Chapter_3

Chapter 3: States, Citizens, and Regimes

Meaning of Citizenship

• Definition: Citizenship is membership in a political community or state, establishing a relationship with the state.

• Modern Context: Everyone needs to be "from" somewhere; being a stateless person is almost inconceivable.

Development of Modern Citizenship

• Historical Evolution: Citizenship evolved as states modernized and distanced from monarchs, leading to the idea of popular sovereignty.

• Separation of Sovereignty: Sovereignty moved from monarchs to the people or segments of society (e.g., landowners).

Types of Rights in Citizenship

• Civil Rights: Individual freedoms (e.g. equal treatment under law, habeas corpus, freedom of expression).

• Political Rights: Rights related to political participation (e.g. voting, forming political associations).

• Social Rights: Rights connected to socioeconomic equality (e.g. public education, health care).

• Marshall's View: Modern citizenship encompasses legal protection, political engagement, and socioeconomic equality to make citizenship meaningful.

Citizenship and Obligations

• Rights and Responsibilities: Citizens possess rights and obligations to their communities, ideally respected participants.

Civil Society

• Definition: Organized, non-governmental, non-violent activity beyond individual families.

• Growth: Civil society development coincides with modern state emergence.

Popular Sovereignty

• Legitimacy: Modern states claim legitimacy by representing the people's will.

Regimes and Political Institutions

Definition of Regime

• Characteristics: A regime includes formal and informal political institutions determining government type.

• Durability: More enduring than governments but less so than states.

Variability in Rights and Civil Society

• Relationship Variations: Regimes differ in how they recognize rights and civil society participation.

• Postnational Citizenship: Emerging concepts in the EU and transnational civil society are reshaping citizenship.

Ideologies and Regime Types

• Existence of Ideologies: Regimes justify their existence with ideologies, though not all ideologies are embodied in their regimes.

• Informal Institutions: Informal rules may conflict with formal ideological claims.

Liberal Democracy

• Definition: Rule by the people; understanding signifies a mix of citizen engagement and governance methods.

Social Contract Theory

Fundamental Premise

• Legitimate Government: Formed when free individuals create a contract for representatives to govern in their interests.

• Philosophers: Influenced by Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, asserting citizen equality.

Core Liberties and Governance

• Central Doctrine of Liberalism: A government is justified when it protects individual liberties (life, liberty, property).

• Representational Democracy: Citizens vote to choose their government.

• Key Guarantees by Robert Dahl: Rights essential for liberal democracies include freedom of association, expression, voting rights, and competitive elections.

Social Democracy and Participatory Democracy

Social Democracy

• Scope of Control: Advocates for citizen controls over both political and economic spheres.

• Balanced Economy: Supports regulated market to ensure well-being for all citizens.

Participatory Democracy

• Direct Involvement: Emphasizes citizen participation in decision-making at local levels.

Parliamentary Sovereignty

• British Model: Parliament holds supremacy in governance matters.

Historical Materialism and Marxism

Core Philosophy

• Foundation: Marx posited economic forces drive historical and political change.

• Shifts: Transition from feudalism to capitalism altered power dynamics.

Liberal Democracy Critique

• Bourgeoisie Rule: Marx believed liberal democracies were veiled dictatorships serving the bourgeoisie interests.

Dictatorship of the Proletariat

Marx's Concept

• Class Rule: Proletariat ruling over all other classes; a departure from traditional dictatorship.

• Communism Vision: End state where class distinctions disappear and no government is needed.

Totalitarian and Electoral Authoritarian Regimes

Characteristics of Modern Regimes

• Electoral Authoritarianism: Limited political competition while allowing some civil society structures.

• Theocracy: Rule by religious authorities as a significant challenge to liberal democracy.

• Islamism: Advocates Islamic law as the basis for governance, rejecting secular influences.

Radicalism and Violence

• Radical Islamists: View themselves under external threat, justifying violence against both internal and external opposition.