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Global Political Systems. 2013. Explain global political systems; strengths and weaknesses. What is the difference between a nation and a nation-state ?. A “nation” is a group of people that share an ethnic, religious or other common bond . Examples: Cherokee Nation. Steeler Nation. .
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What is the difference between a nation and a nation-state? • A “nation” is a group of people that share an ethnic, religious or other common bond. • Examples: Cherokee Nation. • Steeler Nation. • A “nation-state” means the same as a country. • Brazil is a nation-state today. It has a government and political system while controlling its borders and all the people inside them. • Nation-states are sovereign.
A political system controlled by one person is an autocracy; • Examples include a dictatorship or a monarchy.
Monarchy • Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah became King in August, 2005. • He chooses the members of the legislature and the country’s judges.
Dictatorship • Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe uses force to prevent anyone else from gaining political power. • He refused to allow open elections for President in 2011.
Advantages Disadvantages • Very effective during wartime or emergency- decisions made quickly and decisively. • Decisions are made at the top level of government and communicated down to the people. • Governed have little or no consent in selection. • Governed have little or no input towards new policies of nation-state.
A political system controlled by a few persons (2-15) is a called an oligarchy.
Three types of oligarchies are: • theocracies; • aristocracies; and • political party elites.
Theocracy • The Vatican City, Rome, is a theocracy. • Pope Francis was selected by over 100 Roman Catholic Cardinals.
Theocracy • The Dali Llama is the spiritual leader of the state of Tibet. He was chosen by a small group of Buddhist leaders. • Today Tibet is occupied by Peoples’ Republic of China today.
Theocracy • Iran’s Ayatollah Khamenei was chosen by Muslim leaders as Iran’s Supreme Leader. • Some portions of the Koran are law in Iran.
Aristocracies • Portrait of Grand Duke of Tuscany Cosimo II de Medici ( 1590 1621). • His family, and others, made money through banking and then controlled the government in Florence, Italy for decades. • These families were highly educated.
Political Party Elite • Peoples’ Republic of China (PRC) is a political party elite today. • Xi Jinping, is the President of the PRC. He is the fourth man from the left. • The PRC’s Communist Party is the only party permitted to run candidates for election. • These men control the entire party.
Advantages Disadvantages • Effective for members of small group to concentrate political power over others. • Decision making by small group, government leaders or not, communicated down to governed. • Governed have little or no consent in selection. • Governed have little or no input towards new policies of nation-state.
The United States has a democratic political system. • Citizens rule!
Democracy • Two types exist: direct and a republic. • In a direct democracy, citizens make political decisions themselves. • In a republic, representatives choose for the citizens.
Direct: people decide themselves. • Referendum. • Initiative or Propositions. • In November, 2012 citizens in the States of Washington and Colorado voted on ballot questions. • Voters in both states chose voted to legalize marijuana for recreational use.
Republic: citizens choose representatives to decide. • Pennsylvania’s US Senator Pat Toomey represents the citizens of Pennsylvania in Washington, DC. • He makes political decisions for us.
Advantages Disadvantages • Policy making process includes many inputs from governed. • Selection process for government officials includes many inputs from governed. • Time consuming process to make new public policies and choose new government officials. • Policy making and selection process are confrontational and time consuming. • Government must balance common good with individual liberties.
