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AP
Comparative
Government
& Politics
Is China a Model for Russia?
Comparing Dominant and One-Party Systems
Jean C. Robinson, Chief Reader, AP Comp GoPo
Professor of Political Science, Indiana University
robinso@indiana.edu
Wang Jianwei/Xinhua
“Everyone here sees
China as the model, since
Russia is not the model.”
D. Kosyrev
SOURCE: New York Times October 18, 2009
Learning outcomes :
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We will discuss key factors for distinguishing among different
types of party and party systems and develop methods for
teaching these distinctions to students.

We will develop analytic categories for determining whether
China might be a model for Russia, by comparing how different
kinds of party systems might be more effective with regard to
efficiency, corruption, and meeting social needs.

You will be provided with some data on measures of party
membership, stability, economic growth, and corruption for
both countries, and then design student assignments that use
the measures to compare the party systems, paying special
attention to multi party, dominant party and single party
systems.
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What is it that Russian leaders see as
admirable about Chinese party
system?
 And
what can this tell us about ways to compare
teach and compare political parties?
 Party
System Typologies
 Two party
 Multi Party
 One Party (dominant party)
+ Two Party and Multi Party Systems
 TWO PARTY:
 TWO POLITICAL PARTIES DOMINANT TO SUCH AN EXTENT
THAT ELECTORAL SUCCESS UNDER THE BANNER OF A THIRD
PARTY IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE. OFTEN THE BREADTH OF
REPRESENTATION OF POLITICAL VALUES AND IDEOLOGIES
IS LIMITED, AND OFTEN THE POLITICAL STANCES OF THE
TWO PARTIES CONVERGE ON SOME SHARED CONSENSUS.
 MULTI PARTY:
 SYSTEMS IN WHICH MORE THAN TWO PARTIES COMPETE,
REPRESENT DIVERSE POLITICAL INTERESTS, AND ARE
ELECTED TO PUBLIC OFFICE. OFTEN SUCH PARTY SYSTEMS
RESULT IN COALITION GOVERNMENTS, AND MORE
INTRICATE ELECTORAL SYSTEMS (SECOND BALLOTS, E.G.)
+ Single and Dominant Party Systems
 One Party:
 single party is legally allowed to hold effective power.
Although minor parties may sometimes be allowed,
they are legally required to accept the leadership of the
dominant party.
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China: CCP
 Dominant Party:
 One strong party, that is not likely to be defeated,
whether because of formal rules or informal practices.
Opposition parties are allowed, and there may be even
a deeply established democratic tradition, but other
parties are generally considered to have no real chance
of gaining power.
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Russia and United Russia?
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Why would Russia model China?
The advantages of a dominant party or single
party system
 Greater
 Less
control
cost (time, resources)
 Greater
 Other?
policy/implemention efficiency
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Comparing Parties & Party Systems
 What
other ways to compare?
 Ideology
 Structure
 Size
 Penetration
 Competitiveness
 Diffusion
 Effectiveness
United Russia Party
Characteristics in 2009-10
Party System
Ideology
Structure
Size
Penetration
Competitiveness
Diffusion
Effectiveness
Other?
Multi Party or Dominant Party?
Chinese Communist Party
Characteristics in 2009-10
Party System
Ideology
Structure
Size
Penetration
Competitiveness
Diffusion
Effectiveness
Other?
One-Party
Back to Comparing Parties & Party Systems
An approach
Party System
Ideology
Structure
Size
Penetration
Competitiveness
Diffusion
Effectiveness
Other?
Dominant Party
One Party
Multi Party
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Back to the USSR?
Questions & Contact Info
Jean Robinson
robinso@indiana.edu