Governments, Political Systems and Regimes
Introduction
Need to classify political systems to understand how they function
Classification started with Aristotle, and developed immensely up until today
We need to understand:
The difference between governments, political systems and regimes
What the purpose of the classification is
What the regimes in the modern world are
If western democracy has triumph worldwide
Traditional Systems of Classification
Definition – government:
Broadly: Any mechanism through which ordered rule is maintained
Central features: ability to make collective decisions and the capacity to enforce
them
More commonly understood as the formal and institutional processes that operate at the
national level to maintain public order and facilitate collective action
Core functions: to make law (legislation), implement law (execution), and
interpret law (adjudication)
Sometimes the political executive is referred to as ‘the Government’
Definition – political system and regime:
A network of relationships through which government generates ‘outputs’ in response
to ‘inputs’
Broader term than government: encompasses government, state and society
‘System’ – interrelationships within a complex whole
, ‘Political’ – interrelationships relate to the distribution of power, wealth and resources in
society
Political system endure despite governments coming and going
Governments change through elections, succession, coups d'état; political systems
change through military intervention or revolution
Also referred to as a regime
Why classify political systems?
Understanding
Understanding is required through process of comparison – when highlighting
similarities and differences, comparisons helps us distinguish between what is
significant and meaningful, and what is not
Enable us to develop theories, hypothesis and concepts
Evaluation
Descriptive understanding is linked to normative judgments: questions about
what is are linked to questions about what should be – search for an ‘ideal’
Type of classification allows for qualitative judgments
Classical typologies
Traditional classification done by Aristotle – most influential system of classification
Based on two criteria:
Who rules AND who benefits from rule
Six categories identified
WHO RULES?
One Person The Few The Many
WHO Rulers Tyranny Oligarchy Democracy
BENEFITS?
All Monarchy Aristocracy Polity
Introduction
Need to classify political systems to understand how they function
Classification started with Aristotle, and developed immensely up until today
We need to understand:
The difference between governments, political systems and regimes
What the purpose of the classification is
What the regimes in the modern world are
If western democracy has triumph worldwide
Traditional Systems of Classification
Definition – government:
Broadly: Any mechanism through which ordered rule is maintained
Central features: ability to make collective decisions and the capacity to enforce
them
More commonly understood as the formal and institutional processes that operate at the
national level to maintain public order and facilitate collective action
Core functions: to make law (legislation), implement law (execution), and
interpret law (adjudication)
Sometimes the political executive is referred to as ‘the Government’
Definition – political system and regime:
A network of relationships through which government generates ‘outputs’ in response
to ‘inputs’
Broader term than government: encompasses government, state and society
‘System’ – interrelationships within a complex whole
, ‘Political’ – interrelationships relate to the distribution of power, wealth and resources in
society
Political system endure despite governments coming and going
Governments change through elections, succession, coups d'état; political systems
change through military intervention or revolution
Also referred to as a regime
Why classify political systems?
Understanding
Understanding is required through process of comparison – when highlighting
similarities and differences, comparisons helps us distinguish between what is
significant and meaningful, and what is not
Enable us to develop theories, hypothesis and concepts
Evaluation
Descriptive understanding is linked to normative judgments: questions about
what is are linked to questions about what should be – search for an ‘ideal’
Type of classification allows for qualitative judgments
Classical typologies
Traditional classification done by Aristotle – most influential system of classification
Based on two criteria:
Who rules AND who benefits from rule
Six categories identified
WHO RULES?
One Person The Few The Many
WHO Rulers Tyranny Oligarchy Democracy
BENEFITS?
All Monarchy Aristocracy Polity
