what definition of politics does this class use?
activities associated with the process and institutions of government, or the state, in the context of wider power relations and struggles
what is a valuable aspect of the definition of politics?
directly talks about governments, which is a primary component of politics; we are controlled by the state, so we need to discuss it.
what are the shortcomings of the standard definition of politics?
very applied, doesn’t mention non-tangible issues (like racism); takes an institutional perspective
how is the “developing world” defined?
regions formerly colonised by Western powers, late to industrialise, and with relatively high levels of poverty
what are the strengths of the definition of the developing world?
broad, inclusive, but specific enough to provide value
what are shortcomings of the definition of the developing world?
implies industrialisation is the pinnacle of development; hierarchical, implies lacking
are the boundaries of the developing world fixed?
no, they are neither uncontentious nor unchanging
how does globalisation affect the post-Soviet, post-Cold War world?
appears to mitigate against a more widespread radical socialist transformation
how are elements of the post-communist world classified?
some acquire developing country status via OECD DAC eligibility for official development assistance (ODA); more advanced members labeled ‘countries in transition’ are ineligible for aid
can wealthy countries have areas similar to the developing world?
yes, regions and localities within wealthy countries share southern or Third World characteristics, such as relative economic and social depravation - Harlem NYC
what are alternative names for the developing world?
Third World, Global South, and less developed countries (LDCs)
what are the BRICS countries considered?
emerging economies; rising powers, harbingers of new multipolarity or a more fragmented world
what were successive rationales for marking out the Third World?
non-alignment to capitalist and communist superpowers, post-colonial status, dependence on Western capitalism, poverty, economic backwardness.
how did the collapse of Soviet power affect the Third World category?
disappearance of the Second World hastened the decline of ‘Third World’ as a category name
what is arguably the biggest global challenge?
increasing income gap between rich and poor
what are common domestic political traits that were in the developing world before the 1980s?
preference towards authoritarian rule (military, single party, dictatorship), instability, internal conflict, endemic corruption; ethnic and religious identity increasingly important
how can politics be treated in study?
as explanandum (to be explained), explanans (as a cause), or both
what is the independent variable perspective in comparative politics?
politics matter: they are affected by other factors but can themselves have effects
what does studying the impact of politics include?
how contemporary politics are affected by a country’s political history (path dependence: institutional choices becoming self-reinforcing)
what coincided with the rise of new institutionalism?
move to view the more autonomous side of politics
historical emphasis in political science?
political behaviour embedded in institutions, norms, rules, expectations, traditions that constrain individual will
trends in the developing world over the last few decades?
major interconnected political and economic trends, domestic and international, producing similarities very different from the old Third World
what was one trend entrenched at the end of the 20th century?
pressures to adopt Washington Consensus (Bretton Woods institutions): neoliberalism, marketisation
what characterises the post-Washington consensus?
focus on poverty reduction and good governance; successor to earlier development agenda
