Comparative Politics Midterm

The Result

• Political elites expand their states to gain manpower and economic resources for protection.
• This expansion leads to fewer surviving elites and increases regional power concentration.
• Surviving elites convince their armies to fight for them in the name of the nation.
• Andreas Wimmer states force projected in the name of the nation is even more powerful.

Implications of the Bellicist Theory

• Helps explain why states evolved where war and resource accumulation were vital.
• Weaker states are prone to instability (Ex: Latin America).
• Criticism of the theory suggests it ignores colonialism's impact on weaker states.

Critique of Charles Tilly's Theory

• Tilly argues state formation was driven by kings overpowering feudal lords.
• Critics claim oversimplified as Red Darwinism, suggesting the strongest always win.
• History shows the fittest do not always succeed.
  • France's Norman administration was effective even before major military advancements. Administration, not just war, mattered in state-building.

Cultural Theory & The Disciplinary Revolution (Philip Gorski)

• Belief that salvation is predetermined.
• Individual interaction with the Bible promoted education.
• Reinforced moral discipline.
• Tool to spread religious and social discipline.
• Moral policing through religious courts.
• Community shaming as social control.
• Effects of the 17th-Century "Disciplinary Revolution"
  • Pacified and "civilized" daily life.
  • Created a new social control mechanism that strengthened political elites.
  • Allowed political elites to link religious salvation projects with state reforms.
  • Church surveillance of the poor was mirrored for secular control.

Conclusion

• Asks if bellicist and cultural theories are useful in understanding modern failing states.
• Poses the question if lessons from European state formation can help stabilize weaker states today.

Definition of Democracy and Democratic Regimes

• Democracy is a system where people rule, ensuring rights and liberties.
  • Citizens can participate in elections.
  • Individual freedoms are protected.
  • Fundamental freedoms like expression, assembly, and association, are protected. Example: (Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (1982)).

Earlier Definitions of Democracy

• Democracy = competition for votes rather than direct rule by people.
• Robert Dahl (1971): Democracy described as "polyarchy" includes free elections, participation, and freedom of expression.

Procedural vs. Substantive Definitions of Democracy

• Democracy is just about following rules
  • Minimalist definition
  • A country holding regular elections but lacking strong civil liberties is still considered democratic under this definition.
• Includes but also outcomes
  • Requires engaged civil society and voter turnout.
  • Focuses on protecting marginalized groups.
  • Aims to reduce poverty and inequality.
  • Requires transparent institutions.
    • Norway has strong government
    • Russia lacks both components

Understanding Democracy Through Different Lenses

• Political rights gives one the choice to participate
• Will must have a place
• Active involvement is governance
• Freedom

Substantive View: Why Does Majority Rule Matter?

• Promotes liberty and Equality and community
• Participation for the underserved to be a part

Comparing Democracies: Dichotomous vs. Continuous Approach

• Either democratic or not
  • Countries such as NK and CA
• Depends on election of the legislator the restrictions
  • SW has participation and fair process
  • Restrictions present with Turkey

Why Does This Matter?

• Consider lens views.
• Achieve quality not just the rules
• Analyze trend changes globally

Key Takeaways

• Institutional elections are top and give light participation quality
• Exists on the variations

Understanding Democratization

• Is transition
  • external forces can be necessary
  • Spread through history
  • Modernization plays a role through money and culture

Huntington's Waves of Democratization

• Over states democratize
  • Influences for the revolution and regression
  • Post-World War Two and colonization expanded through United Nations International
  • Cold war ended and was Global

System Theory and Political Culture (Almond & Verba, 1963)

• Cultural affect
• Survey UK USA Germany Europe
  • Political is active
  • UK an example is citizens believe their role
  • Citizens trusting but not so much active

Democratization & System Failure (Case Study: Cambodia)

• Institutions must be weak and need money and cultures

Applying Theories to Cuba

• For Cuba's transition to democracy, the following is needed: - Modernization theory to grow Cuba's economy which may follow - International pressure for groups such as the IMF, UN, or World Bank to encourage reforms - Political culture so its citizens demand change enabling democracy - External intervention from other countries

Key Takeaways

• Waves illustrates the cyclical patterns of democracy's spread throughout history.
• System Theory explains how political culture affects democracy.
• Participant cultures support democracy, while parochial cultures resist change.
• Cuba's democratization depends on internal political culture and external influences.

Authoritarianism

• Totalitarianism - Power groups - Centralized control - Meaning that the regions are driven with zero elections and less to do with ideology

Definitions

• Leadership is no more and has no meaning - Continuous and the categorical

Totalitarian vs. Authoritarianism

• Is use with the anti and unity
• There is the making of the facts and truth
• There rules with the 2 systems - Relies on beliefs and mass mobilization - Not tolerate on differences

Autocracies

• Topography of autocratic regimes - Military is elites (Brazil ect)( 9 yrs) - Security over China and Korea - Over the president

Transition Patterns

-Transitioning autocratic not through a democratic approach

Comparative Insights

• Endings of Military regimes - Coups that don't end the regime itself - Tendency to end through violent means: economic resilience
• Leaders faces exile or imprisonment
• More over to the singular
• Splits during crises to support co-opting

Regime Longevity

• Military: 11%
• Personalist: 15%
• Single party: 50%

The law and Economics Impacts

• Less changes that get created because it varies
• typology vs Economic

Constitutionalism

• Procedures and hierarchy
• Follows rules
• Morality

Understanding

• Respect that binds
• Structures
• Rules on power used

New Constitutionalism

• Legal powers on rights
• Monarchs power is for legislators but not for protection

Review

• Can easily trigger but the US is statute trigger for protection

Judicial Review

• Rights protection overrides rights

Hirschl's Theory

• Weak social and a elite appearance
• Preserving goals

Final thoughts

• Protecting rights that is societal

Key Terms

Elite systems ect laws

Type law

• Use to have structure on power for protection
• For the use of specialized laws for protections

(Commonwealth)

• No judicial review. Is more with a codified protection of rights and liberties The US and Europe had both
• Handling the appeals with the limitation rights
• To be violated passed

Study guide on state formation, focusing on Bellicist and Cultural theories. It covers how political elites expand states for resources and manpower, and how this leads to regional power concentration. The guide also examines critiques of Charles Tilly's theory.