Ethel Wood Topic Three: Political and Economic Change Flashcards
Reform
Does not advocated the overthrow of basic institutions. Reformers want to change SOME of the methods leaders use to reach societal goals
Revolution
Implies change, involves either a major revision or an overthrow of an institution, usually involves change in many areas (P/E).
Coup d’états
Most limited of the 3 types of change.
It replaces the leadership of the country with new leaders
government institutions are weak and leadership is taken by force
Coups are carried out by the military
Radicalism
Belief in rapid, dramatic changes to an existing society
radicals are often the leaders of revolution
Liberalism
Supports reform and gradual change
evolutionary not revolutionary
believe the political/economic systems need to be repaired
Conservatism
Less supportive of change
see change as disruptive
change = unforeseen outcomes
Reactionary
Go further to protect against change than conservatives
oppose both revolution and reform
want to “turn back the clock” to an earlier era
Democratization
Offer competitive elections
Competitive Elections
Regular, free, and fair
Liberal Democracies
Display other democratic trends that go beyond having competitive elections
Civil Liberties
Freedom of belief, speech, and assembly
Rule of Law
Provides equal treatment of citizens and due process
Neutrality Of The Judiciary
Checks on the abuse of power
Open Civil Society
Allows citizens to lead private lives and mass media to operate independently from government
Civilian Control Of The Military
Restricts the likelihood of the military seizing control of the government
Substantive Democracies
Citizens have access to multiple sources of information
Illiberal Democracies or Procedural Democracies
Countries that have democratic processes in place but have severe restrictions on them
presidents in illiberal systems often hold a disproportionate share of power
legislatures are less able to check executive power
elections lack true competitiveness (illiberal)
procedural= electoral authoritarianism
Huntington’s “Three Waves” of Democratization
(1) First wave developed gradually
(2) The second wave occurred after the allied victory in WW2-1060’s
(3) Third wave began during the 1970’s
Why has democratization occurred? According to Huntington
(1) The loss of legitimacy of left and right wing authoritarian regimes
(2) Expansion of an urban middle class in developing countries
(3) Emphasis on human rights by the US and Europe
(4) “Snowball” effect for democracy
“Revolution of Rising Expectations” + Democratic Consolidation
“Trigger event” > period of improvement + rise in the standard of living > “revolution of rising expectations”
Democratization begins when there is a consensus between the government and its participants
Political Liberalization
A state that progresses from procedural democracy to substantive democracy
eventually leads other states to recognize it as a liberal democracy
Economic Liberalism
Economic freedoms (right to own private property) and goals unhampered by government interference advocates free trade with low or no tariffs
Command Economy
The government owned almost all industrial enterprises and sales outlets
Right to own property is greatly restricted
Old Command Economies
Socialist principles of centralized planning, quota-setting, and state ownership
Economic Liberalization
Limiting the power of the state over private property and market forces
What type of market economy will be most successful?
(1) A mixed economy- allows for significant control from the central government
(2) Pure maket economy- one that does not
What 2 factors have promoted the movement toward market economies?
(1) Belief that the government is too big
- economic downturns + stagnation
(2) Lack of success of command economies
- fall of soviet union
Marketization
A states re-creation of a market in which property, labor, goods, and services can all function in a competitive environment to determine their value
Privatization
The transfer of state-owned property to private ownership
Fragmentation
Divisions based on ethnic or cultural identity
Nationalism
Identities based on nationhood
Politicization of Religion
Modern international tensions are caused by religions
Types of Change
(1) Reform
(2) Revolutuon
(3) Coup d’etats
Attitudes Toward Change
(1) Radicalism
(2) Liberalism
(3) Conservatism
(4) Reactionary beliefs
Three Trends
(1) Democratization
(2) Movement towards market economies
(3) Revival of ethnic or cultural politics
One major flaw of a free-market economy is?
It inevitably goes through cycles of prosperity and scarcity. Recessions, small market downturns, depressions happen. (supply + demand usually corrects this)
Samuel Huntington “Clash of Civilizations”
Most important conflicts based on culture not politics
Bourgeoisie
Middle Class
Patterns of Development in Contemporary World
(1) Democratization and the move towards market economies
(2) Indicate growing commonalities among nations vs. fragmentation
Shift towards Market Economies
(1) Belief that government is too big
(2) Lack of success of command economies
Market Economy
Right to own property is accepted/guaranteed.
Competition and profit are not controlled by government
