1. Sovereignty, Authority & Power
Review session # 2
Sovereignty, Authority & Power

2. What is the difference between State, Nation, Country
What is the difference between State, Nation, Country? What is the difference between governments and regimes?

3. Types of regimes
DEMOCRACIES
AUTHORITARIAN
TOTALITARIAN
MILITARY

4. 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)

5. LEVEL OF DEMOCRACY CONSOLIDATED LIBERAL OR SUBSTANTIVE
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
Russia under Vladimir Putin is often cited as a prime example

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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 -

10. legitimacy

11. Power & Authority WHAT IS LEGITIMACY?
2 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

12. What are the 3 basic types of legitimacy?
TRADITIONAL
CHARISMATIC
RATIONAL-LEGAL

13. 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

14. Examples of traditional legitimacy
BRITISH ROYAL FAMILY
RUSSIAN CZARS – HEAD OF CHURCH

15. 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

16. 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.

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. Legitimacy of AP 6: Great britain
Traditional 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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 – 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

25. 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

26. 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 Centralism
Mass Line
Since Mao’s death
Politburo & CCP remain legitimate source of power – but criticism in recent years has become louder
CCP maintains that they are the only party who have the well-being of the citizens in mind…historic best interests

27. Legitimacy of ap 6 China 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

28. 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

29. Legitimacy of ap 6
Sense of National Identity

30. 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 – – Reformers who support democratic rule
Ahmedinejad 2005 – Present – Conservatives who support theocracy

31. 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