POL SCI 51A Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Civil Society, Theocracy, Totalitarianism
25 Mar 2016
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Document Summary
Electoral systems based on the consensus of fair and free elections. Army and intelligence agencies are de facto and de jure subjected to the executive and legislative. Ideology identifies the power holders, always united in one party. Informal power based on a combination of coercion and mass following. Informal rules regulate who, out of the highest ranking party officials, gets what political posts. Various levels of formal and informal rules. Strong institutionalized rules = monarchies or theocracies; rely on tradition to prove the legitimacy of the power holders. Some are highly reliant on coercion and intimidation to stay in power and try to formulate some nationalistic, ideological or other discourses to make up for lack of formal legitimacy. The party is the center of power. Its task is not to represent the people but transform its members. Army and secret services are subdued by the party.
