Alan Draper is Professor of Government at St. Lawrence University.
Ansil Ramsay is Professor Emeritus of Government at St. Lawrence University.
Summary
Combining thematic and country approaches to show students what comparative politics is really about, The Good Society organizes itself around a key question-why are some countries better than others at improving their citizens' lives?
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' lives, The Good Society offers a uniquely relevant introduction to comparative politics that goes to the heart of the field and helps students develop a critical point-of-view.
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?
