1

Great Britain

Russia

China

Mexico

Nigeria

Iran

2
Political Culture Nationalism: pride in
being English

Factors that
Political culture shaped by Have a long
Prebendalism: (Patron-client
shape Political
period of dynastic rule,
history of
relations)
Culture:
control by imperialist
authoritarian
- the practice of exchanging
Insularity: feeling of
Geographic
nations, and finally
rule, stability first political and economic favors
separation from rest of Setting- Russia is communist rule.
brought by PRI's among patrons and clients.
Europe
the largestcountry Confucianism
long dictatorship -invites corruption and only
in the world
Maoism stresses
and centralization provides benefits for few while
Nobless oblige: duty of geographically.
democratic centralism
of power.
hurting the majority. Ex. Nigerian
the upper class to take Russia is also one (responsibility of ruler to Mexico's Patron- President giving oil revenues
responsibility for the
of the coldest
the people), ideal society client(camarilla forsupport.
welfare of the lower
countries one
basedon self reliance and system)
classes
earth. Warm ports struggle, egalitarian social mainlygot its
State Control/Rich civil society
are few, and it's structure, the mass line,
support from
- (Civil Society)- the sectors of
Multinationalism:
history has been and loyalty to the state.
rural areas where acountry that lie outside
boundaries include
shaped by the
Geography also influences it is still in
government control.
England, Scotland,
desire to conquer political culture-controltoday; this British and Military tried to
Wales, and Northern
countries that
concentration on eastern system is a huge completely control Nigeria's civil
Ireland.
have blocked
seaboard influences
part of Mexico's society.
Russian access to politics, and isolation of
political culture
-Formal + Informal ethnic and
Small size: limited
the sea. Russians west has caused problems. that helped the religious associations, professional
resources shaped
have many
Chinese nationalism: idea PRI stay in power and labor groups, and NGO's have
efforts to colonize
natural resources of "Middle Kingdom,"
for so long.
long influenced Nigerian society.
other lands and
although they are sense of entitlement
system
become an imperial
very difficult to
among Han Chinese.
Mexico also has a -Groups mainly related through
power
extract. Eastern (mandate of heaven, social history of
corporatism and clientelism.
Orthodoxy- The
hierarchy, goal of
corporatism,
Russian Eastern
harmony, loyalty to family) which means that Tension b/w modernity and
Orthodox religion influences politics today. the government tradition: Modernity difficult to
is inextricably
Patron-client system,
gained control
obtain due to ethnic-based military
linked to the
concept of guanxi typified over interest
conflicts and personalized corrupt
state, so the
in Chinese politics
groups, and
leadership practices.
principle of
interest group
-Values established in pre-colonial
separation of
leaders got
era now conflict with values
church and state
government
obtained during the colonial era.
never developed.
positions. This
Even when the
system along
Religion: Muslim North vs.
communist state
with Mexico's
Christian South.
forbade its citizens
patron-client
to practice
system has
religion, the
created a history
acceptance of
of corruption.
government
Mexico's political
control remained.
culture is now
Equality of resultbecoming more
The Russians
democratic and
appreciate the
the government
value of equality
more legitimate.
rather than the
There are social
of equal
cleavages within
opportunity. As a
Mexico that help
result, the Russian
shape it's political
political culture is
culture including
not particularly
the north and
conductive to the
south regional
development of
cleavage and the
capitalism.
huge gap

-Identitiy
centered on
nationalism
-Encounters
with Western
modernity
-Shiism
-Very divided
with many
social
cleavages
Sovereignty,
Authority,
Power

3
Skepticism about
power-Russians
are hostile toward
their leadership.
Russians have
little trust in their
political system
and little trust in
nongovernmental
leaders as well.
The importance of
NationalityPeople tend to
categorize others
based on their
ethnicity and
discriminate.
Russians generally
admire the Baltic
people for their
'civility' and
express distaste
for Muslim-Turkish
people. AntiSemitism is strong
in Russia and
many blame the
Jews for their
problems.

between rich and

poor.

4
Political History

Gradualism:established The first rulers of Dynastic cycle before the Mexico's political Pre-Colonial Era (800-1860
strong traditions,
Russian were
20th century. Has ranked history has been C.E.)
explains transitions in Tsars who ruled
as one of the most
violent and
- gradual diffusion of Islam through
policymaking power
in Moscow and
influential political systems unstable. The
Cultural Diffusion (Contact with and
from King to
cooperated with
in the world for centuries. impact of Spanish spread of customs and beliefs of
Parliament
Mongrol Rulers.
During the 19th century, colonialism can other people.)
The Tsars also
the last dynasty, the Qing be seen in the
Colonial Era (1860-1960)
Magna Carta: limited headed the
Dynasty, suffered the
largely Catholic - Indirect rule from British (trained
the power of the
Russian Orthodox presence of imperialistic
population and
natives to fill the Euro-style
monarchy
Church. In the
nations (i.e., England,
the social
bureaucracy in South)
late 17th and
Germany, France, and
cleavage between -North governmental structures
Bill of Rights: lists
18thcentury Tsar Japan), called spheres of mestizos and
left untouched due to political
rights retained by
Peter The Great
influence. In1911 was the Amerindians.After hierarchies according to Islamic
Parliament, not
introduced
Boxer Rebellion, where
independence
tradition.
individual citizens
westerntechnology peasants rose up against Mexico has seen - North Vs. South cleavage grows
and culture. Also, foreign powers, but were many failed
larger.
Common Law: based Catherine The
crushed. Then, Chiang
regimes and
on local customs and Great managed to Kai-shekNationalist
militarycoups,
Modern Nigeria (1960-Present)
precedent than formal gain warm water Party or
causing
-Independence obtained in 1960
legal codes, developed access to the
Kuomintang and Mao
instability.Santa -Parliamentary government
gradually
Black Sea.
Zedong established the
Anna led a
replaced by a military dictatorship
Alexander the 2
Chinese Communist Party. repressive
in 1966, set the stage for
Industrial Revolution: was assasinated in Mao gained strength for
regime, he lost
government to change quickly and
changed fuedal
1881 by his
his party throughthe Long half of Mexico's violently. Parliamentary
system, increased the critics. By the
March. Both parties
territory and
government has been changed to a
need for more
1890s, Marxists
united in defense of the
brought even
presidential system which models
resources which led to had arisen.VI
Japanese invasion, but
greater social
the US. There is a Senate and
the...
Lenin changed the Mao emerged as a hero. In unrest and
House of Representatatives
meaning of
1949, the Nationalists
instability.
-Ethnic identities now the major
Colonial Era: increased Marxism when he along with Chiang fled to Porfirio Diaz
basis for conflict in Nigeria.
British wealth and
argued for
Taiwan and claimed that it brought the idea -Institutionalization of corruption
power
democratic
was the true China while of nonamong the political elite.- National
"sun never sets on the centralism, or a
Mao created the People's reelectionPRI Question posed towards Nigeria
British Empire"
"vanguard"
Republic of China. Mao
was created by
(Possibility that Nigeria would not
leadership group engaged in economic
Calles and his
survive as a country.
that would lead
models called Five Year followers, they
1960-66 Tafawa Balewa
Reform Acts of 1832
the revolution in Plans that mimicked the needed a way to 66-75 Yakubu Gowon
and 1867: more
the name of the
Soviet technique and
transfer power
75-76 Murtala Muhammed
people allowed to vote people. Lenin's
instilled quotas for
from one
76-79 Olusegun Obansanjo
followers were
economic productivity.
president to the 79-83 Shehu Shagari
called Bolsheviks. The Great Leap
next without a
83-85 Muhammed Buhari
In 1918 a civil war Forward was a massive complete change 85-93 Ibrahim Babangida
broke out between failure for communist
in government. 93-98 Sani Abacha
the White Army, China. The Cultural
They created the 99-2007 Olusegun Obasanjo
led by Russian
Revolution was a purge of PRI so that the
2007-Present Umarau Yar'Adua/
military leaders
"decadent" elements of
party could
GoodluckJohnathan
and funded by the Chinese society and was
nominate its
Allie powers, and meant to rally youth
candidate for the
the Red Army led around the hardliners'
next election.
by Lenin. The
communist cause. Deng This brought
Reds won in 1920 XiaopingTiananmen
continuity and
and Lenin took
Square. Fornow, China is stability for
power. Stalin took under the rule of President eighty years, but
power from 1927 Hu Jintao and Premier Wen the corruption
until his death in Jiabao. established the
and centralization
1953.After Stalin came to power in the '70s of power of the

-Safavid
dynasty
1501-1722
-Qajar
dynasty
1794-1925
-Reza Khan
Shah Pahlavi
1925-1941
-Muhammad
Rezah Shah
1941-1971
-1979
Revolution:
Founding of
Islamic
Republic

5
died in 1953,
and made China more
Nikita Khrushchev moderate, aside from the
became premier 1989 incident in
of the USSR.
Leonid Brezhnev
took power from
1956 until 1982.
Mikhail Gorbachev
then took control
from 1985 until
1991. Then, in
1991 Boris Yeltsin
was in charge. In
1993 a new
constitution was
put in place.

PRI regime was

ended when
Vicente Fox was
elected president.
Now Mexico has
become more
democratic and
much of the
corruption from
the patron-client
system has been
weeded out, but,
Mexico is still
fraught with
corruption and
fraud.
to Mexican
politics and
brought thirty
years of stability
to Mexico. But he
was also
represive and
forced millions of
peasantsinto
servitude. The

6
Sovereignty

For most of the

Cultural influences of
Sovereignty in
Sovereignty in Nigeria lies in it's
20th century,
Confucianism and Maoism, Mexico comes
Presidential system similar to that
Sovereignty in the UK public authority
history of authoritarian
from it's
of the United States and before, a
comes from the
and political
power; Chinese
presidential
parliamentary system similar to
parliamentary system, power emanated nationalism aids in
democracy. The that of the British.
the more powerful
from one place:
sovereignty, as seen in the people directly
house of commons and The Politiburo of resistance to the spheres elect the
the honorable house of the Communist
of influence
president, the
lords. Also more
Party. The
representatives in
regional governements politburo was a
legislature and
have been allowed to small group of
many state and
govern and make
men who climbed
local leaders.
decisions on the local the ranks of the
level
party through
nomenklatura, an
ordered path from
local party soviets
to the
commanding
heights of
leadership. When
the USSR
dissolved, it's
authority and
power vanished
with it, leaving in
place a new
government
structure with
questionable
legitimacy. Still,
the political
culture and
historical
traditions of
Russia are firmly
entrenched and
have shaped the
genesis of the new
regime, and
undoubtedly will
determine the
nature ofit's
future.

-Reformers
have a lot of
popular
authority
-The clerics
have political
authority

7
Sources of
Power

Legitimacy has
developed gradually.

The main source

of power lies in
the President. He
The Prime Minister
has the power to
holds most the power appoint the prime
in the parliament as
minister and the
leader of the majority cabinet, issue
party.
decrees that have
the force of law,
and dissolve the
Duma.

The President is head of

state. The Premier is head
of government. They both
are aligned with the
Chinese Communist Party,
which retains the greatest
amount of power, which is
concentrated in the
Politburo, specifically the
Standing Committee

The head of
government and
head of state is
the president.
The legislature
makes legislation
and can vote
down legislation
made by the
president;
historically the
legislature has
been a rubber
stamp, but
recently that has
begun to change.

The President holds the majority of -Elections

the power with the ability to
appoint the Head Minister of the
Federal Ministry and also holds the Appointments
positions of Head of Government
and Head Of State.

8
Constitution

The Russian
The fourth constitution of
Constitution was the PRC was created in
created in 1993. It 1982, with four revisions
created a 3
thus far. It created a
Constitution of the
branch
governmental system that
Crown- "constitution" government, with is paralleled by the party
evolved over time with a president, a
system.
important documents prime minister, a
combining to form the lower legislature
C of the C.
house called the
Duma, and a
Constitutional
Court.
Has an unwritten
constitution.

Constitution of
The current constitution is the
-Established
1917 resembles 1999 Constitution. It was adopted in 1979
the U.S.
in its original form on May 29, 1999 during the
Constitutions, the in Abuja, at the dawn of the
Islamic
government is
Nigerian Fourth Republic.
Revolution
separated into
three branches
and theoretically
the president,
legislature and
judiciary check
and balance each
other but
Constitution is
long and easily
amended when
government has
need to change
something.

9
Regime type

Unitary state with

political authority
centralized in London.
(Whitehall).
Parliamentary system,

Russia has a
federal
government
structure, but
practices
asymmetric
federalism. Some
regions are much
stronger than the
others, so power
is devolved
unequally across
the country.

China has a centralized

Mexico has a
Nigeria is
Theocratic
government with some
federal
a federal presidential representative Democracy
regional power in rural
presidential
democratic republic, whereby the
areas concerning local
system and is an President is both head of state and
elections.
illiberal
head of government, and of a
Communist government
democracy.
multi-party system.
with Chinese
characteristicsadvocates
capitalism; has parallel
party system alongside
government.

10
Economic
System

Liberalism- philosophy Russia practices a

that emphasizes
centralized
political and economic planning
freedoms for the
economy. Today
individual and the
Russia's economy
market.
is fueled by it's
huge oil and gas
Until 1970's collective reserves.
consensus philosophysupports a great deal
of gov control of the
economy
Neoliberalism under
Margaret Thatcherrevival of old liberalism
ideals

Capitalism, but
government provides
social services, so
communist. Combines
private sector and socialist
government. Economy is
based on cheap
manufacturing, highly
concentrated in Special
Economic Zones (SEZs)

Mexico has a
Nigeria is a rentier state. Nigeria,
free market
like Iran, receives income by
economy and
exporting their oil and leasing out
obtains most of oil fields to foreign countries.
its income from
oil. Northern
Mexico is largely
industrialized and
southern Mexico
is largely rural
and agricultural.
There is a huge
economic gap
between the rich
and the poor, and
the poverty has
been a huge
social and
political problem.

-State
ownership of
resources
-Trying to
nationalize
industries
-Fueled by oil

11
Legitimacy

through gradualism.

Historically,
Mexico draws
-some checks and balances
political legitimacy Modern China draws
legitimacy
between government branches
has been based on legitimacy from Maoism
through its
strong, autocratic and its ideals (collectivism, continued liberal -some independent decisions in the
rule, first by
struggle and activism, the reforms of the
courts
centuries of tsars, mass line, egalitarianism, economy and
then by the firm and self-reliance).
government.
-revival of civil society
dictatorship of
Communist Party Politburo elections have
many of the party is legitimate power in
become more
-Independent Media
leaders during the China, but leadership has legitimate, and
20th
come under a lot of
the legislature
-the recent peaceful succession of
century.Under
criticism in recent years; has been able to power
communism rule, Party is said to be corrupt be more than just
Marxism-Leninism and irrelevant, holding
a rubber-stamp
proved the
authoritarian power over for the president
legitimacy base
an increasingly marketbut its own
for the party. The based economy. Questions identity. These
Constitutions
of legitimacy include the
continued
legtmacy has
Tiananmen Square
reforms bring
been seriously
incident in 1989 and the
legitimacy of it's
tested by
unrest in Tibet that has
democracy to
attempted coups continued in the past few other countries
and intense
years.
and it's people.
conflicts. As a
whole, the
government lacks
legitimacy.

Comes form
both God and
popular
sovereignty

12
Belief Systems: Separation of Church
Religion/
and state. Population
Ideology
is mostly Christian.
Many Muslims have
moved to the UK and
have been subject to
racism.

Tsarist Russia was

Russian Orthodox, Confucianism, Taoism,
with the Tsar also Buddhism all influence
being the head of Chinese beliefs, however
church. Boris
the most prominent
Yeltsin also
ideology is the communist
encouraged
ideals (see above
Russian Orthodox. Maoism.) More recently is
Today most ethnic Deng Xiaoping Theory:
Russians identify It doesnt matter whether
themselves as
a cat is white or black, as
Russian Orthodox, long as it catches mice,
but they are still ideology that encourages
largely
the private sector while
nonreligious with upholding communist
only a small
ideals.
percentage
regularly
attending church.

Mexico is largely Islam and Christianity.

IslamicCatholic because Islam was originally spread around Sunni &
of the Spanish
the 11th century while Christianity Shiites
influence.There made its debut with the British's
are some Indian indirect rule of southern Nigeria.
relgions practiced
among the
Amerindians but
Catholicism is the
main religion.

13
Governance and
Accountability
If the constituents
disagree with the way
things are being
governed, they simply
elect different officials
during the next
election.

Polls have shown

that most people
dislike their
current political
system and have
great mistrust of
the government.
Many people are
more in favor of
A vote of confidence
democratic ideals.
occurs when the
Alienation is also
majority party loses. indicated by a low
In such an instance,
level of
the cabinet and Prime participation in
Minister, by tradition, interest groups.
step down. Election for Vladimir Putin is
new MPs must be held th e only
immediantly.
president who has
shown high
approval rates.

There are
Citizens have a low level of trust in -More
Due to the lack of
theoretical checks the government. Due to previous
liberalization,
transparency, the
and balances
false promises, promises of
but less than
government cannot be
between the
democracy usually are taken with a during
held accountable by the
president,
grain of salt. Most Nigerians believe Khatami's
people. There is a lack of legislature, and that elections are not honest and
presidency
political efficacy in
judiciary but the fair.
China, as the populace has judiciary is still
Most Nigerians are considered
-Some
little effect on how the
largely controlled cynical of their government.
officials
government operates, as by the
appointed
most policy is set not only government and All of the distrust of the
(esp by
within the CCP, but
is not yet
government originates from the
Guardian
specifically in the
completely
overwhelming amount of corruption Council),
Politburo Standing
separate.
within the Nigerian Government.
therefore
Committee. There has
growing
loyal to the
been feedback in favor of transparancy and
appointer
a democratic system in
legitimacy within
China, but the government the bureaucracy
has proven to only
and legislature
liberalize in the economy, have led to larger
not politics.
amounts of
government
accountability.
Protests and
elections are also
used by the
people to keep
their government
in check.

14
Citizens,
Great Britain
Society, and
the State

Russia

China

Mexico

Nigeria

Iran

15
Cleavages and
Politics
Ethnic: only
about 7.1% are
not of European
Origin. Of the
7.1%,

Ethnic- 80% are ethnic

Russians. The northern
Ethnic Cleavage: tensions between the
Muslim region of Chechnya
Han, who are the majority with around
has fought many years for
90%, and the 55 other ethnic groups.
their freedom.
Specific hostile tensions btween the
Racial- Russians tend to look
Han and Uigher and the Han and
down upon Muslim-Turkish
Tibetans
23% Undiain
people.
Religious: the Chinese government is
16% Pakistani
Class-There is a big gap
nonreligious
12% Afrobetween the rich and the
Regional Cleavage: very important;
Caribbean
poor because the rich are
correlates with industry and wealth.
10% Black
political elites who have
Coastal region is better off
African
gained their wealth through economically than the Western portion
nomenklatura. Most citizens
there are also
are middle class.
cleavages
Gender-There is no gender
between
cleavage in Russia.
England,
Religious- Most Russians
Scotland, Wales, don't practice a religion.
and Northern
15-20% are Russian
Ireland.
Orthodox. 10-15% are
Muslim. and 2% are Other
Social Class has Christian.
always been and Regional-City dwellers are
important
more likely to be well
cleavage in
educated and in touch with
England
western culture. The northern
region of Caucaus has
Religious
constantly been fighting for
cleavages
it's
between
freedom.
Christians and
Muslims are
present. In NI,
the Catholics and
Protestants really
dont get along
and there has
been a decent
amount of
violence between
the two sides

Ethnic cleavages: mestizo v. Amerindian

Class: cleavage between social classes, the gap
between the middle class and the poor is huge
Regional: north v. south cleavage
urban v. rural
Cleavages in Mexico are very coinciding, it is often the
urban middle-class from the north v. the poor rural
southerners.

Religion:
Ethnic Cleavages Christians
Igbo, The
Baha'i
Yoruba and The
Hausa-Fulani. All Ethnicity:
three of these
Mostly Pe
cultures had
powerful, wellSocial Cla
established
class supp
cultures prior to c benefitted
focus around the social pro
three main ethnic class peop
groups: The
are oppos
olonization. They
have remained
Reformers
strong and are the Conservat
main forces
regime as
behind many
clerics and
political parties.
want secu
to be infu
Religious
Cleavages can be Pragmatic
found between
clerics: Pr
the mostly Muslim favor liber
North and the
Conservat
predominantly
property a
Christian South. are protec
The greatest
law
examples of the
tensions that this
cleavage creates
can be found in
the use of Sharia
Law in Abuja, the
federal district,
and any state that
wishes to use it,
as well as the
violence that can
be found in such
Middle Belt cities
as Jos.
RegionalCleavages
mostly fall along
the same lines
that the Ethnic
and Religious
Cleavages have
already created.
The North Vs The
South can be
defined in
Religiously
(Muslim Vs.
Christian,

16
respectively),
Ethnically (HausaFulani, Igbo, and
Yoruba), or as the
split between the
Populous North
Vs. Resource-filled
South.

17
Civil Society

QUANGOSRussia has a relatively

(quasiundeveloped civil society. For
autonomous
example, most Russians
nongovernmental don't attend church.Only 1%
organizations)
report to belonging to a
interest groups political party. Any groups
that together
that do exist, the
with gov officials government has placed
develop public
severe restrictions on their
policy
activities, especially on
groups that are openly
Political Parties: critical of the government's
policies. Vladimir Putin
Labour-generally heads a youth movement
supported by the called Nashi who support the
working class
government.
Toriessupported by the
upper class
Liberal
Democratsformed by
Liberals and
Social Democrats
alliance, headed
by Nick Clegg

very weak civil society

press censored
government opponents
suppresed
e.g. Tiannmen Square
Interest groups must register
with the government, thus
undermining their
indepedence and utility
regional groups only
nominally represented

There is a long history of a "lively" civil society in

Mexico which provided an atmosphere where public
protests were acceptable. Under the PRI, interest
groups were controlled under state corporatism. PAN
was created from an interest group that opposed the
PRI's rule. Interest groups in Mexico are found
everywhere, as the individual parties, unions, trade
organizations like the Educational Workers' Union which
is Latin America's largest trade union.

Most Civil society

is based around
ethnic lines, and
interest groups
that have been
made by such
ethnic gatherings
have always tried
to shape political
decisions. These
groups have
served both
unifying and
divisive forces,
and they have
strengethened
since 1999. Some
non-ethnically
based groups
include trade
unions and
professional
organizations,
who work to
protect the rights
of their members.

Civil socie
under the
Ahmadine
newspape
books and
tolerate p
that civil s
seen amo
population

18
Media Roles

has a free press, Under Soviet Rule, the official

government
newspaper, Pravda, was only
controlled news printed when the government
agency, BBC,
wanted it to. Now, media is
despite this lots privately owned and is free to
of transparency. criticize the government.
Specific parties
have blatant
news agencies
that provide
party rhetoric.

The internet is limited by

Under the PRI media was controlled and any opposition The Media in
Radio and
government regulations. For to the regime was not allowed. The media began to
Nigeria has almost by the IRI
instance, Google searches of become more independent with the fall of the PRI. Now always been
and maga
Tiananmen Square in China there are several major television networks in the
relatively free,
Compared
result in no results about the country and foreign networks such as the BBC and CNN despite military
the region
massacre of 1989.
are accessibl
rulers. There are more free
in recent years, the media is e.
several nation
governme
gaining small steps forward,
wide Newspapers,
by gaining some ability to
but this is
criticize the government. in
surprisingly not a
2010, 12 newspapers wrote a
very used form of
joint crique of the
journalism, as
government.
about only two
internet censored (Google
thirds of
Scandal 2010)
Nigerian's are
literate. Instead, a
more important
news source is
found in Radio
and Television.
The Government
has tried to turn
this use of Media
into a unifying
force, but the
Constitutional
right of states to
have their own
Stations makes
this difficult.
These stations
instead become a
divisive force
between the
states of Nigeria.

19
Political
Participation

high voter
turnout, high
political efficacy:
general party
allegiance for
labour and
conservative,
consistant
following.

Voter turnout is fairly high,

higher than in the United
States. Citizens can vote in
the presidential elections and
in the Duma elections.

Grassroots Village elections Political participation has historically been

since late 1980s
characterized with protest and revolution. But now
voter turnout quite high in citizens through increasingly legitimate, regular
Hong Kong
elections. President, legislature and many local
government officials are directly elected.
voter turnout higher in urban
areas (more education)

Elections in
While ma
Nigeria have been reliatively
consistently
Ahmadine
plagued by fraud
and corruption,
which has made
many Nigerians
unhappy with
their government.
There have been
many protests
and ethnic
violence. Most
interest groups
have been
organized along
ethnic lines, but
there have been a
few that have not
been, which gives
hope for Nigeria.

20
Social
Movements

National Health There aren't many notable

Service- rather social movements in Russia,
leftist. Colletive besides Nashi. A group
Consesus early created by Putin to attempt
twentieth
to foster an acceptance for
century up to
the government within young
70's in the
people. Also, Nashi has a
seventees there procreation day in which the
was a radical
kids are forced to procreate.
leftward shift and
this lead to the
countries swing
to Thatcherismvery
conservative
politics and
cracking down on
the Unions.
eventually there
was a third way
when the Labour
Party was
elected with
Blair.

- Three reform protest movements

since Mao.
----1978-79 = Democracy movement.
*call for the fifth moderization
(democracy) on the "democracy wall"
*initially tolerated by Deng
*reformist leader eventually sentenced
to 15 years in prison
*led to the CP's 4 principles of protest
---- 1986-87
---- 1989 Tiananmen Square
---------------------Student led protest
demanding democracy, later leading to
a disaster and many deaths
*initiated in May '89 on the death of
ousted reformer Hu Yaobang.
*protest about openness of leadership/
corruption
*became well organized as students
and workers coordinated outside CP
*June 4th, 91989 = PLA sent in by Li
Peng to end protests.

Urban popular movements concerned with social

Many social
welfare spending, city services, feminism, neighborhood Movements have
improvements, economic development and so on have sprung up since
gained strength. Now, government has been forced to the 1999 election.
negotiate and bargain with the groups leading these
Often based
social movements.
around religious
or ethnic groups,
these movment
try to pressure
the federal
government to
react to their
greivances. A
favoite target has
been the foreign
based Oil
companies that
drill for oil around
Nigeria. Groups
like MEND and
MOSOP try to get
the Oil companies
to promote fair
business practices
and adhere to
environmental
standards,
through methods
either violent or
peaceful.

The Gree
democrac
influence
system, a
movemen

21
Citizenship
autonomous
and social
interest groups
representation yet neocorporatism is
existant.
quango's are
unique to Britain
, quasi
nongovernmental
organizations.
"winner take all"
Parliamentary
system, and safe
districts for high
members of
party.

Populism has always been a key theme w/ charasmatic

less than 40 percent of party leaders w/ a significant peasant base. Interest groups
members come from the
represent citizens stemming from labor unions.
peasantry, although peasants Camarrilla patron client system is important in
still make up the largest
determining the nature of politcal
single group within the CCP. participation.

The fastest growing

membership category
consists of officials,
intellectuals, technicians, and
other professionals.

Women make up only about

20 percent of the
membership and only about
4 percent of the Central
Committee.

Most social
Growing
representation
occurs through
the patron client
system known as
Prebendalism, in
which all public
offices are treated
like Personal
Feifdoms.

22
Political and Economic Great Britain
Change
Revolution, coups, war
GrEATBRITAINDKJFDK:LJFL

Russia

RUSSIARUSSIARUSSIA
The Decemberist
Revolt of 1825 took
Magna Carta started trend towards democracy
place Russian
and legitimacy. Glorious Revolution of 1688
intellectuals and
started giving power to parliament. generally
Nicholas the first who
a gradualist approach to deomcracy and
ruthlessly crushed the
freedom.
revolt. The Revolution
of 1917 caused the
state to collapse. In
1918 a civil war broke
out between the White
Army, led by Russian
Military leaders and
funded by the Allie
powers, and the Red
Army led by Lenin. The
Reds won in 1920. In
1991 the
conservatives led a
coup that tried to
remove Gorbachev
from office. The coup
failed when popular
protests broke out and
soldiers from the
military deflected
rather than support
their leaders.

China

Mexico

Nigeria

Iran

1644-1912: Mexico uses the Nigeria has a long The 1979

Qing Dynasty revolutions of
history of bouncing revolution
1912: End of 1821 and 1921 between Military
instituted a
dynastic rule, as sources of
Coup d'etats and theocratic republic
founding of
pride and
Civilian
that is currently in
the Republic national
Governments.
place today, in
of China
identity. Mexico There has been a which Ayatollah
under Sun Yat has had fewer
total of 4 civilian
Khomeini became
Sen.
coups in
governments that the Supreme
1919: May
comparison to
since the country's Leader and Shah
Fourth
other latin
independence in
Reza Pahlavi was
Movement
american
1960, and eight
overthrown. The
against
countries
Military leaders, as shah's Father/
European
because of PRI well as a secession Predecessor, Reza
presence and hampering of
of Biafra.
Khan, came to
control
military
power in a 1921
1921:
influence. Diaz
coup, with
Founding of coup brought
assisstance from
the
stablility, a
the British
Communist
tradition of
government. He
Party of
authoritarianism,
was forced to
China.
economic
abdicate in
1927: Start growth, and
1941after Britain
of the Chinese economic
and the Soviet
Civil War
disparity
Union invaded
between the between rich and
Iran, due to the
Chinese
poor.
Shah's pro-nazi
Nationalist
leanings. In 1953,
Party,
Muhammad
Kuomintang
Mossaddeq, the
(KMT) and the
Prime Minister of
Chinese
Iran, was
Communist
overthrown
Party (CCP).
through a CIA/
1937:
British plot.
Beginning of
the Second
SinoJapanese War
aka World
War II
1949:
Founding of
the Peoples
Republic of
China under
Mao Zedong
and the
Chinese
Communist
Party; KMT
retreats to
Taiwan

23

Trends and types of

political change
(democratization)
Components
Promoting or inhibiting
factors
Consequences

Gradualism, a steady movement towards

democracy, Nobles Oblisse or the social need
for the wealthy to take care of the power, why
top down change works.

Any regime change

creates legitimacy
issues, but Russia's
case was extreme,
with public policy
directed at some very
tough issues and
seemingly intractable
problems. The abrupt
change in leadership
goals and style
between Yeltsin and
Putin also has made it
difficult to follow
continuous threads in
policy over the years,
although alternating
between reform and
authoritarianism is an
old theme that goes
back to the days of the
tsars. Russia has not
tried to democratize
and has kept their
centralized
government. Factors
inhibiting them from
doing so is a lack of
legitimacy and trust in

1960:
Chinese and
Soviet Union
governments
split over
communist
policies.
1966: Start
of the Chinese
Cultural
Revolution
1976: Mao
Zedong dies.
1979:
Government
begins onechild policy.
1989:
Tiananmen
Square.
1997: Hong
Kong returns
to Chinese
rule after 156
years under
the British
Crown.
The national PRI no longer
government is holds complete
still very elite control over
and selfgovernment due
electing, but to electoral
local
reform a factor
provinces are promoting
becoming
democratization.
more and
Recent judicial
more
reform is also
democratic. noteworthy as a
economic
panel, versus a
liberalization single judge,
does not
tries in law.
equate with
political
liberalization

Nigeria has always Under the Pahlavi

tried to move
dynasty, both
towards a
Shahs did nothing
democracy, but
to aid democracy.
the fragmented
Reza Khan
nature, combined established an
with the winner
authoritarian
takes all attitude of state. In 1975,
politics and the
Muhammad Reza
rampant corruption announced the
by those in power formation of the
has made such
Resurgence Party
movements very and declared Iran
slow, with many
to be a one-party
steps backwards. state with himself
The political trend as its head. After
of Military Rule has the 1979
also has had an
revolution, along
adverse effect
with the Supreme
upon
Leader, a
democratization of presidential post
the Nigerian
was created, who
society.
was elected
through popular
vote. From 1979 to
1989 there was
also a Prime
Minister, but
following the 1989

24
their government,
widespread corruption
within their political
system, and
charismatic leaders.

Trends and types of

economic change

Relationships between
political and economic
change

constitutional
amendment the
post was removed
and the Prime
Minister's powers
were divided.
Following the 2009
Iranian elections, it
is believed
mixed economy with quangos and recent
Mikail Gorbachev
Four
Characterized
Nigeria in 1960
Iran's nuclear
denationalization of industry, mostly in the
enacted his
Modernizations: In
by Pendelum
took on a strategy energy program
service sector, post industrial nation.
perestroika reforms,
1973 Zhou Enlai's
Theory--shifting of Import
has led to it facing
primarily considering proposed a system of
presidents who Substitution, that a variety of
of marker economy
government that
set off a back
lasted until 1999. sanctions from
programs inserted into focused on developing and forth effect However, the
countries like the
the traditional
industry, military,
of socialist
extended period of US. Oil exports
centralized state
agriculture, and science reform--like
Import
account for a large
ownership design of
in China. It was most
privitazation of substitution, along amount of the
the Soviet Union.
notably used by Deng oil under PEMEX with broken
Gov't revenue, and
Between 1997 and
Xiaoping. The Four
and import
promises by other Iran was a Rentier
2007 the economy
Modernizations have
substitution--and governments and state under the
steadily improved.
been the focus of the
changes to
the instable
Pahlavi Dynasty.
Today Russia's
country's official policy entrepreneurship exchange rate of Inflation is high,
economy is fueled by goals every since.
and foreign
the Naira has
around 11%. 16th
it's huge oil and gas
investment with produced the
in terms of PPP.
reserves.
open trade with incredible statistic Rising
america.
that the Nigerian unemployment
Total Debt
among the youth
increased by about represents a major
1,000 percent
hurdle for the
during the last 20 gov't. Taxes are
years of the 21st kept low, as the
century.
government earns
a large sum from
oil.
Thathcher stopped negotiations with trade
Between 1997 and
"I don't care if it's a
w
Since the newest
Under the Pahlavi
unions. Clause 4-changed the political views of 2007 the Russian
white cat or a black cat.
regime change, in dynasty, Iran had
labour party on the economic sector.
economy steadily
It's a good cat so long
which the fourth
much economic
improved, due to
as it catches mice." -republic was
success, due to
recent privitizations.
Deng Xiaoping
created, the
trade with the US
Today Russia's
This quote from China's
change to a
and other
economy is fueled by economic modernizer
structural
countries.
it's huge oil and gas
indicates his belief that
adjustment system Following the 1979
reserves.
progress is more
has allowed for
revolution, Iran
important than
more economic
continued to earn
following specifically
development, but money from oil,
communist or capitalist
the long term
but economic
belief.
traditions of
sanctions due to
With China's rapid
corruption and new nuclear power
economic growth, it is
styles of attack
have hurt its gdp.
now said that China
upon Foreign oil
functions under
companies have
capitalism with
made the
Communist tendencies.
development

25

Globalization and
Fragmentation
Global economies
Interlinked economies
Global culture
Reaction against
globalization
Regionalism

Vladimir Putin set out

Increase in muslim minorities. EU's power
to redefine Russia's
over economy and Euroskeptics fear of EU
place in the world, a
sovereignty. Northern Irelands independance two-dimensional task
movement, no longer very violent./,
that requires a new
,k,k,k,k,k,k,k,k,k,k,k,k,k,k,k,k,k,k,k,k,k,k,k,k,k interpretation of the
bnb vghcountry's relationship
with the west, as well
as it's role among the
former soviet states.

Political Institutions
Supranational Organizations

Great Britain

EU economically
and NATO as far as
military is
concerned.

Russia
UN

China
UN

slower than can

normally be found.
promoted
Mexico is highly The increased use
capitalist
dependent on
of Structural
spirit within America
Readjustment in
China
economically as Nigeria has made
formation of reflected with
globalization an
Special
maquilladoras
increasingly
Economic
and free trade
important part of
Zones (SEZs) w/ america
Nigerian
such as Hong through NAFTA. economics.
Kong where Mexicans have
free trade is some animosity
permitted.
to the strong
Because of
American
SEZs, China influence.
has a mixed
economy
these zones
are mostly on
the port cities
or near them.
Wealth is
concentrated
in port cities
Globalization
has also
brought
wealth to the
entire
country,
predominantly
the port
cities.
Pressure from
foreign
countries on
China's
environmental
issues

Iran has grown

increasingly
isolationist over
the years following
the 1979
revolution.
Sanctions from the
UN and other
nations

Mexico

Nigeria

Iran

Member of
WTO and
NAFTA

OPEC - Organization of Petroleum OPEC - oil cartel

Exporting Countries
ECOWAS - Economic Community
of West African States
AU-African Union
OATUU - Organization of African
Trade Union Unity
-Commonwealth
-Nonaligned Movement

26
Unitary/Federal

Centralization/Decentralization

Executives

Federal-Some
Unitary with
regions are
private education
stronger than
and almost all og
others, so
government
power is
happening in
devolved
london, in the
unequally
southern part of the across the
country causing a country
north south
(asymmetric
cleavage.
federalism).
Current regime
contains 89
regions/
republics

Federal, but
Federal but
-- federal system- under military
the majority of fed. gov has a government federalism didn't
power is in the large influence work b/c goverment didn't allow
party, which
on regional
states to have separate
controls the
decisions.
sovereignty
national
government.
The
government
was originally
based on the
idea of
democratic
centralism, but
it has become
more federal in
recent years.
Because of
China began
Under PRI
- centralized under military rule
very centralized a Yeltsin's weak as a centralized highly
- decentralized in new regimecompact country to leadership in
state, but has centralized w/ state governments have been
begin with.
the Federation's moved towards legislature
getting more power.
early stages,
decentralization rubberstamping
many republics in recent years. executive
ruled
There has been decisions.
themselves
a push to give Recently
almost
local
mexcio has
independently. governments a become more
This has led to little more
decentralized
some
power because (gridlock now
decentralization. it gives the
exists in
However,
government
legislature) but
Russia's
more
b/c of a weak
previous regime legitimacy.
and corrupt
of a highly
bureacracy the
centralized
executive is still
government has
pretty
created a
centralized.
centrally
oriented state
today.
Prime Minister:
PresidentPremier- Wen
President who - (acting) president- Goodluck
Gordon Brown
Dimitry
Jubio
serves a
Jonathan
Medvedev-Head President- Hu sexenio--6 year - vice president- currently none
of StateJintao
term for those b/c Jonathan was vice pres but
Appoints Prime
non spanish
after Yar'Adua stepped down due
Minister and
speakers out
to health problems, Jonathan
Cabinet, issues
there.
became pres.
decrees
Incumbent
Prime Ministerused to choose
Vladimir Putinthe succesor.
Head of
Felipe Calderon
Government

Unitary

Supreme Leader:
Ali Khamenei
President:
Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad

27
Legislatures

Parliamentary/Presidential
Elections

Presidential

Parliamentary
    Referendum

Noncompetitive

house of commons Bicameral

is their legislature
Duma-Lower
they mostly debate House-450
and vote along
Deputies
party lines because selected by
a vote of no
proportional
confidence would
representation
mean that
(as of 2007)parliament would
technically
have to be broken passes bills,
up,and there
approves
wouldneedtobeanew budget, and
prime minister
confirms
political
house of lords can appointments.
only delay passing Really serves as
of bills so not real a rubber stamp
power there
for President's
actions

National
Bicameral w/
- Senate has 109 senators- three
People's
500 Chamber from each of the 36 sts and one
Congress-2,591 of deputies and from the capital (Abuja)
members.
a 128 member - Senators are elected by popular
Elections are
senate. all
vote
first past the
legislators are - House of Representatives
post. THe
directly
contains 360 members, who come
congress has a elected. 300
from single-member districts
standing
deputies are
-Representatives are elected by
committee,
directly elected, plurality and are of various
similar to the 200 are
ethnicities
politburo
proportional
standing
and 4 senators
committee,
come from
which contains each of the 31
159 members. states and
The congress mexico city.
also picks the
premier, state
council and
both main
courts.

Federation
Council-Upper
House-Consists
of two members
from each of
the 89
republics. Since
2002 one rep is
selected by the
governor of
each region and
another is
selected by
regional
legislature.
Power to delay
legislation
paliamentary
Mixed-strongly Presidential
Presidential
presidential
free and fair
PresidentFor most of
Elections have
Directly elected the elections, become
mainly party based for a four year especially
competitive
voting
term. Two
presidential,
after 71 years
consecutive
the CCP
of PRI control
term limit. Two controls who
through
round voting
the citizens can bribery, and
system
vote for. Non- ballot stuffing.
party
With election
Prime Minister- members,
reform, and an
Appointed by
including
independent
President
capitalists, can voting agency
now be elected in charge of
to the
implementing
legislature, and fair elections,

- presidential
- mostly competitive elections- as
seen w/ ballot box stuffing in
Yar'Adua's election, corruption is
ever present (especially high in
2007)

Majilis: 290 seats

Single Member
District - Approved by
Guardian Council to
run

Presidential
All elected officials
must be approved by
the Guardian Council.
-Majilis
-President
-Assembly of
Religious Experts
are all directly
elected.
-Supreme Leader
-Judiciary
-Expediency Council
-Guardian Council
-Cabinet

28
Duma-elected the local
by proportional elections are
representation even less
restricted. The
President can
local elections
call for a
are
national
competitive,
referenda by
while the
popular vote on national
important
elections are
issues
not.

Electoral System

Proportional

FPTP

Political Parties

Organization, membership,
institutionalization, ideological position

mexico now
directly elects
their
government in
a fair way.

Technically
Russia is a
multiparty
system, but
Putin's parties,
mainly United
Russia,
dominate the
Kremlin.
Proportional in The election
The president
single member
the lower
system is
is directly
didtrcit and
legislative
highly
elected via
proportional
house (Duma) competitive
popular vote.
and first past The legislature
plurality
Executive-Two the post in
is elected in a
rounds
rural areas,
combination of
FPTP
however it is
proportional
not competitive and direct
in national
election.
elections. The
party controls
almost all
elections, but
there are signs
that the
elections are
getting more
competitive
and fair. This is
shown by the
fact that
capitalists are
beginning to be
elected to the
national
peoples
congress.
three main parties United Russia- The CCP, or
PRI- used to
Putin's Party.
Chinese
control gov. for
Labour- more
Sponsors Nashi Communist
71 years. rural,
liberal appeal to
(Political youth Party, is the
less educated,
middle class
group)main party,
old thinking
Dominant
and has a
populace.

Are all appointed.

- elections are first-past-the-post Single Member

- if none of the candidates obtain District
a majority of votes, a 2nd election
is conducted (this has yet to
occur)
- presidents must receive at least
25% of the votes in 2/3 of the
states so that the president is
popular among different
ethnicities and religions

-People's Democratic Party

(PDP)
- has had candidates since 1998
- noregional ties- pres and vice
pres "switch off", w/one Christian
and one Muslim

-The Alliance of
Builders of Islamic
Iran: Conservative
and Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad

29
Tories-more
conservative, some
say more
pragmatic, upper
class

The Communist
Party of the
Russian
Federation
(CPRF)liberal dems- a
Remnant of
compromise of the Soviet
two major parties, Communist
it falls near the
Party. Second
center
strongest party.
Opposed
because of single
reforms,
member plurality
emphasizes
smaller parties dont nationalism and
get a lot of rep
centralized
planning.
Liberal
DemocratsRadical party
headed by
Vladimir
Zhirinovsky.
Sexist, antiSemitic, pro
nuclear warfare.
Branch of
Putin's party

structure that
- Obesanjo ('03) and Yar'Adua -The Iranian Reform
mimics that of PAN-northern, ('08) have been elected president Movement: Hossein
the
middle class,
- All Nigeria People's Party
Mousavi
government.
better educated (ANPP)
Most of the
Mexicans
- party of former military general
power is really support this
Muhammadu Buhari
focused in the party.
- got 32% votes in '03 and 19%
party. The
votes in '07
General
PRD- younger, - Action Congress (AC)
Secretaryis Hu politically
- merger of several political
Jintao, he is
active,
parties
followed by the populace from
- ran Atiku Abubakar as pres
Politburo
middle states. candidate in '07
standing
these are a
- initially disqualified by
committee- 9 bunch of rebels Independent Nat'l Election
members, from and thank god Commission (at Obesanjo's
politburothis is my last request) but Supreme Court
made up of
entry because i overturned it
central
am going crazy. - received 7% votes
committee
members, who
come from the
national party
congress.

Fair Russia-Led
by Speaker of
the Federation
Council Sergei
Mironov. Branch
of Putin's Party.

Party Systems

ideological and
social differences

Yabloko
(Apple!)Reformist party.
Pro democracy.
Does best
among
intellectuals
who supported
Gorbachev. Lost
all of its Duma
representation
with 2007
electoral
reforms
Mostly gain
The only party
power through allowed in
relationship to China is the
Putin. Reformist CCP except for
parties are
a few members

- parties usually form on

regional/ethnic bases and are
centered around leaders, so they
are not permanent

Conservative vs
Reformer parties

30
mainly
ideological
Leadership and Elite Recruitment

Interest Groups and Interest Group systems

pretty much like

Recruit from
U.S. political parties youth groups
(Nashi, Youth
Guard, Locals)

Quangos
interest groups
have about the
same amount of
pull that they do
here
same types of
issues

of capitalist
parties.

Most
recruitment is
through the
nomenklatura,
and the idea of
Encourages
guanxi, which
strong and
is the Chinese
widespread
version of a
party loyalty
patron-client
relationship.
Many of the
elites are
referred to as
"technocrats,"
because the
party wants
better educated
people.
Recruitment is
no longer
based on class
or ideology.
Currently, the
leaders of the
government
are all
engineers of
some type.
Oligarchs-May No interest
be defined as
groups are
interest group allowed, there
because they
are no groups
have had major for workers
influence in
rights, and
policymaking
most groups
due to economic get broken up
power.
if the
government
State
doesnt like
Corporatismwhat they are
state
doing. If
determines
protests get
which groups
out of hand,
have input into the leading
policymaking
protesters get
arrested. The
Chinese
government
completely
controlls the
vast majority of
all civil society.

- technically anyone can join

politics, but people really advance
up the ranks through joining the
military

Religion plays a large

role in politics. Most
politicians are clerics.
Revolutionary Guard
is also a power base.

- interest groups have had impact Revolutionary Guard

on politics even under military rule really has most of the
- examples
influence
- labor unions
- business interests
- human rights groups
- religious-based groups

31

Bureaucracies

Military and other coercive institutions

stable and powerful Huge, but

inefficient,
bureaucracy.
Corrupt

Falun GongStarted as a
spiritual group,
grew too large,
and the
government
tried to destroy
it, however a
few members
still remain.
Merit based,
members owe
their job to the
person above
them. The
partys
structure is
very similar to
the
bureaucracy
that has been
carried over
from the old
dynasties.

The army was PLA- many

a very
party leaders
important
have been at
source of
the top of the
strength during military
the cold war era hierarchy. It is
from 1945 to
seen as a
1991. The
stepping stone
military did not into the upper
usually take a party. The
lead in politics, police are used
and generals
to violently
did not
suppress
challenge the
demonstrations
power of the
along with the
politburo. Under military. The
the Russian
Tiananmen
Federation, the Square
army shows no protests were
real signs of
put down by
becoming a
the military.
political force.
The Russian
During Mao's
military is often "Cultural
known for poor Revolution" the
performance.
Red Guard was
Recently,
used to stop
military
anyone who
spending has
opposed Mao.
increased and

-British established bureaucracy

system during colonial rule
- people obtain jobs through
bribery and prebendalism
(rewards system for obtaining
jobs)
- are mostly parastatals
(companies owned by the
state that provide social/
commercial welfare)
- seen as corrupt and inefficient

The military the

military in
government and
the military in
barracks

Clergy dominated it.

Nepotism common.
Plays a large role in
maintaining
conservative Islamic
values.

-Army is for
conventional warfare
-Revolutionary Guard
is to protect the
Supreme Leader and
is also a politcal
Military in the
power base
barracks is a strong -Basij malitia are the
force behind
political thugs with
policymaking in
some distance
Nigeria. By becoming between them and
so active in political the Supreme Leader
affairs, it lost its
credibility as a
temporary, objective
organization that
maintains order
Distinction between
fulfills traditional
roles of the military,
an their leaders have
been critical of
military control of
political power
One of the few
institutions in the
country that is truly
national in character

32
has become
more active in
areas such as
Georgia and
Chechnya.

Able to transcend the

deep ethnic and
religious cleavages of
the country
Many of the brightest
and most ambitious
Nigerians make their
way up through the
echelons of the
military

Judiciaries

Degrees of autonomy

Judicial review (including EU in

relation to states, citizens)

Types of law

parliamentary
sovereignty has
limited judicial
review

In 1993 a
constitutional
court was
created in an
effort to build a
common law
judicial system
that is not
law lords is highest controlled by
court in the land
the executive.
The court has
19 members
appointed by
the president
and approved
by the
federation
council. The
courts have
both been
active in policymaking,
however their
independence
from the
executive is
questionable.
Putin regime
put a lot of
money into
legal reform.
There is still a
lot of corruption
in the system.

The Chinese
judicial system
is not
autonomous,
and they do
not have
judicial review.
The judges are
picked by the
National
Peoples
Congress.
There is a
Supreme
Peoples Court,
and a Supreme
Peoples
Procuratorate.
The legal
system is being
used by
citizens to
increase their
power, and to
try to make
sure the laws
are being
applied fairly.
Because the
judiciary is not
truly
independent,
these attempts
are not very
successful.

Nigerian courts originally had a

-Sharia law: Islamic
great deal of autonomy in the
law courts
early years of their independence. -Qanun: law made by
the legistlator
However, military rule undermined
the judiciary by establishing
Final interpretation of
military decrees. Under this
the law is by the
political system, judicial review
Supreme Leader,
was suspended.
Guardian Council and
the Assembly of
Presently, the strength of the
Religious Experts
judiciary has grown, as proven by
the tribunals established to hear
accusations of voter fraud in 2007
States now have the option of
creating sharia law courts to deal
with Islamic cases

33
Public Policy

Great Britain

Russia

China

Common Policy Issues

GREATBRITAINUK
Uncertainty in the
Policy issues can be
post blair policy on
regimes future.
broken up into four
minorities, terrorism, EU Legitimacy issues. Trends groups: democracy/
negotiations on
in policy issues have
human rights issues,
sovereignty,
been difficult to follow
population issues,
due to abrupt changes in economic issues, and
leadership. The
foreign policy/
alternation between
international trade issues.
reform and
authoritarianism,
Democracy/human
however, has been a
rights: ethnic cleavages
trend since the days of
cause uprisings which are
the czars.
often stifled in an
undemocratic way, such
as military force. Also,
the struggle for
democracy has also
caused the government
to engage in questionable
strategies for restoring
stability.
Population issues: one
child policy, now facing a
depletion of population
that will not be able to
sustain larger older
generation; lack of
females
Economic issues:
Unemployment and
inequality, inefficiency of
the state sector, pollution
Foreign policy: tensions
with Japan and Taiwan,

Mexico

Nigeria

Iran

Military rule in Nigeria

has resulted in top-down
policy making. Power is
concentrated in the
Presidency, and much
input comes from the
channels of patron
clientelism."Loyalty
pyramid" involves senior
government officials who
are supported by a
broader base of loyal
junior officials. Elites
make policies out of self
interests frequently.

-Power struggle between

orthodox and moderate
factions
-Nuclear energy/weapons
-Hate of Israel, the
United States, and the
West

34
international protest over
Tibet, US-China relations

Economic Performance

conservative or Keynsian The heart of the demise

view points on
of the Soviet Union was
economics, dealing with economic problems.
gloabl recession.
Gorbachev enacted
perestroika reforms but
they never actually
followed through.
Yeltsins shock therapy,
and abrupt shift away
from the centrally
planned economy,
created chaos. The
government defaulted on
billions of dollars in
debts. From 1997 to
2007, the economy
steadily improved, but it
took a sharp fall in 2008
when oil priced declined.
The rubble fell in value,
unemployment grew and
production dropped. The
Russian economy is
fueled by its huge oil and
gas reserves. In 2009,
Medvedev outlined
economic priorities for
Russia to improve and
diversify their economy.

What we know about

China's economy comes
directly from them and is
suspect. However, their
recent numbers are
showing that they have
been performing quite
well, and have not
suffered during the
recession.

Nigeria's economy is
-Largely based on oil;
strongly tied to a single economy fluctuates with
commodity -- oil. Due to oil prices
this, their recent
-Largest manufacturer in
economic performance
the region, makes of
has been poor, as the
cars, appliances, and
price of oil has been
more
relatively low. In recent -subsidies
decades, Nigeria has
attempted to reform their
economy, as in the case
of Babengide's economic
program of "structural
adjustment." This sought
to restructure and
diversify the Nigerian
economy.

35
Social Welfare

Civil Liberties, Rights,

Freedoms

Environment

standard of living is high Government has given

There is some inequality
the responsibility of social and unemployment, and
some social problems are welfare mainly to
the government is
lack of integration by
subnational
undoubtedly repressive.
minorities, minority/
organizations. Social
However, literacy is
majority cleavages, social security and welfare
above 90%, remarkably
class differences
programs provide modest high for such a populous
(muslims)
support for the most
country, the life
vulnerable segments of expectancy is high for an
Russia's population. Many Asian country, and the
have begun to rely on
standard of living is high
these sources.
in the cities
(comparatively.) Of
course, rural areas face
the issues of poverty and
deprivation that the cities
do not.
have extensive liberties

-Almost 60% of Nigerians -High subsidies, charities

live beneath the poverty run by religious
line.
institutions
-Similar to Mexico in the
way that both have a
huge disparity between
the wealthy and
impoverished
-Government requires
only minimal taxes, in an
effort to relieve the
burden
-Social services are
provided for a portion of
the population

The Russian Constitution Very limited. Some civil

grants citizens civil
rights are more
liberties very similar to
prominent in rural areas
the ones stated in the
outside of Beijing's
U.S. constitution. Civil control, but as a whole,
liberties in Russia are
civil liberties are quite
shrinking as freedoms are restricted in comparison
being restricted.
with first world nations.

-Has extensive interest

groups that engage
actively with political
parties
-Labor unions have
recently regained their
strength
-Most basic rights
guaranteed under the
fourth republic
-Media is surprisingly
independent (was so
even under military rule)

-Media is controlled
-Government runs radio
and TV
-Civil rights and liberties
are heavily restricted
-Sharia Law
-Women heavily
restricted

Air pollution from heavy The environment is in

emissions, transportation terrible condition in
in major cities.
China, Beijing is often so
Agricultural pollution,
polluted that it is not safe
deforestation, radioactive for the citizens to be on
contamination, ground
the streets. However, in
water contamination.
recent years the Chinese
Russia has a great wealth government has made it
of natural resources. Oil a priority to reduce
and gas extractions are emissions (especially in
hard on the environment. preparation for the 2008
Pollution, especially
Beijing Olympics.) China
radioactive
currently is the leader in
contamination, has
wind turbine usage. Still,
resulted in many health 16 of the 20 most
defects.
polluted cities in the
world are in China.

-Major environmental
-polution, possibly
issues are occurring in
nuclear waste, oil spills,
the Niger Delta, where
etc.
frequent oil spills have
resulted in the death of
the fishing industry
-Has the highest
deforestation rates in the
world
-In late 1995, Nigeria's
execution of eight
environmental activists,
notably Nobel Peace Prize
nominee Ken Saro-Wiwa,
made international
headlines

36
Population and Migration

Economic Development

Many immigrants to the In recent years, Russia

UK come from India.
has suffered a dramatic
drop in overall
Muslim immigrants seem population, now
to have the hardest time averaging at about an
assimilating into the
18% decline. Economic
British population.
hardship has not
encouraged large
Pop.- roughly 61 million families, and health
issues have created a
high death rate. To
combat this, Russia is
encouraging Russians
who live abroad to return
to their homeland,
however the financial
crisis has lessened the
appeal.
UK has yet to adopt the In 2009, Medvedev
euro
outlined economic
priorities for Russia to
Liberalism: emphasizes improve and diversify
political and economic
their economy.
freedoms for the
individuals and the
market

Population: 1.3 billion

Most migration occurs in
Chinese emigrating to
other countries (mostly
United States.) Many
migrants to Hong Kong
Very slim minorities of
immigrants who have
moved for business

Has recently encouraged

privatizing industry and
capitalism; has tried to
develop economic sectors
besides manufacturing
(companies such as
Lenovo expanding
quaternary sector)
Has booming service
industry

-The most populous

-Persians
country in Africa (about -Azeris
140 million)
-Kurds
-As of 1999, there were -Arabs
some 6,000 refugees in
Nigeria
-The net migration rate in
2000 was negative 0.2
migrants per 1,000
population

In 1985, Babangida
-Moving to nationalize
regime developed an
industry and expand
economic structural
economy
adjustment program with -Increasing military
the support of the World spending and "space
Bank and the
programs"
International Monetary
-Increasing in
Fund.
manufacturing and selfThis program has had
reliance
mixed results, but Nigeria
remains heavily in debt.
Para-statals remain state
owned, and the private
economic sector has not
grown significantly.

37
Factors influencing public
policymaking and
implementation

Domestic

International

British relationship with

the EU

Relations with the US &

EU.

Terrorism and cohesion

Economy

upcoming elections

Minority regions such as

Chechnya

devolution and
constitutional reform

Corruption

-Population, pollution,
corruption, ethnic
cleavages
-Political image,
economic trading
partners

-Cleavages:
-Bad relations with the
-Ethnicity: Hausa-Fulani U.S.
(north), Igbo (southeast),
Yoruba (west)
-Sharia law
-Strong sense of
Religion: north is
nationalism
primarily Muslim, while
-Shiite and Persian
south is predominantly
cultural influences
Christian
Other factors:
-Corruption amongst high
level officials
-Violence in Niger Delta
(causes foreign
investment to pull out of
the country)
-Lack of governmental
legitimacy
-International price of oil
-Human development
index