Comparative Politics in a Changing World - Assignment Example

Running: COMPARATIVE POLITICS IN A CHANGING WORLD Comparative Politics in a Changing World Name Institution Date Question One Question B Socialism is an ideology or a political economic system whereby equality and freedom are balanced by adopting a state management system that caters for the economic and social expenditures of its citizens (O’Neil, 2010). Marxism is an ideology propagated by Karl Marx. Marxism is grounded on the perspective that the society is made up of classes. One class controls the means of production (bourgeois /upper class) while the lower class (proletariats) are the workers. Marxism proposes that there is need for redistribution and collectivism in the ownership of means of production. As a result the working class should rise up and take over power of the means of production from the upper class (O’Neil, 2010). Capitalist is a state system whereby the production system is characterized by private ownership of property and markets are usually free (Seeley, 2007). Liberal individualism is a perspective acknowledges that an individual is the center stage of all aspects in society. As a result his rights and freedoms should be upheld at all times (Seeley, 2007). Proletarian is the lower class in society, which is also categorized as the peasants, or the working class (O’Neil, 2010). Question C Important to study communist regimes One of the importances of studying previous and present communist regimes even after the collapse of USSR is that past communist states provide a basis of justifying the need for equality in society. Eagleton, in her publication in Praise for Marx highlights that Marxism was an ideal guide of how society should be, in the sense that there was need for equality to be developed among people of all classes. Communism as one of the stages of Marxism was an important ideology that assisted states to attain certain elements of equality among its citizens. ` For instance Eagleton highlights that during the 1960s it was men from the capitalist camps who revived women movements that propagated the equality of women in society as a type of political liberation. Previous and present communist states also provided evidence of communism as a system that can facilitate the development of an economic system that is stable. Marx in The Communist Manifesto argues that people should be given a chance to have free self development. Past communist regimes exhibited the characteristics of free self development whereby each individual was given a chance by the state to equally participate in economic development. As a result these economies were stable due to the equal participation of all citizens in production and due to government support. O’Neil and Rogowski (2010, p437) reveal that during the 1970s Czechoslovakia one of the previous communist regimes developed patters of economic development. According to O’Neil and Rogowski (p437) the economic development in Czechoslovakia was attributed to the use of resources, the number of people used in production and how much these people earned. In addition current communist states such as China which is actually one of the leading global economies, has a stable economic system attributed to its adoption of communism. Question D One of the counter arguments that challenges Eagleton’s promotion of Marxist theory as a way to solve our current challenges is based on the fact that Marxism does not provide any sort of blue print about how things can be done differently in order to attain the desired economic equality in society. Marxism is mostly perceived as a theory that warns people that unless they change their unjust ways the future is not be pleasant. What is evident is that although regimes have tried to adopt change for instance through distribution of means of production to the lower class current societal challenges such as poverty in developing and undeveloped nations has not at all improved. For instance, Przewokski, et al, in O’Neil and Rogowski (2010, p433) highlight that; poor countries have continued to experience low economic growth and social and economic inequality due to dictatorship within most of the regimes. Although Marxism encouraged the proletariats to rise up and take over the means of production from the upper class, the Proletarian movement has never worked; instead it has in many regimes failed. The world war one for instant was instigated by working men who believed that they were fighting for resources that were grabbed by bourgeois states. However during the war many of the workers lost their lives as opposed to gaining the equal production opportunities that they were looking for. Critics of the Marxism theory also argue that communist regimes that adopted the Marxism as a core ideology experienced mass murders for instance in China and the Soviet Union. As a result if Marxist principles failed in the past, they can not also solve current challenges. Question E Although globalization is promoting liberal democracies all over, communism continues to be appealing. Eagleton points out that even in the midst of the existence liberal democracies various embarrassing questions arise. Western capitalist nations have continued to accumulate more resources while poor countries continue to live in poverty, inequality, starvation and exploitation. On the other hand the principles of communism are against such kind of inequality. Communism also continues to be appealing in despite of the growth of liberal democracies based on the fact that in despite of the development of the ‘’free enterprise system’’ recent problems such as the financial crisis have forced many regimes to rethink concerning communist principles. Also communism continues to be appealing because it advocates for free self development for all individual as opposed to free individual development (capitalism) which has continued to increase inequality in many liberal democracies. Question Two Question B Colonialism is a system of imperialism whereby a country or regime physically occupies a foreign country through the use of military force, settlers or business (O’Neil, 2010). Imperialism is a political system whereby a state makes an extension of its power in order to control the territory, people and resources that are beyond its borders (O’Neil, 2010). The dependency theory is grounded on the view point that developed nations depend on poor countries for their cheap labour and natural resources in order to advance their economic developments and gains (Seeley, 2007). Modernization is condition whereby societies are developed and are characterized by individual freedom, technology, rationality and bureaucracy (O’Neil, 2010). Neocolonialism is form of imperialism that indirect whereby powerful countries exercise their influence on the countries that are less developed (O’Neil, 2010). Question C Obadina suggests that the best way for Africa to grow and resolve its political and economic challenges is through mastering the new Civilization that was brought by colonialism in order benefit from the advantages and strengthen themselves. Obadina points out that although colonialism has been perceived by critics as the root cause of most of the problems in Africa, due to the exploitation of African resources. However when a critical analysis is undertaken, colonialism was actual the source of light for Africa. Obadina highlights that colonialism was in various ways a positive experience for Africa because it reduced the economic gap that existed between Africa and the West. In addition colonialism laid a seed for economic, material and intellectual development in African, through introducing formal education, modern communication, modern medicine and exploitable crops. Furthermore new political systems were introduced which have acted as the basis of governance for most Africa countries after colonialism. Obadina argue that the dilemma that Africa is facing that has also contributed to most of the problems in Africa is grounded on how to deal with the presence of western civilization. Obadina believes that every African state has the desire of western civilization and modernity. However it is due to poor management of the attained civilization and the adoption of poor political regimes that has contributed to the failure of most African states. Obadina highlights that the African poor have gained nothing from colonization however the elites have continued to grow rich from what was left by colonials. Przewokski, et al, in O’Neil and Rogowski (2010, p433) also reveal that although African countries have embraced democracy problems linked to dictatorship still arise. Obadina therefore suggests that in order to resolve the economic and political challenges facing Africa , the solution is for African states to master the new civilization in order benefit from the advantages and strengthen themselves. Question D One of the similarities that exists between Collier and Gunning’s and Obadina’s position about the impact of colonialism is that both authors acknowledge the fact that colonialism brought about certain negative impacts on African nations. Collier and Gunning’s (p413) highlight that neo-colonialism a characteristic of colonialism even after independence greatly impacted on the economic performance of African states. For instance during the 1980’s the World Bank, the IMF imposed various policy restrictions on African states such as structural readjustments which greatly affected economic develops of many countries. Obadina also highlights that one negative implication of colonialism to African nations is the exploitation of African resources which continues to exist even after colonialism (O’Neil, P & Rogowsk, 2010). On the other hand the two authors also acknowledge the fact that colonialism ushered in a bright future for African states. Collier and Gunning’s highlight that after 1960 Africa future looked bright and during this period African economies grew rapidly between the year1960-1970. Obadina also argues that it is colonialism that ushered in modernity, economic and political in Africa. The difference in the views of two authors is that Obadina stresses the fact that African countries are slowly developing due to their inability to effectively utilize the impacts that were left by colonialism in order to develop their political and economic systems. Collier and Gunning on the other hand, points out a number of varied reasons such as; arid environments, poor public service conditions and neo-colonialism in order to back the slow growth of African nations(O’Neil, P & Rogowsk, 2010). Another difference is that Obadina is of the view that African nations are entirely to blame for the continued neo-colonialism that exists in most nations. This is because they have not devised their own polices and development strategies. On the other hand Collier and Gunning highlight that polices devised by colonists have continued to bring about negative implications on African states. For instance Collier and Gunning highlight that the education brought by the colonial government to Africa especially the secondary education was little and could not provide adequate human capital (O’Neil, P and Rogowsk, 2010, p424). Question E The relationship between the socialist dictatorship regime type , democracy and economic growth is that democracy assists in the allocation of resources to people in society which is the basis of socialism. This is because democracy enhances free flow of information and distribution of resources. However with the rise of authoritarian leadership (socialist dictatorship) where rulers are not accountable to the electorates and only work towards maximize their own outputs; the implication is that economic development is not attained but rather the economy declines. This is because the poor people will begin to only work for their stomachs and whatever they get they would want to consume it quality. In addition their level of the input to the economy will be low and thus leading to economic decline (O’Neil &Rogowsk, 2010). Question 3 Question B Globalization is the process of intensifying and expanding linkages between societies, state and economies. Globalization entails the elimination of all barriers in order enhances interconnectedness of societies, communities and states across the globe. International Monetary Fund (IMF) is an international body that was devised with the objective of expanding international trade across the globe. The body also works towards enhancing exchange and monetary stability. The World Bank is a global financial organization that gives funding to developing countries in order to assist them in their development projects. World Trade Organization (WTO) is an international body that is concerned with establishing trading regulations and rules among states. The objective of the organization is to ensure that good code of conduct is maintained when undertaking international trade among nations. International labour mobility is the migration or movement of workers from one country to another or across various borders of the world. Question C According to Bhagwati‘s pro-globalization arguments, globalization has actually brought about positive implications to modern societies. Bhagwati argues in support of globalization by stating that although many reports by international agencies have highlighted that globalization has increased many social ills in society such as poverty, Bhagwati argues that globalization has nothing to do with these social ills. He therefore backs his argument with Tina Turners song, what love has got to do with it. Meaning that we must ask ourselves the question what has globalization got to do with the problems facing the world (p252). Rodrik critique of globalization on the other is grounded on the opinion that globalization has only brought about good tidings to owners of production, resources and skills (rich countries), while to the poor countries , globalization has not worked to benefit them. Rodrik (2001) highlights that for many developing countries globalization has brought about nothing but disappointment and frustration. The breaking of barriers of communication, transportation and business through globalization has resulted to decline of economic performance as opposed to improvement. For instance Latin American countries and economies of Sub-Saharan countries experienced low economic growth even with the rapid existence of globalization during the 1990s. In addition East Asian regimes such as Thailand, Malaysia and South Korea, faced serious economic difficulties during the 1997 financial crisis, although this was a decade when globalization was very much rapid. Bhagwati also brings out the human phase of globalization whereby globalization has assisted human beings through advancing achievement of social agendas, enhancing equality and reducing poverty in poor countries. Rodrik (2001) on the other hand presents the economic phase of globalization whereby globalization is only beneficial to owners of skills and resources. Question D Roderik’s solution to the problem of labour mobility is through developing a system that would provide temporary work permits to both unskilled and skilled laborers from poor countries. Roderik believes that this remedy will be useful to developed nations due to the fact that it will increase the skilled labour force of developing nations. In the scheme, the workers will be given a period of three to five years of working in the developed nation, after which they will be required to go back to their home countries. Roderik (2002) highlights that these labour mobility system would generate a positive spillover to the poor nations because the returnees will go back home with work ethics, skills and investment knowledge which can be useful to their home countries. The likely reaction of the rich countries about this particular scheme is that will be quite unpopular. Many people in developed nations believe that immigration is good for the economy however cross border flows of workers through contracts are in most cases not well defined as a result problems such as lobbying for special interests usually arise (Roderik, 2002). Question E According to Roderik industrialized states like Korea have been successful although they did not play along with global regimes promoted by the WTO based. One of the reasons as highlighted by in O’Neil’s text is that a country such as Korea eliminated overdependence to its former colonizers and polices propagated by the WTO. Korea devised its own economic polices instead of continuing with the old development policies that were left by the colonizers. For instance O’Neil’s (2010, p248) highlights that instead of adapting import substitution, Asian countries such as Korea discarded the system and adopted its own export oriented strategy which entailed sorting out technology, capitalizing on the product life cycle and exporting. As a result a regime such as Korea has been successful. References Collier, P and Gunning , J. ‘’Why African has grown slowly ‘’in O’Neil, P and Rogowsk, R. (2010). Eagleton, T.(2010). In Praise of Marx . Lancaster University Przewokski, A, et al, Political regimes and economic growth . Rodrik, D. (2002). Globalization for Whom? Time to change the rules -- and focus on poor workers . Kennedy School of Government Seeley, J.(2007). Introduction to Political Science. Read Books. O’Neil, P.(2010). Essentials of Comparative Politics. 3rd Ed. New York: W. H. Norton. O’Neil, P and Rogowsk, R. (2010). Essential Readings in Comparative Politics. 3rd Ed. New York: W. H. Norton. Obadina, T. The myth of Neo-colonialism. Director of Africa Business Information Services. Read More