POLI 210 Feb 12th Lecture

Introduction

• Argument presented regarding civil society groups and their role in democracy, referencing historical analysis.

• Important distinction drawn between strong civil society and a strong state.

Role of Civil Society

• Civil Society: Refers to organizations and groups in society that operate independently from the government.

• Tocqueville's View: Argues that a strong civil society is beneficial for democracy, based on his observations in the United States.

• Berman's Argument: Civil society can be utilized by authoritarian movements (e.g., Nazis) if institutions are weak, as was the case in Germany before the Nazi rise.

U.S. Context

• Comparison of Berman's views to Putnam's arguments in Making Democracy Work regarding civil society in Northern vs. Southern Italy.

• Putnam's idea of diminishing engagement in civil society in the U.S., as discussed in Bowling Alone.

  • Decline in group activities (e.g., bowling leagues, religious organizations).

  • Suggests a connection between civil society engagement and polarization.

Current Relevance

• Events like January 6 can also illustrate how robust civil organizations can lead to negative outcomes (e.g., militia groups).

Reading Discussion

• Reference to additional readings by Barrington Moore, Asimovoglu, and Robinson.

• Importance of exploring these readings in future classes for comprehensive understanding.

Definition of Institutions

• Definition of Institutions: Organizations with political power that structure social interactions.

• Contributors offer various definitions emphasizing organization, power, and specialization.

Understanding Institutions

• Steven Levitsky and Gretchen Helmke define institutions as formal and informal rules that guide behavior and social interactions.

• Formal Institutions: Codified and officially recognized organizations, such as a university.

• Informal Institutions: Unwritten, socially shared rules that govern behavior, such as personal relationships.

Role of Constitutions

• Constitution: A fundamental institution that establishes the political system and embodies a nation's history, values, and societal aspirations.

• Examples of Constitutions:

  • South Africa (1996): Preamble emphasizes justice, freedom, and equality.

  • China: Historical narrative promoting revolutionary tradition and socialist values.

• Constitutions may vary in rigidity, flexibility, the protection of rights, and overall governance structure.

Rigidity vs. Flexibility

• Rigid Constitutions: Hard to amend, as seen in the U.S. Constitution (supermajority required).

• Flexible Constitutions: The U.K.’s unwritten constitution allows for easier adaptations.

• Canada's Status: Considered somewhere in between regarding flexibility.

Judicial Review vs. Parliamentary Sovereignty

• Judicial Review: Countries like the U.S. and Canada allow courts to evaluate laws against the constitution.

• Parliamentary Sovereignty: In places like the U.K., Parliament retains ultimate law-making power without judicial override.

Federalism vs. Unitarism

• Federal Systems: Shared power between national and subnational governments; includes examples like the U.S and Canada.

• Unitary Systems: Central authority governs uniformly across the nation; most countries operate under this model.

• Benefits of federalism include local governance adaptations, but may also result in competition and redundancy among jurisdictions.

Challenges of Federalism

• Risks of maintaining undemocratic practices at local levels (e.g., American South before civil rights advancements).

• Potential for federalism to exacerbate divisions within society, as seen in Spain and Nigeria.

Varieties of Federal Systems

• Coming Together vs. Holding Together:

  • Coming Together: Distinct entities unite under a federal structure (e.g., U.S.).

  • Holding Together: Central authority maintains unity in diverse regions (e.g., India).

• Demos Constraining vs. Enabling: Concentration of power and checks on majority rule.

Rights in Constitutions

• Broad rights included in South Africa's Constitution, contrasting with the more limited rights in some others (e.g., U.S.).

• Negative Rights: Rights preventing government action.

• Positive Rights: Rights requiring government action to provide services.

Conclusion

• Ongoing debates about the effectiveness of different constitutional designs in supporting democracy and social stability, and the implications of federalism on governance and rights.