5_30 PS6

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Political Science

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Oct 30, 2023

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Regime Change - Military Coups - The set of rules that govern the relationship between state and citizen is transformed Coup D’Etat - Sudden seizure of power from existing government, most often through use of force - Usually performed by the military but could be: - Societal coup, mass popular protests - Self-coup, president dissolving legislature and assuming extra-constitutional powers - Military must at least stand neutral or tactical support action against the government - Regime change occurs when the nature of the actors holding power and their support changes - A coup sometimes doesn't result in regime change - a military coup within a military regime just changes the officer in charge - Military coups happen when all efforts to keep military loyal fail - This occurs when: - Weak state and political cultures that do not value non-military transfer of power - Military seeking its own interests - Individuals use military to advance personal goals Brazil - Weak state and political cultures do not value non-military transfer of power - Brazilian state struggling to promote industrial development - Brazil needed to repress wages to accumulate the resources needed for investment - needs authoritarian state - Military and conservative elite reacted against the growing union strength by imposing a modern authoritarian regime - Military interests - 1950s saw the development of the national security doctrine - to fight against domestic communist threats - Economic development (repressed unions) was neccesary to slow threats - President Goulart was a lefty and jeopardized it all and then lost the military - Military ruled with a junta - rotating leadership of officers

Nigeria - Weak state and political cultures do not value non-military transfer of power. - Nigerian state was weak - coup leaders claimed to promote development - Coups against democracies took place after post-electoral violence with fraud and they restored order - Reducing corruption was a goal of coup leaders - 2 of 6 coups were against democratic regimes, the other 4 were for transition of officer power - Military interests - Nigeria not professionalized or institutionalized - reflected the regional devisions - 1983 - military has lots of corruption - 6 coups (4 worked) to replace the military leader Regime Change - Democratic Backsliding - Definition: a decline in the quality of democracy, including the extent of participation, the rule of law and vertical and horizontal accountability - Authoritarianization: the creation of an authoritarian regime via the undermining of democratic institutions - Backsliding is happening around the world Subverting Democracy 1. Capture the referees: a. The judicial system, law enforcement, intelligence, tax, regulatory agencies. b. Such institutions are designed to serve as neutral arbiters c. If they remain independent, they might expose and punish government abuse d. These agencies are controlled by loyalists, they could serve a would be dictators aims 2. Sideline the opposition a. Key players might include opposition politicians, business leaders, media, cultural figures who have high moral standing b. These figures must be bought, discredited, intimidated into silence 3. Change the rules of the game a. Reform constitution b. Change electoral laws in ways that disadvantage or weaken the opposition, for example redistricting or making it harder for opposition voters to vote c. Changes sold as democratic but clearly advantages one side thus rigging elections d. Lincoln suspended political prisoners from appeal during the civil war which was an example of a concentration of power

e. In crisis, an authoritarian outcome can become real - if no crisis is occurring, manufacture one 4. Demonize the opposition a. Dictators justify their consolidation of power by labeling their opponents as an existential threat States and Markets Intervention, policy, globalization The Market and Capitalism - Market economy: - Economic system in which individuals and firms exchange goods and services in a largely unfettered manner - Capitalism: - Combination of a market economy with private property rights - Command economy: - Economic system in which most prices, property, and production are directly controlled by the state Essential Roles of States in the Economy - Provide security - Prevent theft, fraud and violence - Must be free to go to marketplace in order for trade to occur - Establishing and enforcing property and contract rights - Make sure trade is fair - Protects people in private exchanges from bad actors - Creating and controlling currency - Helps pay for stuff fairly - Providing public goods - Public good: goods or services that cannot or will not be provided by private markets because costs to individuals are too high and or benefits too widely shared - Ie. clean air, military, - Beneficial goods - Education, infrastructure, healthcare - Society benefits!! Better quality of life - more efficient workers = growth - Intervention to correct market failures and externalities - Forcing all businesses to meet environmental standards

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- Prevention or regulation of monopolies Politically Generated Roles - Taken on because population demands them, such as - Improved working conditions - Policy to redistribute income - Environmental protection - Social security - May also have economically beneficial side-effects Keynesianism vs Monetarism - Markets may revive naturally in the long run, but this long run is a misleading guide to current affairs. In the long run we are all dead - States should use fiscal policy to revive economy during economic downturns Keynesianism - Fiscal policy: Government budgetary policy, the use of taxation and spending powers to influence the economy - Diagnosis: in an economic downturn, the problem is low demand - Prescription: - The state spends money to increase demand, private spending will increase and the economy will revive - Government should borrow money to finance the spending (deficit spending) - Once the economy recovers: the state can cut spending below revenues and pay back the debts incurred - Added benefit: reducing spending will keep demand at bay and lower the risk of inflation