WEEK 1
Reader… Hague, R., Harrop, M. and J. McCormick (2019),
Comparative Government and Politics, London: Red Globe Press,
Chapter 1 and 6.
Key concepts & authoritarian rule
Legitimacy – internally, people of a state having trust in their
governments.
Legal mandate state: Legitimate use of force for enforcement in an
AUTHORITARIAN REGIME.
Easton & the model political system: Inputs demands & support go
INTO the political system decisions and actions come OUT of the
system to become outputs. This is a cycle.
Some approaches to politics…
1. What is in the common interest?
- Arendt: Politics is essential for the community and the
common interest.
- Dahl: Politics is for resolving inevitable conflicts peacefully.
2. Competition for power
- Machiavelli: Politics answers who gets power, and how?
,WEEK 2
Reader… Ian Bache, Stephen George and Simon Bulmer (2015), Politics
in the European Union, Chapter 2: Theories of EU Governance. Oxford
University Press, pp. 24-43.
AND Of Garbage Cans & Rulings
Explaining EU Governance
New institutionalism
- Behaviouralism - Political impact of formal institutions no longer
continuing. New institutionalists criticize them for this, asserting
importance of formal institutions. New inst. argue that formal
institutions ARE NOT neutral arenas as opposed to how
behaviouralists see it. They also argued that institutions could be
autonomous political actors.
- Extension of the notion ‘institutions’: Doesn’t only refer to leg,
exec, judi; also includes ‘structured interactions between groups’.
Types of new institutionalism…
1. Rational choice institutionalism
Political actors behave within a specific framework of rules.
Actors influence the policy-making process by deciding
within a logical framework.
Principal agent theory: Principal = national governments,
agent = supranational bodies. Principal delegates tasks to
the agent. As more tasks are delegated, it becomes more
difficult for the principal to keep in control of the agent.
o Aim within the EU: Reducing costs of EU policy
making by delegating tasks.
, Example of failure: Arab Spring.
Logic of instrumentality: Decisions happen thanks to logical
calculations.
2. Historical institutionalism
Values & behavioural norms also recognized as institutions.
Path dependency & lock-in effect: A previous decision/policy
was made thus the following policies are likely to follow the
same pattern. Lock-in extreme conclusion of path
dependency.
o Example: CAP. Although the negative effects were
visible, the Common Agricultural Policy resisted the
change.
o ‘The ratchet effect’ – it is very hard to reach
unanimity in the Council of Ministers, and it is hard to
implement any shift once a policy has been decided.
Downside: National governments/parliaments change too and
this approach may overlook the reforms domestic parliaments
undergo.
3. Sociological institutionalism
Rejects the RATIONAL approach as a whole and interprets
‘institution’ the broadest: Institutions in this case refer to the
cultural practices. Blurry lines between ‘institution’ and
‘culture’.
Hall and Taylor: Unlike the rational perspective, it suggests
that institutions don’t only influence the strategy of actors but
also IDENTITY.
Unlike the rational theory, institutions are created to
increase social legitimacy.
Logic of appropriateness: Decisions are made to INCREASE
SOCIAL LEGITIMACY.
Network analysis
Reader… Hague, R., Harrop, M. and J. McCormick (2019),
Comparative Government and Politics, London: Red Globe Press,
Chapter 1 and 6.
Key concepts & authoritarian rule
Legitimacy – internally, people of a state having trust in their
governments.
Legal mandate state: Legitimate use of force for enforcement in an
AUTHORITARIAN REGIME.
Easton & the model political system: Inputs demands & support go
INTO the political system decisions and actions come OUT of the
system to become outputs. This is a cycle.
Some approaches to politics…
1. What is in the common interest?
- Arendt: Politics is essential for the community and the
common interest.
- Dahl: Politics is for resolving inevitable conflicts peacefully.
2. Competition for power
- Machiavelli: Politics answers who gets power, and how?
,WEEK 2
Reader… Ian Bache, Stephen George and Simon Bulmer (2015), Politics
in the European Union, Chapter 2: Theories of EU Governance. Oxford
University Press, pp. 24-43.
AND Of Garbage Cans & Rulings
Explaining EU Governance
New institutionalism
- Behaviouralism - Political impact of formal institutions no longer
continuing. New institutionalists criticize them for this, asserting
importance of formal institutions. New inst. argue that formal
institutions ARE NOT neutral arenas as opposed to how
behaviouralists see it. They also argued that institutions could be
autonomous political actors.
- Extension of the notion ‘institutions’: Doesn’t only refer to leg,
exec, judi; also includes ‘structured interactions between groups’.
Types of new institutionalism…
1. Rational choice institutionalism
Political actors behave within a specific framework of rules.
Actors influence the policy-making process by deciding
within a logical framework.
Principal agent theory: Principal = national governments,
agent = supranational bodies. Principal delegates tasks to
the agent. As more tasks are delegated, it becomes more
difficult for the principal to keep in control of the agent.
o Aim within the EU: Reducing costs of EU policy
making by delegating tasks.
, Example of failure: Arab Spring.
Logic of instrumentality: Decisions happen thanks to logical
calculations.
2. Historical institutionalism
Values & behavioural norms also recognized as institutions.
Path dependency & lock-in effect: A previous decision/policy
was made thus the following policies are likely to follow the
same pattern. Lock-in extreme conclusion of path
dependency.
o Example: CAP. Although the negative effects were
visible, the Common Agricultural Policy resisted the
change.
o ‘The ratchet effect’ – it is very hard to reach
unanimity in the Council of Ministers, and it is hard to
implement any shift once a policy has been decided.
Downside: National governments/parliaments change too and
this approach may overlook the reforms domestic parliaments
undergo.
3. Sociological institutionalism
Rejects the RATIONAL approach as a whole and interprets
‘institution’ the broadest: Institutions in this case refer to the
cultural practices. Blurry lines between ‘institution’ and
‘culture’.
Hall and Taylor: Unlike the rational perspective, it suggests
that institutions don’t only influence the strategy of actors but
also IDENTITY.
Unlike the rational theory, institutions are created to
increase social legitimacy.
Logic of appropriateness: Decisions are made to INCREASE
SOCIAL LEGITIMACY.
Network analysis
