Sovereignty,
Authority, and Power
Elements of Political Geography
Political INSTITUTIONS
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The best way to organize ideas and information in
comparative political systems is through institutions.
(patterns of activity that are self-perpetuating and
valued for their own sake). Institutions are often seen
as central to individual’s lives and serve as the rules,
norms, and values that give meaning to human activity.
In some nations, democracy is an institution whereas
other nations hold allegiances to ethnic groups or
religion.
Sometimes, institutions are physical objects or places.
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World Trade Center an American institution until 9/11/2001.
LESS
INSTITUTIONALIZED
GOVERNMENTS
MORE
INSTITUTIONALIZED
COUNTRY/NATION
States
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A state is a political system that has sovereignty
over a population in a particular territory, based
on the recognized right to self-determination
To become the primary authority over its territory
and its people, set laws, resolve disputes
between people, and generate security, states
need power. In order to posses power, states
must be armed with militaries (external
sovereignty) and police forces (internal
sovereignty).
Regimes
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Regimes are the fundamental rules and norms of politics.
Often, regimes are institutions or individuals.
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Examples of changes in regimes:
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French Revolution overthrowing the monarchy
South Africans overthrowing apartheid white rule
Louis XIV “I am the state”
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Iraq and Saddam Hussein.
Governments
• Government is the leadership or the elite in charge of running
the state.
• Governments may be democratically elected or it may be
ruled by dictators. However they are structured, each
government holds its own ideas about freedom and equality
and uses the state to realize these ideas.
• Governments are less institutionalized than states or regimes
because they may come and go, whereas, states and regimes
tend to have more staying power.
Countries
• A country is what contains all the concepts discussed (state,
government, regime) and all the people living within its
political system. The ENTIRE political entity and its system.
Methods of Political Control
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Coercion, or compelling behavior by threatening
harm.
Surveillance allows the government to prevent
opposition from organizing and instills
uncertainty among the population.
Co-optation rewards individuals outside an
organization by bringing them into a beneficial
relationship with them. They are, thus,
dependent on the regime for certain rewards.
Personality cults are where the image of a leader
is promoted not only as a political figure but as
someone who embodies the spirit of the nation.
Types of Nondemocratic rule
1. Personal/Monarchial rule rests on the claim that one
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person alone is fit to rule a country with no clear
regime or roles to constrain that person’s rule.
Often, this person depends on a collection of
supporters within the state who gains direct benefits
in return for enforcing the ruler’s will. This is called
patrimonialism.
Types of Nondemocratic rule
2.
3.
Military Rule is, increasingly, more common in states that
are struggling with legitimacy and stability and in those
where there is a high level of public unrest or violence. In
this case, the military sees itself as the only organized
force able to ensure stability.
. Theocracies are defined as “rule by God.” The faith of
the people and its leaders are the foundation for these
kinds of political regimes.
Types of Nondemocratic rule
3. One-party rule is when a single political part
monopolizes politics with other parties banned
or excluded from power.
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The party usually consists of only a small minority of
the population and combines itself with larger
corporatist regimes of public control. These can be,
otherwise, classified as oligarchies.
Members of the party are, often, granted privileges
that are denied to the public at large.
These parties rule because a large group of individuals
in society benefit from the regime and are, therefore,
willing to defend it.
Often, associated with communism and fascism.
Communism vs. Socialism
Communism
Socialism
• Values equality over
freedom
• Believe that the inevitable
outcome of competition
for scarce resources is that
a small group will come to
control the government
and the economy. (i.e. “the
rich”)
• Advocate a takeover of all
resources and abolishing
private property to ensure
true equality
• Values equality of
communism BUT
promote private
ownership of property
and free market
principles.
• The state should have a
strong role to play in
regulating the economy
and providing benefits to
the public sector.
Democracy v Facism
• Democracy
• Emphasis on individual
political and economic
freedom
• Seek to maximize
freedom for all people,
including free speech,
freedom of religion,
and freedom of
association.
• Facism
• Rejects the value of
equality.
• Individuals exist in
inferior/superior
relationships.
• The state has the right
to mold society and
the economy to
eliminate obstacles
that might weaken it.
• Historical examples?
Illiberal Regimes
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Illiberal Regimes are those that appear like other
established democracies but, procedurally, are not
democratic. Democratic rights are not
institutionalized or respected.
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The democratic process is restricted to a great degree.
Elections are held without regard to civil
liberties/rights/human rights. There is large-scale
disenfranchisement, probably on ethnic/racial grounds
Access to the media is often restricted
State institutions like the judiciary, the military, or staterun industries are under the direct control of
government who, then, uses it to control political
opposition.
Small/weak civil society