Polici Flashcards
In group and out group identity
◦Political Identity: the ways in which individuals categorize themselves and others AND how they understand the relationship of domination and oppression that exist between groups
Economic origin
The identities that people will organize around our based on their economic interests
◦Bourgeoisie
◦proletariat
Cultural origin
Non-economic factors are strong contributors for political mobilization
◦Cultural symbols develop political significance by demonstrating membership and support for the in-group
Money cannot by membership in some identity groups
Primordial
traits people are born with or acquire in early childhood based
Kinship bonds:
◦Deep connections people have toward members of a broader community
◦Identity is politicized because those deep bonds (language, religion, symbols) are worth defending or promoting.
Huntington’s Clash of Civilizations
Constructivism
Changes in the social context and competition for power SHAPE how identity is politicized and even what attributes individuals use to establish common identities.
◦Individual choices in identity that are not based on kinship bonds
◦Social context that can shape how identities are perceived and thus the political goals of the group
Define identity and it’s significance in politics
characteristics (beliefs, traits, qualities, etc.) that can be used to identity like groups of people or exclude individuals.
◦Religion, nationality, place of residence, occupation, gender, language, family ties, economic status, social interests, etc…
Significance:
when people mobilize to advance interests of or defend perceived threats to their identity groups
Ethnicity
What makes ethnic groups different from other cultural groups?
“Umbrella concept” – a broad reaching term that differentiates groups based on color, language, and religion
◦Covers tribes, races, nationalities, and castes (region and clans in some definition)
•Human groups of common descent, collective ancestry, family be descent, and common ancestry linked to home land
Why is ethnic diversity important in comparative politics?
•Relationship with economic development
◦Relationship with violence and political violence
Ethnic violence
Assam Ethnic Riots (2012) Violence between Bodos and Bengali Muslims ◦Myth of decent: “Bodoland is our birthright” 77 killed 400,000 misplaced
Ethnic parties in a political voice
serves the interests of that group
◦Internal Imperatives: ethnic group as a sense of community
◦External Imperatives: ethnic group in relation to others
Promise of a secure and consistent support base
Ethnic voting
Members of an ethnic group may vote heavily for one party over another
OR
Members of a given group may vote for candidates belonging to the same ethnic group IRRESPECTIVE of party affiliation
◦Voting based on ethnic affiliation rather than socioeconomic political values
Power sharing in divided societies- how do they limit the potential for political violence?
If politics is the process of who gets what, when and how then access to power is criticalFederal System: federal states based on language
◦Regional governments have jurisdiction over: transportation, public works, cultural matters, education
Electoral System: proportional representation
◦PR system is designed to increase the need for coalitions: grand coalitions that cross linguistic divides
Cabinet Rules that ensure power sharing
◦Council of Ministers: Maximum 15 members requires an equal number of Dutch and French Speaking Ministers
Senate filled by regional parliaments
Consociational approaches
stable democracies demonstrate that institutions can create effective power sharing mechanisms based on ethnic voting
Accept ethnically divided parties and accept. All groups guaranteed equal access to government
A grand coalition government, Segmental autonomy, Proportionality, and Minority veto
Ethnic outbidding
Further solidify the gap between groups.
◦Create new ways to distinguish between in-group and out-group
◦Increases in-group policing
Centripetal approaches
Horowitz: Rather than create ethnic parties and force cooperation after they are in government, an alternative approach is to force cooperation in order to gain access to government
Limit the ethnic divide by promoting competition on socioeconomic values
Candidates must appeal to voters from each ethnic group to gain a majority requires moderate candidates