Transcript Comparative Political Economy

Hearts and Minds
Political Culture, Ideology, and Good
Government
I. Social Capital: Putnam’s Theory of
Civic Culture
I. Social Capital: Putnam’s Theory of
Civic Culture
A.
Defining Social Capital:
1.
2.
Coleman (1988): “Social capital is defined by its
function. It is not a single entity but a variety of
different entities, with two elements in common: they
all consist of some aspect of social structures, and
they facilitate certain actions of actors-whether
persons or corporate actors-within the structure. Like
other forms of capital, social capital is productive,
making possible the achievement of certain ends that
in its absence would not be possible.”
Putnam (2000): “…social capital refers to connections
among individuals – social networks and the norms of
reciprocity and trustworthiness that come from them.”
3. How might social capital change
society?
B. Origins of Social Capital
1.
Putnam’s experiment:
Italy: 15 identical regional
governments situated in
different economic and
cultural contexts. Did they
perform differently? If so,
why?
a. Political-Economic Performance
in Italy


Performance has been quite varied.
Government in the North = good; government
in the South = not so good.
Institutions are the same but performance varies.
WHY?
b. Competing hypotheses regarding the
difference between North and South


Hypothesis 1: Economic development. The
North is rich, the South is poor.
Hypothesis 2: Culture. Civic culture is high in
the North, low in the South.
c. Explanations for the difference
between the North and the South?

Putnam: Hypothesis 2 (Culture) better
explains Italian history

Why? Because the cultural differences
observed in Northern Italy emerged first,
before the economic differences, and long
before the political ones.
2. The historical sources of civic
culture in Italy

Medieval Italy: a time of great violence and
anarchy. Insecurity was a constant fact of life.
In the South: the solution was to strengthen the
power of the king, who could then secure the area.
 In the North: the solution was self-governance and
mutual aid and defense.

The historical origins . . .

These different solutions had a long-lasting
impact on the cultural traditions of the areas. A
rich “associational life” flourished in the North,
atrophied in the South.

Furthermore, these cultural traditions emerged
well before economic differences became
entrenched.

Thus, culture preceded politics and economics.
3. What about America?
Theory: Slavery and segregation intended to destroy social capital
 long-term effects (path dependence, just like Italy)
C. Putnam’s Theory of Associational
Effects on Politics and the Economy
1. Rich associational life (“social capital”) 
Solves collective action problems.

Rich associational life means people interact
repeatedly with one another, which helps them
identify and punish free-riders.

Rich associational life also promotes “norms of
reciprocity.”
2. Putnam: Social Capital Increases
Equality and Prosperity
2. Putnam: Social Capital Increases
Equality and Prosperity
2. Putnam: Social Capital Increases
Equality and Prosperity
2. Putnam: Social Capital Increases
Equality and Prosperity
2. Putnam: Social Capital Increases
Equality and Prosperity
2. Putnam: Social Capital Increases
Equality and Prosperity
Cross-National Studies: Same
Results
D. Putnam’s Fear: The Decline of
American Social Capital

Associational life is
decreasing: people no longer
form cross-cutting
associations
D. Putnam’s Fear: The Decline of
American Social Capital



Associational life is
decreasing: people no longer
form cross-cutting
associations
Interest in politics has also
decreased
Social trust has decreased
D. Putnam’s Fear: The Decline of
American Social Capital




Associational life is
decreasing: people no longer
form cross-cutting
associations
Interest in politics has also
decreased
Social trust has decreased
Generational change 
Continued loss of civic life
Is the US Evolving Beyond Civic Life?
E. Putnam’s Villains
1. TV (In Other Societies: War, Policies, Poverty, etc)
2. Diversity and Immigration



Thesis of assigned reading
Note the difference between “anomie” and
conflict  lack of trust is not the same as
hostility or violence
Unresolved question: Can the problem be
“fixed,” i.e. is pluralism possible? Putnam’s
research stops here.
E. Objections and Limitations
a.
b.
c.
d.
Cooperation might be good or bad for democracy.
(Associational groupings contributed to Hitler’s rise).
Liberalism: good government is founded on distrust!
Group politics can be inefficient: Mancur Olson fears
“distributional” groups in place of “encompassing”
groups
Measurement issues make “social capital” difficult to
incorporate in predictions (can be circular)
Institutions can produce/reduce trust – difficult to
apply theory to different systems
Trust Produced by Institutions
II. Communitarianism: Is
Individualism “Western?”
A.
“Confucianism” and “Asian Values”
1.
General argument: Eastern societies see people as
part of an organic whole (society)
US Cold Warriors on Asia
“By tradition and preference Asiatic people
turn to authoritarian government. In contrast
with us, they lack historical experience of
liberty and and personal experience of
individualism…They are particularly
susceptible to the seizure of political power
by force or assassination and to the concealed
aggression of communism.”
NSC 48, 31 August draft
II. Communitarianism: Is
Individualism “Western?”
A.
“Confucianism” and “Asian Values”
1.
2.
General argument: Eastern societies see people as
part of an organic whole (society)
Specific arguments: Rejection of self-expression
and individual profit in favor of social stability and
teamwork. Economic rights favored over political
rights – positive vs. negative freedoms.
3. Example: Lee Kuan Yew

Authoritarian leader of
Singapore
Lee Kuan Yew on Social
Discipline
“I have enumerated in several of my talks what I
consider to be the three basic essentials for
successful transformation of any society. First, a
determined leadership, an effective determined
leadership; two, an administration which is efficient;
and three, social discipline…If you don’t get social
discipline, everybody does what he likes to do, or
will not bustle about what he is told to do.”
(cited in Barr, 2000, p. 316)
Lee on social order and
democracy
“We would be foolish to try and beguile ourselves with
unsophisticated phrases of democracy and liberty and
human rights and freedom, while we go down the
drain.”
(cited in Barr, 2000, p. 323)
Lee on development and
democracy
“…A country must first have economic development,
then democracy may follow. With a few exceptions,
democracy has not brought good government to new
developing countries. Democracy has not led to
development because the governments did not establish
stability and discipline necessary for development.”
(cited in Barr, 2000, p. 324)
B. Evidence: Economic Values

Do Eastern societies emphasize teamwork and
corporate effort over individualism and profit?
1. “Japanese Management” less popular in
Japan….
2. Personal Economic Values?


Dentsu survey (1997-1998): Japan, China, South Korea, Thailand,
Singapore, Bombay (Asians), United Kingdom, France, Germany,
Sweden, and the United States (New York City).
Respondents asked to evaluate the relative importance of nine attributes









"financial wealth“ – NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE
"acquiring high-quality goods“– NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE
"family relationships“ – Asians value more
"success in work“– NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE
"mental relaxation“– NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE
"leisure activity“ – Westerners value more
"living for the present“– NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE
"striving to achieve personal goals“– NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE
"having good relationships with others." – NO SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCE
C. Evidence: Politics

1994 Survey of 100 Asians, comparison to larger
US group:
Asians more likely to list orderly society as very
important goal for society
 Americans more likely to list protecting personal
freedom

Value Salience May Differ (1994 Data)
C. Evidence: Politics

1994 Survey of 100 Asians, comparison to larger
US group:
Asians more likely to list orderly society as very
important goal for government
 Americans more likely to list protecting personal
freedom


But….
D. Market Capitalism and Culture
5. Summary: Support for Free
Market Democracy
III. The Post-Materialist West?


Inglehart’s argument: People in Western
democracies have expanded their goals beyond
material satisfaction to matters of value
(environmentalism, social justice)
Irony: While “Asian Values” says West is MORE
obsessed with profit, Post-Materialism says West
is LESS obsessed with profit!
Inglehart:

“In a major part of the world, the
disciplined, self-denying and achievement
oriented norms of industrial society are
giving way to the choices over lifestyle
which characterize post-industrial
economies.”

This was written in the 70s – has the rising
tide of globalization changed this assertion by
Inglehart?
1. The Post-Materialist Challenge
Issue
Materialist
Post-Materialist
Law and
Order
Fixed rules: respect for
government and church
Social
Stability
Politics
Security most important
Political Parties
Flexible rules; political
and religious authority
challenged
Self-expression most
important
Single-Issue Groups
Elite
Authority
Respected
Challenged
2. Measuring Post-Materialism
a. Tradition vs. Secularism and Survival vs. Self-Expression
b. Regional value differences
3. Is Culture an independent variable?
a. Nationality trumps religion
b. Simplest explanation for postmaterialism: Income!
IV. Islam and the West: A Clash of Civilizations?
“The fundamental source of conflict in this new world
will not be primarily ideological or primarily economic.
The great divisions among humankind and the
dominating source of conflict will be cultural. Nation
states will remain the most powerful actors in world
affairs, but the principal conflicts of global politics will
occur between nations and groups of different
civilizations. The clash of civilizations will dominate
global politics. The fault lines between civilizations will
be the battle lines of the future.”
Samuel P. Huntington
A. Assumptions
1.
2.
Conflict will be over culture  not power or
resources!
Key actors = civilizations, not states 
indicators of culture
3. The Map of Civilizations
a. Religion determines some
World
civilizationalReligions
borders
Major religion
(CIA Fac tbook 2001)
Buddhis t
(11)
Hindu
(3)
Jew is h
(1)
Mus lim
(49)
Orthodox
(11)
Other
(9)
Protes tant (46)
Roman c atholic
(56)
b. “Identity” determines the rest



West – Latin America divide: ethnicity?
Sinic civilization: Originally called “Confucian.” What
is the basis for this bloc?
African civilization: Essentially what was left after
drawing other civilizations
4. “Alignments” shape civilizational
(in)compatibility
5. Rejection of Universalism
a.
b.
No “universal” political desires
Modernization ≠ Westernization: Contrary to
Inglehart!
B. Implication: Internal Unity = Strength
1.
Don’t be
multicultural
a.
b.
Enemies will try
to foment intrasocietal conflict
Beware
immigration
from other
civilizations 
2. Test: Does Immigration Cause
Internal Violence?
a. Europe
Does High
%
foreignborn
cause
more
conflict?
b. US: Patterns of Immigration
i. 1966-1970 period of riots: unrelated
ii. Social Strife and Immigration,
1880-1914: relationship
C. Implication: Pushing Democracy and
Capitalism = Civilizational Conflict
1. Democracy is Western value system:
Separation of church and state, rule of law, social
pluralism, representative bodies, individualism
2. Test: Is Democracy “Western”?
(See Norris reading)
World Values Survey – Questions about democracy, human
rights, politics, religion, etc.
Key Dimensions
Democratic Performance:
• Democracies are indecisive and have too much
squabbling
• Democracies aren’t good at maintaining order
Democratic Ideals:
• Democracy may have its problems but it is better than
any other form of government
• I approve of having a democratic political system
4.0
4.0
5.0
4.4
4.5
4.5
4.5
6.9
6.8
6.9
6.5
6.6
6.5
6.5
6.3
6.3
6.0
6.0
6.0
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7.0
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5.0
5.1
5.2
5.1
4.9
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Approval of democrat ic ideals
3. Results –
a. Democratic Performance/Ideals: No Difference!
b. Other surveys
reveal…

Important differences
do exist within Islamic
civilization
D. Implication: Culture Produces
Violence: “Islam Has…Bloody Innards”
1. Evidence: Region Trumps
Religion (as in WVS data)
a. Middle East region is more likely to experience political
terror and human rights violations BUT region
outperforms religion

Exception: Catholic countries experience higher levels of
repression than non-Catholic neighbors
b. Oil wealth correlates with both repression and civil war
around the world
c. Some majority-Muslim countries are democracies
(Turkey, Bangladesh, Nigeria, Lebanon) – but most are
poor and poor countries tend to experience violence
and repression
2. Demographics of Islam
•
What percentage of Arabs are Muslim?
•
•
What percentage of Muslims are Arab?
•
•
About 20%
The largest Muslim country is…
•
•
About 90%
Indonesia
Where do Muslims live?
•
•
Only 33% live in the Middle East
25% in South Asia, 20% in Africa
3. Does Islam “Teach Violence?”
a. Violence not a necessary part of faith:
Universal Brotherhood [49:13]
 No Forced “Conversion” [2:256]
 Peaceful Co-existence [60:8-9]
 Jihad = multiple meanings

b. Religion used to justify political actions
Iranian clergy vs. elected officials
 Osama bin Laden’s declaration of jihad

4. West vs. Islam: Gender/Sexuality =
Division, Not Religious Leadership!
Gender:
West vs.
the Rest
5. Norris: Three dimensions of values
Culture
WEST
Democratic Religious
Ideals
Authority
High
Low
Gender /
Sexuality
Liberal
ISLAM
High
High
Traditional
ORTHODOX
Low
High
Mod Tradit
LATIN AM
Medium
Varies
Moderate
AFRICA
Medium
High
Mod Lib
SINIC
Medium
Low
Traditional
HINDU
Medium
N/A
Moderate
JAPAN
Medium
Medium
Traditional