Interest Groups, Institutions, Regimes and Electoral Systems

Question 1

Interest Groups

Answer 1

(a) hegemonic stability theory may explain why hegemons act the way they do, but it does not explain why some non-hegemons choose to contribute when they can free-ride –> possible reason: pressure from interest groups

(b) but why would an interest group form?
(b. i.) enough individuals must share some common interest
(b. ii) generally the interest should be a narrow one, in order to limit identity problems
(b. iii) need access to relevant policymakers or the ability to form coalitions

Question 2

Institutions

Answer 2

humanly-devised constraints that shape human interactions (North); rules, laws, and customs

(a) given social traps, societies try to create institutions that can overcome the social trap dilemmas:
(a. i) contrain uncertainty and promote stable expectations
(a. ii) limit manipulation of information for individual gain
(a. iii) constrain individual temptation to defect
(a. iv) extend individual’s time horizons

(b) can have both formal and informal institutions, though informal ones have to rely on self-enforcement
(c) both types communicate information and develop expectations about acceptable/anticipated behavior –> lower transaction costs

(d) this shapes incentives and as such, makes future choices somewhat dependent on current choices (path dependence)
(d. i) positive: GATT
(d. ii) negative: mafia

(e) since institutions can create winners and losers, they can also take on a political life of their own, and develop in ways unimagined by creators (ex: WTO court)

Question 3

Regimes and Electoral Systems: Democracy v. Autocracy

Answer 3

Democracies: usually have more established and transparent rules of transition –> contributes to stability of expectations

Question 4

Regimes and Electoral Systems: Proportional v. Plurality

Answer 4

Proportional: politicians gain office if they surpass a threshold –> means smaller parties can still have an influence, even if their views are not shared by the majority
(a) although this can mean expectations are less stable, it does protect minority interests and can help avoid candidate-centered campaigns, since voters typically vote for a party, not an individual

Plurality (winner-takes-all): tends to protect against extremism as most campaigns end up targeting the median voter

Question 5

Regimes and Electoral Systems: Parliamentary v. Presidential

Answer 5

Parliamentary: executive and legislative are more tightly linked –> gives executive far more control over legislative agenda, but makes executive more sensitive to his/her party’s interests (otherwise the legislative can initiate a vote of no confidence in the executive –> new election, although rare)

Presidential: executive and legislative are voted for separately –> creates “checks” against abuse but can lead to a divided government