This document provides an overview of key concepts in comparative politics. It defines politics as who gets what, when and how. Comparative politics compares the pursuit of power across countries and examines factors like institutions, interests, ideas, and international influences. The document also discusses types of political systems, forms of government, theories of power distribution, and conceptual frameworks for understanding political culture and elite groups.

1. POL 302
Spring 2018

4. What words, concepts, ideas, etc. come to mind
when you see the following words?
“politics”
“power”
“comparative politics”

5.  Many definitions of politics:
 Lasswell: “Who gets what, when and how”
 Characteristics of Politics:
 (1) Power
 (2) Decision Making
 Political scientists study power as it relates to
political communities.

6.  Power:
 Ability to influence others or impose will on them
 How do you know if you have power?

8.  Subfield of political science that compares
the pursuit of power across countries
 Examples of Power Imbalances:
 State Control vs. Individual Freedom
 Plutocracy vs. Egalitarianism

10.  Institutions
 Interests
 Ideas
 Individuals
 International Environment
 Interactions

12.  Government Performance
 Unemployment and Inflation
 Constitutional Structures
(and resulting institutions)
 “Behavioral Revolution” in Political Science

14.  Lasswell Definition of Politics
 How do individuals and groups define their
interests?
 Politically
 Economically
 Socially

16.  Political Culture
 What do people think about politics?
 Opinion Polling
(e.g. Gallup Poll, WorldValues Survey, etc.)
 Equality, Loyalty, Freedom, Justice,Trust
 Impact of ideas change over time
 Why?

18. PEOPLE AS SUBJECTS
 Authoritarian Systems
 Definition of “Subjects”
 No Rights or Freedoms
 Obligations to State
PEOPLE AS CITIZENS
 Democratic Systems
 Definition of “Citizens”
 General Characteristics:
 Sovereignty
 Consent of Governed
 Government  People

19. James David Barber

20. ACTIVE-PASSIVE
 How much energy does
the president invest in
their job?
POSITIVE-NEGATIVE
 How much does the
president enjoy their job?

21. Can we categorize recent presidents?
George W. Bush? Barack Obama?
Active-Positive
Thomas Jefferson
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Teddy Roosevelt
JFK
Active-Negative
JohnAdams
LBJ
WoodrowWilson
Richard Nixon
James Madison
Ronald Reagan
William H.Taft
Passive-Positive
G GeorgeWashington
Calvin Coolidge
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Ulysses S. Grant
Passive-Negative
Presidential
Character
Credit given to Dr. James M. Curry, GVPT 475, University of Maryland

23.  IndividualCountry Focus
 Why problematic?
 International Influences
 European Union as Case Study

24. How do EU member
states balance
individual history,
culture, etc. while part
of a large continental
organization?

30.  Individuals are rational and self-interested
with sincere preferences
 What does this mean?
 Borrowed from economics
 Example: Building a Road in Jacksonville
 Rep. Lawson vs. Other Members in Congress

32.  Attitudes, values, beliefs, and symbols
 Gives people a way to understand politics
 Culture of location can change
 Slow—since it becomes ingrained in society
 Endures because of political socialization
 Cultural values can influence forms of power

33.  Well-defined attitudes, values, beliefs are
clearly identified within any political culture

34.  Question Modernists’ argument
 Cultures NOT fixed with set values;
subject to interpretation
 Societies have subcultures
(e.g. South and Northeast in U.S.)
 Importance of political discourse
 Example: Meaning of “family values”

37.  Organizations where govt. power is
exercised
 Constitution defines institutions of govt.
 Legislative, Executive, Judicial Branches
 Different arrangements in other countries
 Parliament, Ruler, or Council
 Goal: Prosperous political environment

39.  How we get the things we want in politics
 Peaceful elections or violent revolutions
 Who decides on the rules is important.
 Elite (Aristocracy)
 Wealthy (Plutocracy)
 Royalty (Monarchy)
 People (Democracy)

40.  Who rules in the United States?
 Democratically-elected political actors
▪ Presidents, legislators, justices
 Voters
 Who rules in other countries?
 A dictator
 The military
 Council

41.  Distribution of Resources
 Social, Economic, Political

43.  Division of Society into Groups (e.g. Divergent)
 Dispersion of Power
 Policy = Compromise
 Power and InfluenceVaries
 Example: Democrats and U.S. House

45.  Societies are ruled by elite; effective
monopoly on power
C. Wright Mills
Elite groups control
society.
Includes notable
families, celebrities,
CEO’s of companies,
stockholders, etc.

47.  Who is in formal position of power?
 Who has influence in governmental-
decision-making?
 Who benefits from decisions made?