Political Theories

Laura SirbuComparative GovernmentPeriod 4

Theories-Proposed explanations of actual

occurrences Systems TheoryStructural-Functional TheoryDependency TheoryRational Choice TheoryRational Expectation TheoryOther miscellaneous theories

Just Remember…

For every theory that exists, there are several ones that propose an opposing idea

The result? Interesting debates!

Systems Theory

System - “an object having interdependent parts, acting within a setting or environment” (pg 29) Domestic/National International

No longer independent entities; everything is interconnected (think globalization)

United States

Economy

Political System

Culture and Society

Russia

Mexico

China

Iran

Britain

Nigeria

Systems Theory - Diagram

Key:

Inputs

Outputs

But what about…

Multinational Companies?Terrorists?

Can complex interactions really be separated in domestic or international spheres?

Systems that are not institutions or countries that are spanning these said “boundaries.”

Structural-Functional Theory Each structure has its own function

so that government can operate1. Same structure may perform

different functions in another country (ex: President of U.S. vs. President of China)

2. Institutions do not have a monopoly on one function

Criticism: Conservative in its methodology

Dependency TheoryTwo groups: Developed Nations

and Developing Nations Former keeps the latter in a

subservient positionDeveloping Nations increase

dependency over timeKept “down” by economic

sanctions or free-trade policies (ISI do not work)

Free-Market Ideology

Free-markets help developing nations by giving them the opportunity to grow and become equal players

Short run, painful. Long run, establishes economies.

Look at India and Thailand: there were developing, and are today more toward the “developed” side

Dependency vs. Free-Market

Are countries able to “break out of the loop”?

Are developed countries still intentionally keeping developing countries in a subservient position? An obsolete idea?

Rational Choice TheoryAll decisions can be broken down

into rational calculationsDecisions are based on

rewards/costs People act as if they are

completely rational

Rational Expectation Theory

Individual decisions may be wrong at any one time

On average, over a collective body, decisions are not systematically wrong

Better to work in a groupMany individuals Country

Cultural Theory

Political behavior is based on culture

Decisions are based on societal norms, not rational, individual opinions

To understand political behavior, one must understand the culture of that entity

Rational vs. CulturalDo characteristics of individuals carry

over to a group?If each individual is rational, does that

guarantee that the entire group acts rationally?

Can an individual person take in every cue from culture to come up with a singular decision?

Do policies get watered down when there are many agendas working against one another?

Political RealismInternational level is anarchyEach state is a rational actor

working for its own best interests. Think Zero-Sum. Black and white.

States are “main actors;” other supranational organizations, multinational corporations, and/or non-governmental organizations have little influence

CriticismsDemocracy-Peace Theory

Democracies tend to not go to war with each other, even when there are conflicts of self-interest

Federalism There are many levels/stages of

power and influence

Did the Zero-Sum “ideology” get America to its superpower status of today?

Miscellaneous Theories

The “Great Man” Theory—history is decided by a few influential and powerful individuals

The “Bureaucracy” Theory—the real decisions in a system happen in the push and shove of the bureaucracy

World-System Theory—extremely similar to dependency theory; sees the “capitalist world economy” as “total social system”

Works Cited

“What is Dependency Theory?” WiseGeek. 26 Apr. 2009 <http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-dependency-theory.htm>.“What is System Theory?” Principia Cybernetica Web . 26 Apr. 2009 <http://pespmc1.vub.ac.be/systheor.html>.Scott, John. “Rational Choice Theory .” Rational Choice Theory . 26 Apr. 2009 <http://privatewww.essex.ac.uk/~scottj/socscot7.htm>.Ferraro, Vincent. Dependency Theory: An Introduction. 26 Apr. 2009 <http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/intrel/depend.htm>.Almond, Gabriel A., et al. Comparative Politics Today. Vol. 7. New York: Longman, n.d.