Unit 1 CoGo Concepts

Democratic vs Authoritarian states

  • Democratic - power in the people

    • Criteria

      • Rule of law

      • Less state interference in media/daily life

      • Free and fair elections

      • More government transparency

      • More citizen participation (voting and interest groups)

    • Branches of government

      • Independent branches (executive, judicial, legislative)

      • Decentralized power allows for independent authority

      • Increases accountability of government

    • AP 6

      • UK

      • Mexico (present)

      • Nigeria (present)

  • Authoritarian - power invested in small number/group of individuals, exercise power over state

  • without being held responsible to people

    • Criteria

      • Rule by law

      • High state control in media/daily life

      • Controlled/Rigged elections

      • Less government transparency

      • Limited citizen participation

      • Branches of government are very intertwined

    • Types of authoritarian regimes

      • Illiberal/hybrid democracy (Russia)

      • One-party states (China)

      • Theocracy (Iran)

      • Totalitarian - control over public and private lives

      • Military - country run by military leaders (Nigeria in the past)

    • AP 6

      • Iran

      • China

      • Russia (illiberal democracy)

      • Mexico (under PRI rule)

      • Nigeria (under


Democratization

  • Democratization - transition from authoritarian regime to democratic regime

    • Aims to accomplish

      • More competition

      • More transparency in gov/elections

      • Increase citizen participation in policy making process

      • Extending universal suffrage

      • Increased protection of civil rights/liberties, equality

      • Establishing rule of law

    • Democratic consolidation

      • Maturation of a democracy where it becomes unlikely that a country reverts to authoritarianism unless there is a “shock” or extenuating circumstance

      • Seen in UK and Mexico (debated)

    • Factors that hinder democratization

      • Political corruption

        • High rates in Nigeria, Mexico

      • Election rules that restrict voting

      • Limiting civil liberties

      • Polarization of political groups

        • Based on religious, economic, ethnic, etc factors


    • Factors that help democratization

      • Accommodating ethnic diversity in electoral systems

        • Eg Nigeria - accommodating the diversity in the country by having different ethnic groups represented

      • Increased multi-party competition/rule changes (ie gender quotas, prop rep)

        • Eg Mexico - gender quota in parliament

      • Independent judiciary

      • Policies that protect civil rights/liberties

      • Separation of powers

      • Consensus among political groups


Sources of power/authority

  • Power: ability to control or direct others

  • Authority: right to control or direct others

    • With authority, use of power is justified (seen with increased legitimacy)

    • Accepted/legitimate power

  • Sources

    • Constitution (UK - not in writing (bc no physical constitution) but in practice)

    • Religion (Iran)

    • Military/Force (China, Russia, Iran)

    • Political parties (China - CCP has the most power)

    • Legislature (Mexico - after implementing rules against 1-party dominance, the legislature is seen as a lot more legitimate)

    • Popular support (Iran after Islamic revolution)

    • Election rules/elections


Federal vs Unitary systems

  • Federal - Power divided among different levels of government (sub-national or regional governments). Devolved power is constitutionally protected

    • Russia, Mexico, Nigeria

    • Not all federal states are democratic

    • Adv

      • Citizen participation in multiple levels of government

      • Responsive nature of government to regional needs

      • Less likely to have 1-party dominance

    • Dis

      • Possibly very inefficient

      • Difficult to understand for citizens

      • Conflict between levels of government

    • Asymmetric federalism

      • Central gov takes steps to take away power from regional governments

        • Eg Russia - lots of power stripped from regional governments (ie ability to choose governors)

  • Unitary - All power in central government. Can have regional governments but they don’t necessarily have any power

    • UK, China, Iran

    • Adv    

      • Consistent laws throughout country

      • Easier to understand

      • Gov can act quickly when needed

    • Dis    

      • Ignoring regional issues

      • Easier to have 1 party dominance

      • Regional governments have no power

    • Devolved unitary systems

      • When central gov gives power to regional governments *regional governments don’t have permanent power, can be taken back at any moment

        • Eg UK (devolved power to Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland)

  • Factors to change relationship between central and regional governments

    • Ethnic/Religious divides

    • Supranational organizations

    • External threats

      • Usually leads to power shifted to central

    • Regional protesters/discontent

      • Usually central → regional

    • National emergency/crisis (ie terrorism)

      • Can go both ways