Introduction to Comparative Politics
Lecture #5 Making a Difference? Citizens, Parties and Interest Groups
How Do Citizens Participate?
Direct policy making (referenda, political office) Political Groups: Parties and Interest Group activity
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Who Participates, And How Much?
Variation across activities, groups, political systems Determinants: Institutions and culture
Political Culture: Orientations toward system, process, policy Political Socialization and Resocialization
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Political Parties
Groups Seeking to Place Candidates in Office Primarily Political Organizations (vs. Interest Groups) The “Iron Law of Oligarchy”(Michels)
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Party Systems
Authoritarian vs. Competitive (Elections) Two-Party vs. Multiparty Duverger’s Law: SMDP leads to Two-Party Systems
Moderation vs. Extremism
Mechanical Effect Psychological Effect
Multiparty Systems:
Downs: Two-Party Systems Converge
Majority vs. Minority Situations Parliamentary Democracy and Coalition Gov’ts
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Interest Groups
Groups that seek to influence public policy w/o running candidates for office May not be primarily Political Interest Group Types (degree of organization, purpose)
Anomic Groups Non-Associational Groups Institutional Groups Associational Groups
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Access and Tactics
Constitutional
Legislature Civil Service Political Parties Personal Connections Media and Information Litigation Direct Action (Demonstrations, Boycotts, Strikes)
Coercive
Riots Strikes Obstructions Terrorism
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What Determines Interest Group Success?
Resources
Bargaining Power Control over Factors of Production Power in Numbers Credibility
Representativeness
Respectability
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"Free Rider" (Collective Action) Problems
Problem: Many people want their interests to be represented but do not find it worthwhile to contribute Prisoners’ Dilemma: Individually rational behavior is collectively irrational Ways to Overcome Collective Action Problems (Mancur Olson)
Small or Privileged Groups: Commitments Easier Selective Incentives Coercion (Closed Shops)
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