Chapter 12

 Chapter 12 Globalization and Political Systems: 

Chapter 12 Globalization and Political Systems

Learning Objectives: 

Learning Objectives After finishing this chapter you should be able to describe: Types of political systems Types of democracy The relationship between religion and democracy The relationship between a nation’s political system and its human and economic development Globalization and the politics of migration Patterns of regional development The power of the nation-state versus the power of the market The future of political systems in a globalized world

Types of Government: 

Types of Government Democratic Autocratic Parliamentary Form Presidential Form Republic Constitutional Monarchy Absolute Monarchy One-Party Rule Military Dictatorship Theocracy

Democracy and Autocracy: 

Democracy and Autocracy Democracy can be broadly defined as a political system where the rulers are elected by the populace in free elections held at regular intervals. Autocracy refers to a system where the rulers do not govern by consent of those who are ruled .

Parliamentary Democracy: 

Parliamentary Democracy In a parliamentary form of government: Prime Minister is the Head of the government elected by the members of the parliament for a specified period usually, leader of the party that wins the majority seats in the election

Presidential Form of Democracy: 

Presidential Form of Democracy In a presidential form of government, the offices of the Head of the State as well as the Head of the Government are vested in the office of the President. The President is usually directly elected by a majority vote in a universal general election. Examples of presidential democracy include France, Mexico, USA etc.

Absolute Monarchy: 

Absolute Monarchy In an Absolute Monarchy, all power is vested with the King (Queen)/Emperor (Empress). Examples include Saudi Arabia, Brunei Dar-us-Salam, Swaziland, etc. Power in such countries is hereditary and concentrated in the hands of the ruling family.

One Party Rule: 

One Party Rule When one party usurps power and shuts out other parties from political activities, the government system turns autocratic and is referred to as one party dictatorship. Communist/socialist countries such as China, Cuba, North Korea, etc. are examples of one party rule. Various non-communist countries such as Egypt, Libya, Syria, Uzbekistan etc. are also ruled by one party. Very often, such a one party is again ruled by one individual and/or his/her family. Nazi Germany and Facist Italy during the Second World War, and more recently, Iraq under Saddam’s Ba’ath party are also examples of one party dictatorship.

Military Dictatorship: 

Military Dictatorship Military dictatorship refers to rule by the military. Under a military dictatorship, the army chief, in collaboration with the other defense services, wrests power from the civilian government, suspends the constitution, imposes martial law, and governs the country with brute force without much regard to universal human rights such as freedom of expression and protection of legal rights. Military Dictatorship was very common throughout Latin America, Africa, and parts of Asia during the cold war era. Military dictatorship did not end with the end of the cold war. Military coup takes place in different, mostly least developed countries, every now and then (e.g., Fiji, Haiti, Nigeria, Pakistan, etc.).

Theocracy: 

Theocracy In a theocratic government, there is no separation between the church and the state. In other words, laws are interpreted and applied according to the religious teachings of the pre-dominant religion of the land and the country is governed by the clergy. Iran is an example of a theocracy Islamic theocracy). Israel is another country where laws are interpreted according to the holy book (Torah). However, both Iran and Israel also allow change of power through free elections.

Politics and Religion: 

Politics and Religion There seems to be a general consensus among economists as well as among political scientists that mixing religion with politics can have devastating impact on economic development and the social fabric of a country. Religion continues to play an influential, and often divisive, role in politics and economics to varying degrees in different countries- both democratic and autocratic.

Recent Religious Violence: 

Recent Religious Violence The terrorist movement by Al-Qaeda is based on a twisted version of Islam. Religious fanaticism is on the rise in many parts of the world, including the Middle East, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, and Nigeria among others. In Sri Lanka, the majority Sinhalese people, who are mostly Buddhist, are engaged in a protracted civil war against minority Tamils who are Hindus.

Recent Religious Violence: 

Recent Religious Violence The worst killing in Europe since the end of the Second World War took place in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the breakaway Muslim Republic from Yugoslavia. Over two hundred thousand Bosnians were killed and many more expelled. Such barbaric killings and forced expulsions came to be known as “ethnic cleansing.” Ethnic cleansing also took place in Kosovo where ethnic Albanian Muslims were killed by the Serbs. Finally, cessation of religious hostility was achieved with the intervention of the international communities and a military strike by the forces of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) led by the US.

Democracy, Free Market Capitalism, and Economic development: 

Democracy, Free Market Capitalism, and Economic development Democracy and Free Market Capitalism move hand in hand. A democratic, free market capitalistic system is believed to lead to a virtuous cycle of development. However, there are different models of democratic, free-market capitalism. They are broadly categorized as follows: Market Democracy (also known as the American Model) Social Democracy (also known as the European Model) Controlled democracy (also known as the Asian Model)

Different Forms of Free Market Democracy: 

Different Forms of Free Market Democracy

Which Form is the Best Form?: 

Which Form is the Best Form? While there are pros and cons in each of the three models of free market democracy, it is hard to tell which of them is the best model. Economic situation in each country is unique and therefore a model that works very well in one country may not work well in another. Although no one specific model can be labeled as the best model, in the last two decades, the market democracy or the American model seems to have been most successful in terms of economic growth.

Globalization and Economic Growth: 

Globalization and Economic Growth Source: Economist, Dec. 6, 2001, p. 34

Nation State Vs. Market: 

Nation State Vs. Market Globalization has transformed the relationship among market, society, and government. Some people argue that: Globalization has made national governments irrelevant There has been a silent takeover of the society by MNCs and multilateral institutions such as IMF, world Bank and the WTO. While some people oppose this increasing power of the business, some others support this increasing power. Supporters of big business contend that the free market system has an innate ability to rectify itself of all problems. Therefore, the less the government, the better.

Nation State Vs. Market: 

Nation State Vs. Market People often forget that MNCs and multilateral organizations cannot have foreign policy, macroeconomic policies, industrial policy, nor can they issue currency or be in charge of law and order. Therefore, the government will continue to play an important role in the society and in shaping the overall business environment of a given country.

Questions: 

Questions ???