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Comparative Politics Scientists
scholars who study and analyze political systems, institutions, and processes across different countries to identify similarities, differences, and patterns.
Quantitative data
expressed in numerical form and can be analyzed statistically.
Qualitative data
contains non-numeric representations such as words, images and text.
Political Systems
systems refer to the structures and processes through which a society makes collective decisions, exercises power, and governs itself.
Regimes
are the rules, norms, and institutions that govern political behavior within a political system.
Governments
are the specific individuals or groups that hold power within a political system and make decisions on behalf of the society.
Authoritarianism
is a type of political system where power is concentrated in one leader or group without meaningful competition or accountability.
Institutions
refer to the established structures and organizations that shape and govern political systems.
Legislatures
these are specific institutions within a political system responsible for making laws.
Political Parties
are organized groups that represent different ideologies or interests within a society.
Judiciary
is an institution responsible for interpreting laws and ensuring their fair application.
Comparative Methodology
the approach used by comparative political scientists to systematically compare and analyze different political systems.
Elections
are formal processes where citizens choose their representatives or leaders through voting.
Suffrage
the right to vote in political elections.
Electoral Systems
the rules and procedures used to translate votes into seats or positions of power within a government.
Voter Turnout
the percentage of eligible voters who actually cast their ballots during an election.
Legitimacy
refers to the acceptance and recognition of a government or political system by its citizens as having the right to rule and exercise authority.
Democracy
a system of government where power is vested in the people, either directly or through elected representatives, providing legitimacy through popular consent.
Authoritarianism
a form of government characterized by strong central control and limited political freedoms, often lacking widespread legitimacy due to lack of citizen participation.
Rule of Law
the principle that all individuals and institutions are subject to and accountable to laws that are fairly applied and enforced, contributing to the legitimacy of a government.
Political Socialization
the process through which individuals acquire their political beliefs and attitudes from their social environment.
Civic Engagement
the active involvement of citizens in their communities or in public affairs, such as voting, volunteering, or participating in protests.
Political Efficacy
the belief that one's actions can make a difference in the political process or influence government policies.
Citizen organizations
are non-governmental groups formed by individuals who come together around shared interests or causes.
Interest Groups
organizations that seek to influence government policies on behalf of their members or supporters.
Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
private organizations that operate independently from the government and work towards social, political, or environmental goals.
Civil Society
the space in society where citizens can freely form associations, express their opinions, and participate in public life outside of the government.
China - Political System, Regimes & Government
Authoritarian (CCP)
Unitary government
Sudden Change
Legitimacy: revolution and economic stability
China - Political Institution
Head of government : premier
Head of state : president
10 year term limit; president - no term limit
Unicameral chamber
People’s court CCP- ruled
No true judicial independence
China - Political Culture and Participation
Underdeveloped civil society
Vast resources > can sustain itself from within
Patron - clientelism
Communism
Rule by law
No opposition to the party
No direct elections of president; ban on protests
Media limited by firewall
Separatist movements
China - Party, Electoral Systems, & Citizen Organizations
Every 5 years for local people’s offices
Elected choose NPC
One party (CCP)
China - Political & Economics Change
Least privatization of natural resources
SEZs=more liberal econ
Low class mobility and vast inequality
Rapid industrialization
Iran - Political System, Regimes & Government
Theocracy/Authoritarian
Unitary government
Source of Power : religion
Authority changes : dictators to religious leaders
Sudden change
Legitimacy: revolution and religion
Iran - Political Institution
Head of state : supreme leader (10 year term limit)
Head of government : president (2*4 years conseq.)
Unicameral chamber
Sharia law : Qanun
No true judicial independence
Iran - Political Culture and Participation
Extremely limited civil socalization society
Politics = religion
Some overlap w/ fascism
Rule by law
Elect president/parliament (not much choice)
Restricted protests
Revoking media licenses
Separatist movements
Iran - Party, Electoral Systems, & Citizen Organizations
Every 4 years for president and parliament
One party (IRP)
Iran - Political & Economics Change
State ownership
Limited international market
Gender inequality and unequal access to edu
Brain drain
Mexico - Political System, Regimes & Government
Constitutional Democracy
Emerging Democracy
Federal government
Source of power : popular support
Authority : authoritarian to democratic parties
Sudden change
Legitimacy : revolution and constitution
Mexico - Political Institution
Presidential system
Head of state = Head of government : president
One 6 year term limit
Bicameral chamber
Federal state, supreme courts
Transitioning to judicial independence
Mexico - Political Culture and Participation
Developed civil society
Geographical barriers > regionalism
Patron - clientelism
Populism
Rule by law (flawed democracy)
Elect president/legislative
Used to condemned protests
Some separatist movements
Mexico - Party, Electoral Systems, & Citizen Organizations
Every 6 years for president and national legislature
Plurality + proportional rep.
Single/three-member
Multi-party
Neo-corporatist state
Mexico - Political & Economics Change
Privatization
Unequal access to abortion/ gender quotas for education and politics
Migration south > north > rural > urban
NAFTA + maquiladoras
PEMEX (state-owned oil company) > government controls all stages of oil distribution
Nigeria - Political System, Regimes & Government
Constitutional Democracy
Emerging Democracy
Federal government
Source of power : military forces
Authority : authoritarian to democratic parties
Sudden change
Legitimacy : independence and constitution
Nigeria - Political Institution
Presidential system
Head of state = Head of government : president
One 4 year term limit
Bicameral chamber
Constitutional and sharia laws
Transitioning to judicial independence
Nigeria - Political Culture and Participation
Underdeveloped civil society
Religious conflicts have impacted political culture
Neoliberalism
Mostly rule by law
Direct elections
Protests are lawful
Many separatist movements
Nigeria - Party, Electoral Systems, & Citizen Organizations
Every 4 years for president and national assembly
First-past-the-post/Majority
Single/three-member
Two strong parties
Nigeria - Political & Economics Change
NNPC is state-owned
Import substitution industrialization model
Strive to end unequal access to education
Brain drain
Oil industry is controlled mostly by foreign MNCs.
Russia - Political System, Regimes & Government
Constitution/Authoritarian
Federal/asymmetric government
Source of power : legislature
Authority : political elite’s back of a strong president
Sudden change
Legitimacy : tradition and nationalism
Russia - Political Institution
Semi-presidential system
Head of state : president
Head of government : Prime minister
Two 6 year conseq. term limit
Presidential hybrid leg.
District, regional, supreme courts + constitutional
No true judicial independence
Russia - Political Culture and Participation
Underdeveloped civil society
State protected people’s safety > less individualism
Socialism
Rule by law
Elect president/legislative
Large gatherings-crime
Nationalized media
Few separatist movement
Russia - Party, Electoral Systems, & Citizen Organizations
Every 6 years for president and national assembly
Majority+proportional rep.
Single-member+proportional
One dominant party (UR)
Russia - Political & Economics Change
Limited foreign investment
Labor protection laws
Nationalization of oil > great wealth accumulation among oligarchs.
UK - Political System, Regimes & Government
Democracy
Unitary/turning federal government
Source of power : constitution
Authority changes : monarch to parliament
Evolutionary change
Legitimacy : tradition and stability
UK - Political Institution
Parliamentary, monarchy
Head of state : monarch
Head of government : prime minister
No formal term limit
Bicameral chamber
Common law
No true judicial independence
UK - Political Culture and Participation
Well established civil society
Geographically secluded > separated from Europe
Some individualism
Rule of law
Direct election of MPs
Protests are legitimate
Few separatist movement
UK - Party, Electoral Systems, & Citizen Organizations
Every 5 years for MPs
First-past-the-post
Single-member districts
Two parties+minor parties
UK - Political & Economics Change
Mixed economy; privatizes its national resources most
Access to healthcare
Inflow of immigrant > Brexit
Rapidly aging population
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