Modern Comparative Politics Approaches, Methods and Issues

Transcription

1 Modern Comparative Politics Approaches, Methods and Issues A SAMIRENDRA N. RAY Professor y~ Department of Political Science University of North Bengal Dist. Darjeeling, West Bengal Prentice'Hall of India NEW DELHI Urn*

2 Contents Preface Acknowledgements Chapter 1 Understanding Comparative Government and Politics A. Why Study Comparative Government? 1 Introduction 1 Definitions of Comparative Government and Comparative Politics: The Semantic Problem 2 B. Approaches to the Study: The Nature of an Approach 5 The Traditional Approach 5 The Revolution in Comparative Politics 6 Nature and Directions of the Transformation 7 C. New Approaches to the Study of Government and Politics 7 General Systems Theory 8 Offshoots of the Systems Theory 9 Decision-making Theories 14 Communications Model 16 Distributive Analysis 17 Group Theory 18 Other Approaches: A Brief Summary 21 D. Theories of Modernization and Development: The Modernization Paradigm 22 E. Marxist Methodology for the Study of Comparative Politics 25 F. From Dependency to Modes of Production: Radical Approaches in Comparative Politics 28 Dependencia 28 Modes of Production 31 G. The Political Autonomy Approach and Other Recent Efforts 33 H. The Comparative Method and the Nature of Comparative Analysis 34 I. Conclusion: The Search for Alternative Paradigms 36 Notes and References 37 v xi xv

3 Vi Contents Chapter 2 Government in Modern Society A. Ramifications of the Governmental Process 44 The Nature of Government 44 The Need for Government 45 Classification of Governments 46 B. Government as an Exercise of Political Power and as an Instrument of the Policy Process 47 Political Power in the Process of Government 47 The Process of Decision-making: Its Limits 48 C. Nature and Concept of the Political Process 77 Political Process, Groups and the Social Process 79 D. Political Culture: Definition and Salient Elements 96 Components of Political Culture 99 E. Political Socialization 100 Meaning and Nature 100 Agencies and Political Socialization 101. Political Socialization and the Political System 103 Notes and References 103 -, Chapter 3 Constitutions and Constitutionalism A. Constitutionalism 109 Meaning of Constitutionalism 109 Nature of Constitutionalism 110 Theoretical Attributes and Functional Techniques of Constitutionalism 111 B. Constitutions 112 The Nature of Constitution 112 Classification of Constitutions 113.,, C. Constitution-making and Constitutional Amendment 116 Introduction 116 Constituent Assembly: A Machinery for Constitution-making and Amendment 117. Constitutional Amendment 117 Constitutional Changes: Informal Processes 123 Constitutional Amendment in India 129 D. Relationship between the Individual and the Government: The Problem of Freedom and Authority 132 General Introduction: Nature of the Problem 132 Concept of Bill of Rights in Historical Perspective Changing Dimensions 133 Freedom in Different Political Systems: UK, USA, the former USSR, France, West Germany, India 135 Notes and References 140

4 Contents vli Chapter 4 Distribution of Governmental Functions and Control of Political Power A. Horizontal and Vertical Controls 143 B. Separation versus Concentration of Powers 144 The Doctrine of Separation of Powers and Objectives to it 144 New Tripartism of State Functions 145, A New Functional Categorization 146 Parliamentary and Presidential Systems 149 C. Federalism 150 Approaches to the Study of Federalism 150 Federalism: Certain Common Features and Institutional Requirements 154 Federalism andjdistribution of Powers 156 Concurrent Jurisdiction and Residuary Powers 159 Federalism and the Problem of a Second Chamber 161 Federalism and the Problem of Judicial Review 165 Patterns of Federal Organization 169 "New Federations 171 The Problem of Federal Centralization 172 From Competitive to Cooperative Federalism 174 Notes and References 175 Chapter 5 Political Dynamics and Political Systems: Parties, Interest Groups and the Electoral Process A. Parties and the Political Process 179 Introduction 179 Classifications of Political Parties and Party Systems 180 Difficulties of Categorization 184 The Role and Influence of the Party in Decision-making and Policyformulation 185 Political Parties and Political Socialization 187 B. Interest Group Dynamics 188. Introduction 188 ~> Interest Groups in Comparative Analysis 188 Classification of Interest Groups 190 Determinants of Pressure Group Methods 191 Operational Techniques of Interest Groups: Interest Articulation, Means of Access 192 Interest Groups in Modern Political Systems: The USA, the UK, France and Germany 193 Interest Groups in India 197 C. The Electoral Process and Voting Behaviour 199 The Electoral System, Representation and Participatory Democracy 199 The 'First-Past-the-Post' or Plurality System 199 Proportional Representation 201

5 viii Contents The Electoral System and the Party System: A Study of the Degree of Interrelationship in Major Political Systems 203 Electoral Systems in Major Political Systems 203 Voting Behaviour Determinants 205 Notes and References 208 Chapter 6 Organization of Government: Institutions and Procedures Introduction 211 A. The Legislative Organization: Structure, Functions, Process and Behaviour; Issues and Problems 212 Introduction 212 Organization of Legislature: A Brief Overview 214 Functions of the Legislatures 217 Decline of Legislature 221 Conclusion: Recent Trends 223 B. The Executive Organ: Patterns, Organization, Role; Issues and Problems 224 Introduction 224 Growth of Executive Power 225 Executive Leadership 226 Executive Patterns 227 The Chief Executives in Modern Political Systems 229 Executive-Legistature Relationship 231 Executive Decision-making 232 The Bureaucratic Subsystem and the Political Process 233 C. The Judicial Organ: Organization, Functions and Role 235 Judiciary, and the Political Process 235 Organization of the Judiciary 236 The Nature of Law and Judicial Systems 237 Functions of the Judiciary 239 Note on Comparative Judicial Review 239 Judicial Review and Fundamental Rights Comparative Judicial Systems and Processes: Need for Interaction in Judicial Experience 244 Notes and References 252 Chapter 7 Non-Western Government and Politics and the Politics of the Developing Areas A. Significance of the Non-Western Government and Politics in the Study of Modern Comparative Politics 256 B. Politics of Developing Societies/Areas as the Current Concern of Modern Comparative Politics 258 C. Some Distinctive Characteristics of the Political Process of the Non-Western Countries 259

6 Contents ix D. Latin American and African Political Systems 263 E. South Asian Political Systems: An Overview 267 F. The Politics of Developing Areas: Towards a Framework of Analysis 269 Notes and References 273 Chapter 8 Conclusion Theory-building in Comparative Politics: Trends and Prospects 279 Notes and References 283 Bibliography Index