Blog post due at 11:55pm on Feb. 17 and comment due at 11:55pm on Feb. 20.
Nondemocratic Rule
1. What are some of the essential differences between democracies and authoritarian regimes?
2. What are authoritarian leaders mainly concerned in their political rule?
Political Culture
3. Do you agree with Huntington that today’s world is increasingly characterized by a “clash of civilizations”?
4. How does political culture differ from political ideology?
What are some of the essential differences between democracies and authoritarian regime? Democracies and authoritarian regimes look like polar opposites, in all of the ways that are important, at least to those of us living in America's democracy.
ReplyDeleteIn a democracy, leaders are elected by the people. It's often complicated, but the people do chose their government officials. Under authoritarian rule elections are only for show. Authoritarian governments are led by one or only a few at most, and the party in power is not interested in taking a chance on losing that power. Individual rights are of paramount importance in a democracy , but the opposite is true of an authoritarian government. The state is all important, and the people are ruled by the religious beliefs, morals and whims of their leaders. In a democracy, all people are subject to the same laws and are granted the same rights, more or less, by a constitution. Finally, order is maintained under an authoritarian regime often by force, or the threat of force, against its people in order to keep the status quo. Democracies don't allow indiscriminate force against their citizens.
Although this list isn't really extensive, I believe that these differences are vital to the quality of life and the well being of a country's people.
Yes, I believe that individual rights are of importance , and that our quality of life and well being is very vital. Political leaders with positive visions will help move our states in the right direction.
DeleteIs it possible to have an authoritarian state, though, with a large degree of freedom or rights? Or are there other options between democracy and authoritarianism? For example, what about states where a president is elected and then holds power for a long time, or monarchies where the ruler genuinely try to take care of their subject? I'm just wondering whether it must always be a dichotomy.
DeleteIn a democratic society, leaders are chosen by the people, institutions are strong and accountable, and compromise is the norm. In societies that are ruled by authoritarian regimes, leaders serve without regard to consent from the people, they rule from the barrel of the gun, and theirs is a society that is governed by fear. In democratic societies their is room for a free press that exposes corruption and government waste. The equal administration of justice is unimpeded and laws are amended to reflect the goals and the will of the society. On the other hand, dictators depend upon loyalty and cooperation from all parts of the society be it citizens, institutions, courts, and the media; in these societies fear is the name of the game.
ReplyDeleteMarcus I agree that fear and force are the keys to survival for authoritarian regimes and dictatorships. Even in a communistic or theocratic state the same use of fear applies. The good intensions at the start of these idealistic ideologies seem to dissolve into a small group or single individual holding absolute power over the country. As Dr. Guo stated, "Absolute power corrupts absolutely".
DeleteWhat are some of the essential differences between democracies and authoritarian regimes?
ReplyDeleteIn a democracy the power of the government is limited by a constitution and the power that is available is exercised by officials that have been elected by the people. In an authoritarian government the ruler or ruling elite do what they want. Elections are not free and there is no real choice. Many elections in authoritarian regimes even end with the ruler being elected president for life. The constitution in a democratic society grants its citizens rights and privileges that people living in authoritarian regimes only dream of. In a democracy if the citizens disagree with the party in power they are allowed to voice those disagreements publicly. In our own country we frequently see large groups of protestors marching on the capitol. In an authoritarian regime disagreeing with the government could get you sent to prison, or worse. If there is widespread political disagreement in an authoritarian regime order will usually be restored by military force like that used in Tiananmen Square or more recently in the middle east during Arab Spring movements.
I agree with your anaylise of the difference between democracy and an authoritarian regime. I would add that democracies have been developed to serve the needs of the people (citizens)...while an authoritarian leader is serving his needs above the people. The primary goal of an authoritarian regime is to hold on to its power and eliminate any rivals that may threaten that stronghold.
DeleteSo you and I answered the same question, but it occurs to me that neither of us discussed the economics of an authoritarian regime vs a democracy. Which has the potential for greater economic development? I think an authoritarian regime has enormous economic potential, but unfortunately the temptation of absolute power seems to win out more often than not, and the selfish whims of those in power decimate their countries' economy.
DeleteI agree with your assessment. Some great examples are in the middle east, Africa, and Central/South America. The authoritarian rulers of some of those countries are billionaires many times over. Their citizens not so much. There is also great potential for economic growth in a democracy but the problem that we see, especially in the US, is that everyone in DC wants their piece of the pie and if they don't get it they vote against it. Even when one party has the majority in the house and senate all we see is gridlock.
DeleteI also agree with your assessment as authoritarian regimes seek opportunity for themselves first versus a true democracy that seeks opportunity and the betterment of its whole. I believe over time with proper governance democracies have the greatest economic potential as authoritarian regimes crumble from within due to greed and power struggles.
DeletePolitical ideologies may be effected by a political culture but they are not synonymous. Political ideologies have two dimensions...
ReplyDeleteGoals: How society should be organized.
Methods: The most appropriate way to achieve this goal.
An ideology is a collection of ideas. Typically, each ideology contains certain ideas on what it considers to be the best form of government ( democracy , autocracy , etc.), and the best economic system ( capitalism , socialism , etc.). Sometimes the same word is used to identify both an ideology and one of its main ideas. For instance, "socialism" may refer to an economic system, or it may refer to an ideology which supports that economic system.
Ideologies also identify themselves by their position on the political spectrum (such as the left , the center or the right ), although these positions are often argued.
Political cuture transcends political ideologies in that language, regional myths and religion, history, and fundemental attitudes/values are inclusive to culture. These attributes may influence the political ideology or be ignored..such as China's demolition of Tibetan political culture...or Russia's attempt to elimate the influence of the Orthodox Church under communism. The culture may survive the exclusion of the political ideology. Iran's theocracy may be the best example of how political cuture and ideology are unified to the highest degree. Yes, they may differ but the interconnectivity betwen the two are often difficult to seperate.
Political ideologies can be a finite list of ideas to be implemented into a governmental system...while political cultures are constantly forming and evolving as cultures mix in one nation. For example the increased presence of Hispanic culture in the US (14% of our population) will change American political culture as that population expands and assimilation transforms the existing cultures.
ReplyDeleteI thinks many things have already changed to support the Hispanic culture in the US. Many things from a simple cereal box or coupon to complex court documents or billboards are translated in English and Spanish. We have elementary schools that have a curriculum named Spanish immersion where English speaking children from many different backgrounds immerse themselves into speaking the Spanish language and learning their culture as their daily curriculum. To me Hispanics that cannot understand politicians is an important issue to them. We used to want them to learn our language and culture but now it seems we are integrating it into ours.
Delete4. How does political culture differ from political ideology?
ReplyDeleteCulture is what binds groups of people together. Activities that help define a culture include what the members of the culture consider to be proper and normal. Political culture is the basic norms for political activity in a society. Cultural values help to shape political culture because it is what is considered to be acceptable political activity in the culture. Political culture is unique to a country or group but political ideologies are not widespread throughout a given country or group. Political ideologies do stem from political culture. The differences in ideologies come from this widespread political culture of what is rational. In the United States the availability of an education is an important cultural value but the different political ideologies throughout the US result in differing opinions on the role of things like government and religion in schools. Political ideologies are more individualistic attitudes of the role the government should plays in a society while political culture is more widespread attitudes of what is proper political behavior.
Question #4
ReplyDeletePolitical cultural includes moral judgment, beliefs, and ideas about what makes up a strong society. Political cultural reflects our government and matters from state to state. Political ideology reflects on consistent patterns about government roles and political values. Both cultural and ideology affects decision making in our society; whereas, cultural ideology emphasizes on a person's background and history, and ideology is how a person has taken that history and looks at a moral view of right and wrong.
2. What are authoritarian leaders mainly concerned in their political rule?
ReplyDeleteAuthoritarian leaders want to keep their control by "limiting mass participation, rather than mobilizing the population." (Hague/Harrop, pg. 59) They are concerned with doing this while increasing their wealth as well. Authoritarian leaders also seek to remain on good terms with other rulers and allies so that these other rulers and allies support their existing regime. Authoritarian rulers also maintain a strong security and military presence in order to keep their position successfully. In order to keep their position, authoritarian rulers also network through unofficial patronage in which other power holders are included in providing the authoritarian leaders with resources. These resources may include control over natural resources, jobs, and access to money-making opportunities. Once leaders obtain these resource they distribute them to their own supporters.
Thanks Kasey, and I would agree with you in full; authoritarian regimes depends upon societies and like minded leaders on the outside to prop up the symbols of the regime. They realize that their survival heavily relies on the fear and absolute allegiance from its population.
Delete4. How does political culture differ from political ideology?
ReplyDeleteThe definition of political culture is: "a distinctive and patterned way of thinking about how political and economic life ought to be carried out." Political culture is typically a set of widely shared beliefs, values, and norms about how citizens think the government should operate. For example, most Americans believe in democracy. A political ideology on the other had is a set of more or less consistent views concerning the policies one thinks the government ought to pursue. For example, “Democrat’, & ‘Republican.’ Basically, political culture is a broader and more simplistic category than political ideology.
Yes political culture is more general than political ideology. However, I also think that political ideologies stem from one's political culture. Being that political culture is a set of beliefs regarding the operation of the government, then it seems fitting that ideologies are formed by the same way of thinking. For instance, if a person's political culture is that everyone should have a say in who runs their government, then their political ideology would be on the lines with liberalism.
DeleteWhat are authoritarian leaders mainly concerned in their political rule?
ReplyDeleteAuthoritarian leaders control their states individually. Their main purpose is to preserve their authority. An authoritarian leader needs people to follow him and accept his rulings. In order to remain the only force in a country, authoritarian leaders have to make sure they don’t have a political opposition. To achieve that they a need strong military power and also personal security. The one with the biggest military power can maintain his control.
Probably the best example of an authoritarian leadership today is Kim Jong-un, the leader of North Korea. He inherited his position, but maintains it successfully since 2011, using really strong military power.
I agree. An authoritarian leader is somebody who imposes constant fear upon their people. An authoritarian leader is constantly threatening their citizens, and immobilizing them intellectually, until the people are brainwashed to not think, or communicate freely. Leaders such as these tend to become more concerned with the perks of political power rather than the actual duties they are responsible for carrying out. Authoritarian leaders are people who have reached their pinnacle of power, and extended beyond it.
DeleteThe definition of political culture is it refers more to a societies norm for political activity. In my opinion I think this would be an example of how Muslims feel that by killing themselves during a terrorist attack they would be somewhat highly honored or honoring their god and their people. That is a cultural belief that they were raised up believing to be true.
ReplyDeletePolitical ideology is defined as sets of political values held by individuals regarding the fundamental goals of politics. They are doing whatever for the freedom and equality for all individuals no matter what "group" you are in. Now my understanding of this definition is its an INDIVIDUAL'S set of political views. An example of this would be the Boston marathon bombing. They acted alone outside of any other terrorist groups backed by religious beliefs but with the consideration of the Islamic groups beliefs. They were bombing to stop the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The main difference I see is that culture is based on a groups belief and ideology is based on an individual's belief.
I agree that political culture is based on group beliefs and political ideology is based on the beliefs of individuals. I think both the examples you used are extreme political ideologies. Political culture is a groups distinctive ways of thinking about how political activities should be carried out. In the United States an aspect of our political culture is liberty, or having the freedoms we expect with certain limitations we abide by. An example of political ideology in the United States would be Conservative vs Liberal views of the role of the state in economic activities. People living in the United States with Conservative and Liberal political attitudes can have the same political culture while having differing beliefs of how restrictive the government should be.
Delete2. What are authoritarian leaders mainly concerned in their political rule?
ReplyDeleteDue to the possiblity of being forced out of their position, authoritarian leaders are most concerned with protecting their positions; and they seek to maintain their control by limiting the participation from their citizens (Hague & Harrop p.59). Rulers use three main tools to decrease their chances of being overthrown: military security, a patronage network and the media. Authoritarian rulers spend lots of money in establishing an army of armed forces to scare off opposition, permit foregin adventures and to suppress citizen dissent. Their political organization relies heavily upon its military. To sustain their positions, rulers must be seen to be both willing and able to use armed forces (p.60-61).
The second tool authoritarian rulers use to protect their positions are patronage networks. This network consists of powerful resource holders. Rulers gain control over important resources such as jobs, natural resources and access to money; in order for an individual to have access to those resources, they must pledge thier political loyality to the regime (p.61-62). Media usage is the other tool used by rulers to keep their positions. Television and internet are not used by citizens of the state, because rulers perceive them as a threat. However, rulers typically use these communication forms to criticize their opponents and to threaten the dignity of the state (p.62). Because authoritarian rulers use politics to mask their fear and vulnerabilty, economics and state growth take a back seat to obedience.
Couldn't it be said that ALL governments use these tools to solidify their power? Yes, there are many examples of authoritarian regimes that has a tight hold on power for a number of years ( Papa Doc Duvalue, Idi Amien, and Saddam Hussain) but eventually they were toppled.
DeleteOn a smaller scale, politicians in the United States use these tools also to solidify their hold on their offices within the limits of the Constitution. In the US, they gerrymander districts to maintain demographic advantages, authorize broader police powers which eventually helps disenfranchise large numbers of people, and use the media to spread a steady stream of propaganda to the masses.
Although the degrees may be different, the aims of any government is to retain power, and so I would advance the proposition that the primary difference is that authoritarian leaders do not feel bound by a Constitution in ruling their lands.
Political Culture refers to the deep-rooted beliefs and a system of thinking of people. This could be as simple as growing up in a conservative Republican home and having those values and traditions observed and practiced throughout their lives. The same could said of living in a Parliamentary country, it is the way of life you know. Whereas political ideology refers to the manner in which an individual expresses theses values in which they identify with. Basically, their ideology directs their moral compass.
ReplyDeleteI agree with that people can 'inherit' political cultural in many different ways. Either from family, schooling, friends or just simply with living in an authoritarian or a democratic country. Like basically every political influence in one's life can shape his/her political culture.
DeleteVery good info. Additional examples of the American political culture would be a belief in liberty, that people are free, they should be free and that the government is there to protect freedom. Individualism, that people can solve problems on their own and that we don't have to completely relying on the government to solve all of our problems. The belief in equality of opportunity - more so than equality of "results. The belief in democracy, that citizens controls the agenda. Belief in civic duty, that people the responsibility to each other. Political efficacy, knowing what you can do "politically" to create change and then being able to do it - effectively.
DeleteQuestion 1: "(in an authoritarian state) the party is a means of governing, rather than a source of power." Authoritarian governments differ from democracies in many ways — they often have a single leader who effectively wields all the power, or a small group of people who wield it. In modern authoritarian states, however, parties have become common — just as in Democracies. Authoritarian states use the enforced single party system as a way to delegate regional control to supporters while still keeping a small number of people in charge. While there are a few monarchies that have no parties, countries such as China use a single political party in place of a democratically elected government to fill all the necessary positions and roles.
ReplyDeleteAbraham, a follow up question on single party systems. Is a single party government ever more corcerned with the welfare of the people over the the welfare of the party,s strength or power? Is a single party government simply another form of control and domination like a dictatorship. EXAMPLE...Is the Communist Party of China ever yielding to the desires of the individual?
DeleteEffectively, yes — according to my understanding of the readings, it is just an effective way of running a dictatorship.
DeleteAn authoritarian government is one in which one or a small group of leaders have control over the entire government. There may be elections or other forms of involvement for the people but at the end of the day the power is held by the few people or singular person in charge. This is directly opposing the concepts followed by a democracy where the power is based almost exclusively with the people and believe that their word is what offers power to those who rule. This to me is the key difference that separates these two forms of government. When looking at the aims of the authoritarian rule, it is focused on maintaining the power of those in charge and to prevent the people of the nation from hurting themselves through their use of power. They do not view the average people as being in a position to know what is best for themselves. It is easy to see in today's politics which nations follow which forms of government based upon the involvement of the people as well as the willingness of those in power to listen to the will of the populous.
ReplyDeleteWhat are some of the essential differences between democracies and authoritarian regimes?
ReplyDeleteDemocracy government is limited in power by dividing the government into 3 branches. Also, there is shared power with the State. Also, there are elections - 2/3/4/5 years. Individuals have rights to sue the government. And laws and the constitution is used to protect the citizens.
Authoritarian government have total control There are no checks and balances. Power is held by individual or small group. Rights are granted to a select group. Elections are usually symbolic. Rule of law - law is only applied to the "common" people, not to those in authority.
Authoritarian vs Democratic Governments
ReplyDeleteThe essential motive for most authoritarian Dictators is to maintain their position of control and power. The best and worst example is found in Stalin's reign of terror called "The Purge". His focus was to eliminate everyone who had a role of leadership within the party system. His use of fear may be unequaled in history for sending his own countrymen to their deaths, whether by work camps or murder. People were hauled off in the middle of the night by the KGB , never to be heard from again. An Authoritarian state has no system of checks and balances as does a democratic government.
A Democracy prevents the usurping of power by any one department, institution, or individual. A sytems has limits wihin each branch so that those who make laws should not benefit from them or have to enforce them. A president can vetoe a bill from congress, and congress can impeach a President. No one is above the law as an Authoritarian dictator is above the rules he inflicts upon the masses. There is no other branch to hold him in check, and the dictator also is the head of state and the chief officer over the military simaltaneously.