Page 83 - DPOL202_COMPARATIVE_POLITICS_AND_GOVERNMENT_ENGLISH

Comparative Politics and Government

Notes Our fourth example is the democratic preindustrial system, perhaps one like India, which has a
pre-dominantly rural, illiterate population. In such a country there are few political participants,
chiefly educated professionals, business people, and landowners. A much larger number of
employees, workers, and perhaps independent farmers are directly affected by government taxation
and other official policies. The largest group of citizens are illiterate farmworkers and peasants,
whose knowledge of and involvement with national politics is minimal. In such a society it is a
great challenge to create a more aware citizenry that can participate meaningfully and shape
public policies through democratic means.
In summary, the distribution of these cultural patterns is related to the type of political process
that citizens expect and support. For instance, we normally identify democracy with a more
participatory political culture. Authoritarian states are more likely to endure when the public is
characterized by subjects and parochials—although authoritarian states can come in many forms,
ranging from communism, to dictatorships, to religion-based regimes.
Another critical feature of the process culture involves beliefs about other groups and oneself as a
group member. Do individuals trust their fellow citizens? Do they see the society as divided into social
classes, regional groups, or ethnic communities? Do they identify themselves with particular factions
or parties? How do they feel about groups of which they are not members? When people trust others
they will be more willing to work together for political goals, and group leaders may be more willing
to form coalitions. Governing a large nation requires forming large coalitions, and there must be
substantial amounts of trust in other leaders to keep bargains and ensure honesty in negotiations.
The opposite of trust is hostility, which can destroy intergroup and interpersonal relations. The
tragic examples of ethnic, religious, and ideological conflict in many nations—such as the conflicts
in Rwanda, Lebanon, Northern Ireland, and Chechnya-show how easily hostility can be converted
into violence and aggressive action. Respect for human life and dignity is sometimes in too short
supply in the contemporary world.
The Policy Level
The politics of a country are also influenced by public images of what constitutes the good society
and how to achieve it. At one level, the political culture includes expectations of the government’s
overall involvement in society and the economy. Should government manage the economy, or
should private property rights and market forces guide economic activity? Should the state be
interventionist in addressing societal issues, or follow a minimalist strategy? The ongoing debates
over “big government” versus “small government” in democratic states, and between socialist
and market-based economies reflect these different images of the scope of government.
Figure 4.2, illustrates the extent of cross-national differences in public expectations about whether
it is the government’s role to ensure that everyone is provided for. The range in opinions is
considerable, from around three-quarters believing this is a government responsibility in Israel
and Nigeria, to only a quarter of the French. In general, such sentiments are more common in
developing nations and in the formerly communist nations in Eastern Europe— reflecting both the
socioeconomic context and political ideologies.

There are some Western nations, such as Sweden and Finland, where traditions also include
a large role for the government. In general, however, it appears that public support for
government action decreases as national affluence increases.

When the public expects a larger role for government, it is likely that the policies of the government
will grow to meet the public’s expectations.

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