care
 Infrastructure: commerce,
communications, banking, money,
currency
 Environmental Regulations
Strong vs. Weak States
STRONG STATES
 Deliver full range & high quality of political
goods
 High GDP per capita
 Score well on UNDP Human Development
Index, Corruption Perception Index,
Freedom of the World Report
 Very secure against political & criminal
violence
WEAK STATES
 Become unable to provide political
goods
 Urban crime rates high
 Tensions – ethnic, religious, linguistic, etc.
 Infrastructure deteriorated
 Neglected schools & hospitals
 Protect political freedoms & civil liberties
 High corruption
 Rule of law prevails
 Often ruled by despots
 Well maintained infrastructure (roads, etc.)
 Schools flourish
 Effective hospitals
System Goods
 Maintain the system
 Sometimes order & stability are at the
top of the agenda
 Citizens are most free to act
purposefully when their environment is
stable, transparent, & predictable
 Reflect functioning & effectiveness of
political system
 Riots, frequent changes in leadership,
etc. upset plans & cause destruction
Process Goods
Protect the political process
Value participation in politics
Free political participation
Democratic Procedures
Rights of Due Process
Policy Goods
Install favorable policies to protect
citizens’ welfare & equality
Desire to improve welfare & safety
Decrease inequality
Increase economic & personal
freedom
Trade-Offs & Opportunity Cost
How do governments choose to allocate resources to one area over another?
Trade Off
 We cannot always have political goods
simultaneously
 Political system has to trade off one value
or good to obtain another
 Example: spending funds on education =
giving up spending them on welfare
 Often have to deliberate between
security & liberty
Patriot Act ?
TSA ?
Opportunity Costs
 What you lose in one area by committing resources
to a different good
 Arise when deciding what to invest for the future
rather than spend today
 Investments can pay off! (Education Example)
 Video: Opportunity Cost & Real World Examples [4
min] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwOYLVL7pc