Lecture 6: State capacity Flashcards
What is political culture?
Political culture refers to the set of attitudes, beliefs, and sentiments that shape political behavior. It is more stable and changes slowly compared to political support and public opinion.
How does religion relate to political culture?
Religion influences values, which in turn affect democracy compatibility. Traditional values may not necessarily be anti-democratic, but debates exist regarding the compatibility of different religious traditions (e.g., Christian vs. Muslim) with democracy.
What are key cultural values related to democratization?
Self-determination, autonomy, and freedom are considered key values for democratization, but the specifics remain debated.
Why is the culture-democracy link questioned?
The direction of causality is uncertain: Does culture shape democracy, or does democracy shape culture? Additionally, the generalizability of findings is debated.
What are the three types of state capacity?
- Coercive capacity – The state’s ability to maintain security and monopoly on force.
- Administrative capacity – The state’s ability to implement policies and provide services.
- Extractive capacity – The state’s ability to generate resources (e.g., taxation) to sustain itself.
Who defines state capacity and how?
Sikkink (1991) defines state capacity as “the ability of state institutions to effectively implement official goals.”
What is coercive capacity and why is it important?
Coercive capacity is the state’s ability to enforce laws, maintain order, and prevent violence. It ensures internal stability and protects against external threats.
Mansfield & Snyder, 2007; Fukuyama, 2004.
What is administrative capacity and why is it important?
Administrative capacity refers to the state’s ability to implement policies, regulate economic activity, and deliver essential public services. Weak administrative capacity leads to inefficiency and corruption.
Anderson et al., 2014.
What is extractive capacity and why is it important?
Extractive capacity is the state’s ability to collect resources, primarily through taxation, to fund public services and maintain stability. It supports both coercive and administrative functions.
What is a state according to Weber (1918)?
A state is “an entity that successfully claims a monopoly on the legitimate use of force within a specified territory.”
What is the difference between a state, a regime, and a government?
- State: The entity that rules, including territory and institutions.
- Regime: The rules that define power relations.
- Government: The leadership that runs the state.
Lindberg, 2006.
How does state capacity impact democratization?
Strong state capacity can sustain both democracy and autocracy. It provides services, maintains order, and prevents instability, but it can also be used for oppression and electoral fraud.
What is the paradox of state capacity in democratization?
- Weak state capacity → Democratization is more likely but harder to stabilize.
- Strong state capacity → Democratization is less likely but more stable if it occurs.
What is state capture?
State capture occurs when the boundaries between the state, regime, and government blur, leading to corruption, patronage, and clientelism. It happens in both democracies and autocracies.
What are examples of state capture?
Patrimonial states, rentier states, and kleptocracies where elites exploit state resources for personal gain.
Example: South Africa’s state capture under Jacob Zuma.
What is the ‘state-first’ argument in democratization?
Fukuyama argues that a strong state should be established before democratization occurs, as weak states struggle with governance and stability.
What are some historical examples of early states?
- Empires: China, Japan, Roman Empire. - City-states: Athens, Sparta, Corinth.
How did war contribute to state-building?
Charles Tilly’s argument: “War made the state and the state made war.” States needed taxation to fund wars, which led to the development of bureaucracies and professional militaries.
How did European colonization affect state structures?
Colonization imposed European state structures, but only settler colonies fully adopted them. Many post-colonial states retained fragmented governance, affecting state capacity.
What are the two waves of decolonization?
- Early wave (Latin America, early 1800s) – Triggered by revolutions and independence movements (e.g., Haiti, 1806).
- Late wave (Africa & Asia, post-WWII) – Initiated by India’s independence in 1947 and followed by other colonies.
What is nation-building?
Nation-building is the process of fostering a shared identity within a state, often through common descent, culture, or language.
How does nationalism relate to democratization?
Nationalism can unify populations under democracy but can also exclude minorities or justify authoritarian rule.
How does social diversity affect democratization?
Ethnic, linguistic, and religious heterogeneity can hinder democratization by causing conflicts over identity, resources, and political representation.
What are solutions to managing diverse societies?
Equal rights, fair political representation, minimizing resource disparities, fostering a common identity, and power-sharing.
What are some power-sharing examples?
- South Africa (post-apartheid constitutional arrangement).
- Nepal (federal restructuring).
What are modern solutions for managing diverse identities?
- Independence movements (India-Pakistan, Yugoslavia).
- Devolution (Scotland, Catalonia).
- Power-sharing (South Africa, Belgium, Switzerland).
- Forging common identity (France, United States).
- Allowing multiple identities (Netherlands, Belgium).
What are three main causes of conflict in diverse societies?
- Resource differentials – Unequal access to wealth and power.
- Identity & ideas – Ethnic/religious tensions.
- Mobilization – Political or social movements.
