deck_12876349 Flashcards
What are states?
- States are an entity that succesfully claims a monopoly on the legitimate use of force within a specified territory.2. Ideally states:- guarantee a minimum level of security for citizens- implement policies and deliver basic public services- generate resources to maintain public services ans tate insititutions3. So, territory + institutions, relatively stable over time
What are regimes?
- The way that territory is governed2. Regimes are the rules governing the distribution of power and the relationships between the agents of power.3. So, patterns/ relationshops of power, relatively stable but less stable than states## FootnoteThe political regime can stay the same, but the people in power can be different.
What are governments?
- Governments are the leadership that runs the state.2. So, actors, change more often, depending on the type of regime## FootnoteRegime and government aren’t necessarily related.
Difference between state, regime and government
The state is what one rules, regime is how one rules, and government is the group of individuals who rule.
Distinguish states
- independent states2. colonies/protectorates 3. failed states/ war states## FootnoteColonies/protectorates and failed/war states excluded from research/defining democracy because territory and who is in power is changing daily.
distinguish independent states
- electoral regimes2. non-electoral regimes
Distinguish electoral regimes
- liberal democracies2. electoral democracies3. electoral authoritarian regimes## FootnoteLiberal democracies have rule of law and fair elections, electoral democracies fair elections, electoral authoritarian regimes no fair elections and no rule of law.
What do you do with states where the boundries stil contested, and so only a part of the country is contested, but the rest has a sort of a government?| Ukraine
The coding is based on the piece of country that is under government control
Minimalist definition of democracy| Huntington definition
democracy is a political system in which the most powerful collective decision makers are selected through fair, honest and periodic elections in which candidates freely compete for votes and in which virtually all the adult population is eligible to vote| Focus just on one element of democracy## FootnoteHungtington 1991
two-turnover test of democracy| Part of Hungtington minimalist procedural definition of democracy
if elections resulted in peaceful alternation of power twice = the rule of thumb to decide whether regimes made transitions to democracy
Dahl’s expanded’ procedural definitons of democracy| electoral
electoral1. elected officials2. free and fair elections3. inclusive suffrage4. right to run for office, for partically all adults## Footnote1. Control over government decisions about policy is constitutionally vested in elected officials.2. Elected officials are chosen in frequent and fairly conducted elections in which coercion is comparatively uncommon.
Dahl’s expanded’ procedural definitons of democracy| non-electoral
Non electoral 5. freedom of expression6. alternative information7. Associational autonomy## FootnoteAssociational autonomy:”To achieve their various rights, including those listed earlier, citizens also have a right to form relatively independent associations or organizations, including independent political parties and interest groups.”
smitter and karl addition to expanded definition of democracy by Dahl| 1991
add that in real existing democracies:1. there is an absence of reserved power domains 2. there is state sovereignty## Footnote1. (i.e.elected officials must be able to rule)2. (i.e.the state must be formally and de facto independent)
o’donnell’s addition to the extended defintion of democracy
rule of law, all citizens including the incumbent are subject to the rule of law
substantive definitions of democracy
also include desirable outcomes, such as income equality
Coppage et al.’s main point on defining democracy
There are different variations in democracy. Possibility of good elections, but no freedom. Essential to measure these concepts seperately.
why either/or approach in defining democracy| minimalist definition
- it’s simple, easier to define/code2. you can pinpoint the moment countries become democratic or autocratic.
Disadvantage of either/or approach
Good democracies can be ranked with “bad” ones.
Why matter of degree approach in defining democracy| expanded/substantive approach
- You can rank countries, a good democracy would be in the same one as a democracy that is of less quality if not. 2. Different dimensions of democracy can be highlighted. 3. You can also see if a country improves their democracy or if it worsens. You can better track a country’s progress.
Disadvantages of matter of degree approach
- Disadvantage could be with differences between countries that are not comparable. 2. You also don’t know when you pass the threshold of when you are a democracy, hybrid regime or autocracy.| 1. for example is a country with no freedom of expression a worse democracy than one with no media freedom?
elecotoral autocracy
no free media, elections are rigged and opposition in jail
electoral democracy
do hold elections, governments get replaced, problems with checks and balances, problems with protection of minority (India)
democratic transition
from authoritarian regime to more democratic
democratic consolidation/stabilisation
throughout the 90’sWhat explains that it stays a democracy, unlikely to revert back to authoritarianism and democracy seen as the only legitimate option
democratic deepening
refers to processes of gradual improvement in the quality of democracy once a democracy is stable.
