1. Democratic vs authoritarian regimes

2. What is democracy?

3. Characteristics of a democracy: system for choosing leaders
Free and fair elections
Opportunity for preferred candidate to get on the ballot
Multiple parties or candidates
Candidates have enough time to campaign
All voters may vote without unnecessary obstacles
All voters count equally
Candidate who receives most votes is the winner
Duly elected officials are allowed to take office
Indirect or direct system
Referendum (or plebiscite)

4. Characteristics of a democracy: active participation of citizens
In politics
In civil life
Civil society –aggregate of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that manifest the will of the people.
Associational autonomy (freedom to join)
pluralist societies (vs state corporatist)

5. Characteristics of a democracy: protection of human rights
For all citizens
Freedom of speech and press
Religious freedom
To enjoy one’s own culture
Independent and alternative sources of information
Right to freely associate
Right to assemble and protest
Liberal and illiberal democracies

6. Characteristics of a democracy: rule of law
Applied equally
All citizens treated the same
Constitution (remember rational-legal legitimacy)
Legal system and criminal proceedings
Protection from discrimination
Prohibition against arbitrary actions
Presumption of innocence
Fair, speedy and public trial
Impartial court
Prohibition against torture
Independence of the judiciary

8. Political parties—in democracy
Set platforms
Organize majority rule by nominating candidates
Provide guide to policies
Hold elected elites accountable
Prevent tyranny
Interest aggregation (combine articulated interests into policies)

9. Election systems
Proportional versus single-member district
Plurality versus majority rule
Coalition governments….
Impact on political party development

10. Election results…. Green Party Democratic Party Republican Party
Libertarian Party
Who Wins? 5 45 47 3 12 52 24 6 32 46 16 22 54

11. Election results….

12. Chief executive Presidential versus parliamentary
Impact on separation of powers
Impact on divided government
Gridlock
No confidence votes
Role of Head of State (ceremonial)

13. Authoritarian regimes
invest authority in small group of individuals
No constitutional responsibility to the public
No viable constitutional mechanism to remove a government
All regimes pre-18th century were authoritarian
NOT same as totalitarian

14. “causes” of authoritarian regimes
Economic factors –widespread poverty
Deep inequality
Wealthy elite use state power to suppress reform and hold on to own positions
Have-nots organize a movement so seize control from elites but results in own entrenchment
Social factors
Political culture of statism—Russia
Religious factors
Not necessarily a push, can be used to justify
Histories of hierarchies and ladder of authority……Catholicism & Islam

15. Authoritarian means of control
Coercian (force)
Compel people to submit to the regime
Surveillance of dissidents
Information monitoring (ie. Internet)
Brute force

16. Means of control Cooptation
Most consistent tactic (providing beneficial relationship so not challenged)
State corporatism—ruling party makes itself the mediator between interests (ie. Businesses, labor, competitors) and decides who “wins” Russia, china, iran and nigeria
Patron-clientelism (state places people in key positions, responsible for those below them) pyramid of loyalty and favor trading make challenging power very difficult. Control of a state commodity, like oil, can make make this especially effective in maintaining state’s dominance.
Corruption (related to patro-clientelism)
Power—ability to compel or motivate people to act a certain way
Authority—official position and jusidiction. (ie. Terrorists have power, not authority)

17. Means of control Personality cult More common with totalitarianism
Leader is near perfected version of nation’s aspirations
Mao Zedong in China during cultural Revolution
Stalin in Russia

18. Authoritarian type—personal rule
No clear rules or regime boundaries
No constraints on rulers
Often royal family
Often patron-client network

19. Authoritarian type-military rule
Usually result of a coup d’etat
Military leaders become policy makers and enforcers
Become agents of the state (Nigeria)
Most promise reform right after coup but mostly become engaged in corruption as earlier leaders did.

20. Authoritarian type-one party rule
Also called dominant-party system
Only one party legally or practically able to compete for power
Sometimes restriction built in to regime (China)
Sometimes ruling party takes steps to ensure easy victory every election
Mexico PRI operated massive patron-client network and Stuffed ballot boxes
Russia-Combination of competitive multi-party election with restrictions on civil liberties.
Illiberal democracy

21. Authoritarian type-theocracy
Intention is rule by God
Practically, power held by religious leaders
Entrust rule of the state to clerical religious authorities
Rules of regime and laws are often required to be consistent with religious doctrines
Iran-supreme authority rests with a supreme leader (cleric), not president. All but one president has also been a cleric, however. Cleric’s interpretation of shari’ah is law of land