Comparative Politics Lecture 1 Introduction PDF

Introduction Comparative Politics Lecture 1 1 Course outline 2 Instructors József Dúró ([email protected]) Réka Várnagy ([email protected]) Gergely Rajnai ([email protected])...

Introduction Comparative Politics Lecture 1 1 Course outline 2 Instructors József Dúró ([email protected]) Réka Várnagy ([email protected]) Gergely Rajnai ([email protected]) 3 Topics 1. Basic concepts 2. Nation-building and state-building 3. Theories of democracy 4. Comparing political systems 5. Legislatures 6. Subnational governments 7. Systems of governments 8. Parties and party systems 9. Electoral systems 10. Political culture 11. Electoral behaviour 12. Movements 13. Test 4 Evaluation Attendance is mandatory at seminars (more than 3 absences result in failure) 6x10%=60% assignments (in-class and home) 40% exam 5 Grading 88-100: 5 76-87: 4 63-75: 3 51-62: 2 0-50: 1 6 What is politics? 7  What is politics? Problems with defining politics Politics is a loaded term – few people come to politics without preconceptions It is also an essentially contested concept, seen variously as 1. The art of government 2. Public affairs 3. Compromise and consensus 4. Distribution of power and resources 8  What is politics? Problems with defining politics 9  What is politics? Politics as the art of government ‘Politics is not a science… but an art’ (Chancellor Bismarck) Politics is understood as that which concerns the state To study politics is to study government – and the exercise of authority This offers a highly restrictive view of politics – most institutions and activities (businesses, schools, families) are seen as ‘non- political’ 10  What is politics? Politics as public affairs Distinction between ‘the political’ and ‘the non-political’ coincides with the division between an essentially public sphere of life and what can be thought of as a private sphere Traditional division between public and private realm conforms to division between state and civil society An alternative divide distinguishes between ‘the political’ and ‘the personal’ Politics does not and should not infringe on personal affairs (ie. family and domestic life) 11  What is politics? Public vs private divide 12  What is politics? Politics as compromise and consensus Politics is seen as a means of resolving conflict (by compromise and negotiation rather than through force) Based on faith in the efficacy of debate and discussion, as well as on the belief that society is characterized by consensus, rather than by irreconcilable conflict A growing disenchantment with democratic politics across much of the developed world has been expressed in the rise of populism and favours conflict over compromise and consensus 13  What is politics? Politics as power Power: the ability to influence the actions of others Power to vs power over This view sees politics at work in all social activities and in every corner of human existence Politics is, in essence, power Advocates of this view include feminists and Marxists 14  What is politics? Approaches to the study of politics The philosophical tradition The empirical tradition Behaviouralism Rational-choice theory New institutionalism Critical approaches 15  What is politics? Tools of political analysis Concepts help us to classify objects by recognizing that they have similar forms or similar properties. Models include a network of relationships that highlight the meaning and significance of relevant empirical data Theories offer a systematic explanation of a body of empirical data 16  What is politics? Tools of political analysis 17  9 September 2024 What is politics? Politics in a global age A distinction has traditionally been made between the domestic and international realms of politics The state-based paradigm of politics has come under pressure as a result of recent trends and developments, including globalization The increase in transnational flows has expanded the parameters and complexity of political activity 18 Thank you for your attention!