The Good Society An Introduction to Comparative Politics

Combining thematic and country approaches to show students what comparative politics is really about, The Good Societyorganizes itself around a key question#x13;why are some countries better than others at improving their citizens#x19; lives? #xA0; This brief survey offers a focused look at political institutions and uses in-depth country studies to compare how different institutional arrangements yield different political results. By concentrating on how politics affects citizens#x19; lives, The Good Societyoffers a uniquely relevant introduction to comparative politics that goes to the heart of the field and helps students develop a critical point-of-view.

Alan Draper is Professor of Government at St. Lawrence University.

 

Ansil Ramsay is Professor Emeritus of Government at St. Lawrence University.

Brief Table of Contents:

Chapter 1. Good Societies

Chapter 2. The State

Chapter 3. State and Society

Chapter 4. Political Culture

Chapter 5. Political Economy

Chapter 6. Authoritarianism

Chapter 7. Democracy

Chapter 8. Development and Underdevelopment

Chapter 9. Developed Countries and the Good Society

Chapter 10. Less Developed Countries and the Good Society

Chapter 11. Communism, Post-Communism, and the Good Society

 

Detailed Table of Contents:

 

Preface

 

CHAPTER 1. GOOD SOCIETIES

Introduction

The Logic and Practice of Comparative Political Analysis

Comparative Political Analysis: Does Gender Equality Help Girls Do Better in School?

Visions of the Good Society: Gross National Product and Gross National Happiness

In Brief: Criticisms of the GNP and GNH as Measures of the Good Society

Capabilities and the Quality of Life

            Physical Well-being

The Good Society In Depth: Costa Rica - Doing More with Less

            Informed Decision-making

            Safety

            Democracy

Some Caveats

In Brief: Operationalizing Concepts

Responding to Criticisms of the Capability Approach

Conclusion

 

CHAPTER 2. THE STATE

Introduction

Institutions and Power

The State

The Good Society In Depth: Somalia - The Weightlessness of Statelessness

The Origins of the State

Political Institutions

            Federal and Unitary Systems

In Brief: Federal and Unitary Systems

            The Legislature

            The Executive

            The Bureaucracy

In Brief: Bureaucracy

            The Military

            The Judiciary

Comparative Political Analysis: Does the Design of Political Institutions Make a Difference in People’s Lives?

Conclusion

 

CHAPTER 3. STATE AND SOCIETY

Introduction

Political Participation

Political Parties

In Brief: Strong and Weak Political Parties

The Good Society In Depth: Iraq - From Bullets to Ballots (and perhaps back again)

Interest Groups

In Brief: Pluralist and Corporatist Interest Groups

Social Movements

Patron-Client Relations

Weak and Strong States

Comparative Political Analysis: Why Do Some Political Institutions Work Better than Others?

Weak States, Strong States, and The Good Society

            Physical Well-being

            Informed Decision-making

            Safety

            Democracy

Conclusion

 

CHAPTER 4. POLITICAL CULTURE

Introduction

Culture and Political Culture

Three Approaches to the Study of Culture and Political Culture

            The Social Character Approach

The Congruence Approach

            The Social Capital Approach

In Brief: Social Character, Congruence, and Social Capital

Politics of Identity

            Ethnicity

In Brief: Ethnicity and Race

The Good Society In Depth: Kenya - Ethnic Violence and Capabilities

Comparative Political Analysis: Is Ethnic Diversity a Root Cause of Civil Wars?

            Nationalism

            Religion

Political Culture, Identities, and The Good Society

            Physical Well-being

            Informed Decision-making

            Safety

            Democracy

Conclusion

 

 

CHAPTER 5. POLITICAL ECONOMY

Introduction

In Brief: Market Systems

States and Markets

The Advantages of Market Systems

The Dark Side of Markets

The Shifting Balance of States and Markets

The Good Society In Depth: India - From States to Markets

Globalization

Comparative Political Analysis: Does Globalization Help or Hurt Workers in the Developing World?

Forms of State Intervention

            Fiscal Policy

            Monetary Policy

            Regulatory Policy

            Nationalization

Markets and The Good Society

            Physical Well-being

            Informed Decision-making

            Safety

            Democracy

Conclusion

Suggested Readings

 

CHAPTER 6. AUTHORITARIANISM

Introduction

Authoritarian and Totalitarian Regimes

Types of Authoritarian Regimes

            Monarchy

            Military Regimes

            Single-Party Regimes

            Electoral Authoritarian Regimes

In Brief: Types of Authoritarian Regimes

Comparative Political Analysis: Why Do Some Authoritarian Regimes Survive Elections While Others Do Not?

Personal Rule

The Good Society In Depth: Zimbabwe - How to Wreck and Economy and Lower Capabilities

Explaining Authoritarian Persistence

In Brief: Distinguishing Middle Eastern Countries from Arab Countries

Authoritarianism and The Good Society

            Physical Well-being

            Informed Decision-making

            Safety

            Democracy

Conclusion

 

 

CHAPTER 7. DEMOCRACY

Introduction

Transitions to Democracy

The Good Society In Depth: Mauritius - A Democratic Enigma

Comparative Political Analysis: Does Diversity Undermine Democracy?

Presidential and Parliamentary Democracy

In Brief: Presidential Systems

In Brief: Parliamentary Systems

Electoral Rules and Party Systems

Democracy, Authoritarianism, and Economic Development

Democracy, Authoritarianism, and The Good Society

            Physical Well-being

            Informed Decision-making

            Safety

Conclusion

 

 

CHAPTER 8. DEVELOPMENT AND UNDERDEVELOPMENT

Introduction

Economic Development and Human Development

The Good Society In Depth: South Korea - From Least Likely to Succeed to Most Successful in its Class

In Brief: Economic Development and Human Development

Lower and Less Secure Capabilities

            Citizens’ Capabilities

            Poorer and More Vulnerable Economies

            Weaker and Less Democratic States

Why Did Some Countries become More Developed than Others?

            Imperialism

            Geography

            Culture

            Institutions

            Leadership

In Brief: Five Explanations of Different Levels of Development among Countries

Comparative Political Analysis: Institutions as the Main Cause of Development and Underdevelopment

Development, Underdevelopment, and The Good Society

            Physical Well-being

            Informed Decision-making

            Safety

            Democracy

Conclusion

 

CHAPTER 9. DEVELOPED COUNTRIES AND THE GOOD SOCIETY

Introduction

Social Democracy

Sweden

            Historical Background

            The State

            State and Society

            Political Culture

            Political Economy

Extreme Market Democracy

The United States

            Historical Background

The State

            State and Society

            Political Culture

            Political Economy

Christian Democracy

Germany

Historical Background

The State

            State and Society

            Political Culture

            Political Economy

Comparative Politics Analysis: Why Do Unions Pursue Different Strategies in Response to Similar Challenges?

Comparing Capabilities between Sweden, The United States, and Germany

            Physical Well-being

            Informed Decision-making

            Safety

            Democracy

Conclusion

 

CHAPTER 10. LESS DEVELOPED COUNTRIES AND THE GOOD SOCIETY

Introduction

Weak Democracies

Nigeria

            Historical Background

            The State

Comparative Political Analysis: Can Corruption Kill?

            State and Society

            Political Culture

            Political Economy

Electoral Democracy

Brazil

            Historical Background

            The State

            State and Society

            Political Culture

            Political Economy

Electoral Authoritarianism

Iran

Historical Background

            The State

            State and Society

            Political Culture

            Political Economy

Comparing Capabilities between Nigeria, Brazil, and Iran

            Physical Well-being

            Informed Decision-making

            Safety

            Democracy

Conclusion

 

 

CHAPTER 11. COMMUNISM,  POST-COMMUNISM, AND THE GOOD SOCIETY

Introduction

The Institutional Basis of Communist Regimes

            Communist Party Rule

            State Owned, Centrally-Planned Economies

The Collapse of Communist Regimes in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union

Russia and China as Post-Communist Regimes

Russia

            Historical Background

The State

            State and Society

            Political Culture

            Political Economy

China

Historical Background

The State

            State and Society

Comparative Political Analysis: Will Chinese Capitalists Lead the Way to Democracy in China?

            Political Culture

            Political Economy

Comparing Capabilities between Russia and China

Physical Well-being

            Informed Decision-making

            Safety

            Democracy

Conclusion