Chapter Two Comparing Political Systems Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Why We Compare  “Without comparisons to make, the mind does not know how to proceed.” ----Tocqueville  Methodological Core of Scientific Study  Aristotle: economic and social comparisons of Greek city-states  Contemporary Political Scientists:  explain differences between processes and performances of political systems  compare two-party/multi-party, presidential/parliamentary, poor/rich  “Without comparisons to make, the mind does not know how to proceed.” ----Tocqueville  Methodological Core of Scientific Study  Aristotle: economic and social comparisons of Greek city-states  Contemporary Political Scientists:  explain differences between processes and performances of political systems  compare two-party/multi-party, presidential/parliamentary, poor/rich Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

How We Compare  Description: first stage in the study of politics  Set of concepts to describe it:  Conceptual framework: clearly defined and well understood  Intersubjective: understood in same way by different subjects  The easier this set of concepts is to understand and the more generally it can be applied, the more helpful it is to the study of politics.  Description: first stage in the study of politics  Set of concepts to describe it:  Conceptual framework: clearly defined and well understood  Intersubjective: understood in same way by different subjects  The easier this set of concepts is to understand and the more generally it can be applied, the more helpful it is to the study of politics. Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

How We Explain and Predict  Identifying Causal Relationships  Theories: well supported statements about causal relationships  Hypotheses: causal explanations not yet proven  Political Data: useful in testing hypotheses  Variables: differing features associated with cases  Predictions: testing hypotheses against data  Identifying Causal Relationships  Theories: well supported statements about causal relationships  Hypotheses: causal explanations not yet proven  Political Data: useful in testing hypotheses  Variables: differing features associated with cases  Predictions: testing hypotheses against data Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Political Systems: Environment and Interdependence  System: interdependent parts acting within an environment  Political System: set of institutions concerned with formulating and implementing collective goals  Governments are policymaking parts of political systems  Political system exists in international and domestic environments  International: exchanges among countries, interdependence and globalization  Domestic: economic and social systems, political culture  System: interdependent parts acting within an environment  Political System: set of institutions concerned with formulating and implementing collective goals  Governments are policymaking parts of political systems  Political system exists in international and domestic environments  International: exchanges among countries, interdependence and globalization  Domestic: economic and social systems, political culture Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Political Systems: Structures and Functions  Structure: parliaments, bureaucracies, administrative agencies, courts  Perform functions which enable government to formulate, implement, enforce policies  Six types of political structures: political parties, interest groups, legislatures, executives, bureaucracies, courts  Structure: parliaments, bureaucracies, administrative agencies, courts  Perform functions which enable government to formulate, implement, enforce policies  Six types of political structures: political parties, interest groups, legislatures, executives, bureaucracies, courts Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Political Systems: Structures and Functions  Functions: activities necessary for policy to be made and implemented in any political system  Interest Articulation: individuals/groups expressing needs/demands  Interest Aggregation: combines different demands into policy proposals  Policymaking: decides which policy proposals become authoritative rules  Policy Implementation: enforces public policies  Policy Adjudication: settles disputes about policy application  Functions: activities necessary for policy to be made and implemented in any political system  Interest Articulation: individuals/groups expressing needs/demands  Interest Aggregation: combines different demands into policy proposals  Policymaking: decides which policy proposals become authoritative rules  Policy Implementation: enforces public policies  Policy Adjudication: settles disputes about policy application Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Political Systems: Structures and Functions  System Functions: determine whether or not system will be maintained or changed  Political Socialization: families, schools, media, churches, and political structures that develop, reinforce and transform the political culture  Political Recruitment: selection of people for political activity and government offices  Political Communication: flow of information through society and various structures that make up the political system  System Functions: determine whether or not system will be maintained or changed  Political Socialization: families, schools, media, churches, and political structures that develop, reinforce and transform the political culture  Political Recruitment: selection of people for political activity and government offices  Political Communication: flow of information through society and various structures that make up the political system Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

An Illustrative Comparison: Regime Change in Russia  Example of structures and functions in Russia before and after breakdown of communist rule  Two revolutionary changes:  end of the single-party political system  dissolution of the Soviet Union into 15 member republics  Russia became independent noncommunist state  Comparisons here illustrate use of the structural- functional approach  Enables examination of how same functions are performed in different countries, or in the same country at two different points in time  Example of structures and functions in Russia before and after breakdown of communist rule  Two revolutionary changes:  end of the single-party political system  dissolution of the Soviet Union into 15 member republics  Russia became independent noncommunist state  Comparisons here illustrate use of the structural- functional approach  Enables examination of how same functions are performed in different countries, or in the same country at two different points in time Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

The Policy Level: Performance, Outcome, and Evaluation  Policy Level of the Political System:  what do differences in structure and function do for interests, needs, aspirations of people?  Policy Performance:  outputs of a political system - extractions, distributions, regulations, symbolic acts  Outcome of Public Policy:  never wholly in the hands of the people and leaders:  internal environment, external world, simple chance may frustrate most thoughtfully crafted programs and plans  Evaluation:  assessing performance and outcomes  consider goods associated with the policy level: welfare, security, fairness, liberty  assess performance and outcomes in each of these areas  Policy Level of the Political System:  what do differences in structure and function do for interests, needs, aspirations of people?  Policy Performance:  outputs of a political system - extractions, distributions, regulations, symbolic acts  Outcome of Public Policy:  never wholly in the hands of the people and leaders:  internal environment, external world, simple chance may frustrate most thoughtfully crafted programs and plans  Evaluation:  assessing performance and outcomes  consider goods associated with the policy level: welfare, security, fairness, liberty  assess performance and outcomes in each of these areas Copyright © 2012, 2010, 2008 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.