Comparative Politics

Ways to classify states
Democratic or non-democratic?
Also can study a state’s internal organization, since democracies vary greatly, as do non-democratic regimes

Democracies
Tremendous growth in numbers in 20th c. Three waves of growth:
End of WWI
End of WWII
1970s through 1990s
Now 121 electoral democracies out of about 190 nation-states & 18 territories, according to Freedom House.

Democracies not uniform
Key Differences:
* Presidential vs. Parliamentary government
* Ideologies (classical liberalism vs. democratic socialism)
* Economic systems (capitalist vs. socialist)
* Types of rights protected
* Types of electoral systems

Democracies Share:
A government based on the decisions of the majority, either directly or indirectly.
The people and government are connected both thru the process (how decisions are made) and the outcome (what decisions are made).

Ideas of Pericles (495-429 BC)
Characteristics of democracies:
* Rule by the people
* Equality under the law
* Pluralism: respect for diverse viewpoints
* Idea of a private domain
* High enough standard of living to secure people’s happiness

People & government connected
Through free & fair elections
Through access to government officials
Through the types of policies enacted.

People & government connected
Democracy means both:
PROCEDURES – how decisions are made, and
SUBSTANCE – what decisions are made (that is, a check on what even a majority can do).

U.S. Framers & Democracy
Fear of majority tyranny led to certain choices to limit democracy:
Representative and not direct
Constitutional limits on majority choices
*Written constitution & rule of law
*Civil liberties protected in Bill of Rights
*Judicial review of actions of Congress & President

Five Dimensions to Examine
1.) Participation: how people select their government officials & express policy preferences.
Franchise: who votes?
Effect: what issues are subject to popular vote?

Five Dimensions to Examine
1.) Participation: how people select their government officials & express policy preferences.
On these issues, how does U.S. compare with Germany?

U.S. compared with Switzerland
Who votes? Expansion of Voting Rights
U.S. not fully democratic until 20th century. Women in 1920; African-Americans in 1965; people between 18 & 21 in 1971. No bilingual ballots until 1982.

U.S. compared with USSR
Who votes? Expansion of Voting Rights
Totalitarian Russia? Women in 1917; national minorities in 1917 an 1922.

U.S. voting turnout
Low turnout of electorate complicates our ability to claim strong participation element.
Average turnout of 50% in presidential & 40% in midterm.
1996: 49%
2000: 54.3%
2004: 59.6% highest since 1968

U.S. compared with modern Russia
Effect of voting on important issues
U.S. has no national referendum or initiatives
RF uses both. Citizens can review statutes & treaties.

2.) Pluralism
How does government advance tolerance for different ideas? Democracies are composed of people of diverse viewpoints & backgrounds. How are they accommodated? How are their interests represented?

Religious toleration
In U.S., both Constitution & 1st Amendment’s Establishment Clause restrict government involvement in religion. Framers’ intended to permit diverse religious views to coexist in a democratic framework.

Religious toleration
In Germany, Basic Law guarantees religious liberty. Government imposes “church tax” to support recognized religions.
Intent is to strengthen civil society. Some faiths not recognized or subsidized (Islam); others refuse state aid (Baptists & Methodists); and others discriminated against (Church of Scientology).

3.) Developmentalism
How does government ensure people can develop their full potential?
Political socialization: process by which citizens learn basic political values & beliefs, which enables them to act in the political system. Occurs in every political society.
Sources: family, friends, political leaders, schools, interest groups.

U.S. compared with Argentina
In U.S., explicit socialization through school programs like Character Counts & student dress codes.
Do they increase democratic awareness?
Supporters argue they do because they stress positive values & reject gang values.

4.) Protection
How does a government ensure democratic values are protected? How does it balance the need for liberty with counter pressures for order & security?
Compare U.S. & Britain.

U.S. and Britain compared
U.S. has written constitution and Bill of Rights, and judicial review to enforce them.
Britain has no written constitution or judicial review but has long tradition of rights & legal practices.

Challenges for democracies
Democracies never guarantee provide absolute protection from government control. No rights are absolute.
Wartime fears may drive majorities to pass laws that restrict – and even criminalize – unpopular minorities.

U.S. rights during wartime
Espionage Act of 1917.
Japanese-Americans’ internment during WWII.
Patriot Act & other post 9/11 antiterrorism measures.
Courts often defer to executive & legislative branches during crises.

British protections
Britain relies on long-time practices & norms to protect rights, as well as documents dating to the Magna Carta in 1215.
Also relies on the House of Commons – the people – to protect rights.

U.S. and Britain compared
Does one type of system better protect citizens’ rights during national crises, when popular passions and fears tend to drive national policy?

5.) Performance
How well does government serve its citizens’ material needs? We can compare democracies in terms of socio-economic factors.
Text compares U.S. & India on performance measure.

U.S. compared with India
Factors include technological & industrial development, natural resources, population size & other variables.
Population
U.S. 295,734,134
India 1,080,264,388
U.S. ahead on many measures.

U.S. compared with India
Per capita income
U.S. $40,100
India $ 3,100
Literacy rate above age 15
U.S. 97%
India 59.5%
Men: 70% & Women: 48%

U.S. compared with India
Infant mortality rate
U.S. 6.5 deaths per 1,000 live births
India 56.3 deaths per 1,000 live births
Life expectancy (at birth)
U.S. 77.7 years
India 64.4 years
Yet India’s performance has much improved since 1947.

U.S. compared with India
In fact, other measures show strong performance. For example, India has 2nd fastest growing major economy in the world, faster than U.S.
GDP Growth
U.S. 3.3%
India 8.1%

U.S. compared with India
Also both countries have significant poor populations. In U.S., top 1% of households own 38% of country’s wealth, & top 20% own 83% of wealth.
Population below poverty
U.S. 12%
India 25%

Indian economic changes
Since independence, a government-centered approach to economic policy (railroads, aviation, energy, etc.).
Recently, however, some experiments with privatization & foreign investment.
Also family planning policies to control population growth.

Why the spread of democracy?
Fatigue with authoritarian governments
International pressure favoring democracy
Changing popular expectations
Emergence of human rights law