rey ty political science roskin ch6 regimes
TRANSCRIPT
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Source:•Michael G. Roskin, Robert L. Cord, James A. Medeiros, & Walter S. Jones. (2012). Political Science: An Introduction. New York: Pearson Longman.
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Democracy
Direct D:citizens vote
directly; referendum
Representative D: people elect representatives to make laws &
govern
Constitutional D: government
is limited
Illiberal D: regimes elected
to power but lack civil rights
& limits on gov’t
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Features of Representative Democracy
Popular accountability
Political competition
Alternation in power
Uncertain electoral
outcomes
Popular representation
Majority decisions
Right to dissent &
disobedience
Popular equality
Popular consultation
Free press
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Democrcy in Practice: Elitism
Elite Theory: a small minority makes policy
decisions
Gaetano Mosca:
government aways falls into
a few
Robert Michels’ Iron Law of
Oligarchy: No matter how
democratic, a small elite runs
any organization
Robert Dahl: government is
too large & issues are too complex, no
choice but let a small group
make decisions
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Democracy in Practice: Pluralism
Interest groups drive policy
decisions
Interest groups make sure
government listens to the
people
Only a pluralist society can be
truly democratic
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Democracy in Practice: Polyarchy
Polyarchy: Interest groups compete
(pluralism), but elites run each group (elite
theory)
Arend Lijphart calls this “consociational
democracy:” elites agree among themselves on
the rules of the game & followers abide by these
rules
When elite accommodation breaks
down, conflict takes place
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TotalitarianismA political system in
which the state has total control over its citizens
Elites monopolize instruments of force,
including secret police & military
The regime controls the economy & allocates
resources
Different from dictatorship & authoritarianism, which
are regimes that seek power for individuals & cronies
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Totalitarianism
All-encompassing ideology that restructures
society
Regime promotes
official history, economy, politics, &
social development
One party system led by
one leader
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Authoritarianism
A small group governs
authoritarian regimes; usually not ideological
Not control everything;
many matters are left up to individuals,
provided they don’t threaten
the regime (culture,
economy, etc.)
Individual freedoms limited;
hierarchy, obedience, &
order are important
Courts & legislature might be
democratic but controlled by
the regime
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Authoritarianism & Developing Countries
After WW2, many new
countries were born, called themselves democracy
Many leaders thought
centralized power Is needed
for political & economic survival
Leaders thought they knew what their countries
needed & rigged elections
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Types of Authoritarianism
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Democratization of Authoritarian Regimes
1) Authoritarian countries with rapid economic growth
2) Collapsed Soviet-type states with slow economic growth
When authoritarian regimes allow free markets, middle class is formed, & become
ready for democracy
Slowly, regimes ease up & allow democratic reforms
Not happening in petro-states; wealth & power in hands of a
few & delay democracy
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Why Democracies Fail
Because they come too soon; stable
democracies need large, educated
middle class
Newly enfranchised & gullible voters fall for extravagant or
extremist candidates who offer simple
solutions
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Reference:•Michael G. Roskin, Robert L. Cord, James A. Medeiros, & Walter S. Jones. (2012). Political Science: An Introduction. New York: Pearson Longman.
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