1: Lecture notes for WEEK 9 Interest groups Civil society Civil service The Media
2: Other actors: In politics and in the political system, not only official political institutions are important actors, there are also some other actors… This week, well mention some both official and less official actors we have not discussed yet…
3: Some other actors (simplified):
4: Other actors: interest (or pressure) groups (IGs) organizations acting to influence public policy in order to promote their common interest are separate from government and political parties; but often in close partnership with them; examples: trade unions профсоюз business organizations environmentalist groups bankers, etc.
5: Other actors: social movements – in Western countries esp. since 1970s – they are part of civil society (see later) much less formally organized than political parties; using methods of petitions, demonstrations, action protests, etc. concern about both local & global issues peace movements (culminated in the 1970s-80s, declined since then esp. after the end of the Cold War); environmentalist movement anti-globalization movements – since 1990s example in KZ: social movement (ecological, anti-nuclear) Nevada-Semey of the late 1980s
6: Other actors: women movement /feminism - historically important in Western countries feminism has evolved as both an ideology and important social movement (stronger in the U. S. than in Europe) affected by demographics: i. e. trends toward increased of women in the workplace women suffrage introduced in Western countries by WW2 (last in Switzerland); increasingly more women accepted in leadership positions & in politics; this differ from one country to another…
7: Other actors: churches as IGs – their role in politics separation of church & state has a relatively long tradition in Western countries (unlike in the Muslim world) ); their influence rather indirect state churches in some countries play unifying ideological role & receive support from the state; may have political influence (Orthodox Church in Serbia) churchs influence on society differs from country to country but has generally been declining
8: Other actors: the army (as one of the siloviki) What is the role of the army in politics? in a democratic country, the army is under the civilian control (i. e. the Minister of Defense is not a professional soldier!) and cannot act on its own… in many politically less developed countries, the army has much power and plays important role in power struggles…
9: Other actors – the army: the army is traditionally influential in some countries (Turkey, Egypt, Thailand. . . ) still governing in Myanmar /Burma (military junta)
10: Other political actors: the (mass) media the role of the media – significant and increasing but often also controversial the mass media are often seen as fulfilling the vitally important role of the fourth estate or power, the guardians of democracy, defenders of public interest. . . in the West – a long tradition of the free (no censorship) & independent media (but what about Berlusconis media empire in Italy?)
11: Other actors: public opinion plays the important role in the political sphere; sometimes as an actor public opinion polls surveys of public opinion from a particular sample of people – what they think, i. e. about various issues use questionnaires, interviews to inquire about peoples opinion o various issues usually done by independent agencies; but sometimes by pollsters associated with political parties
12: Other actors civil service: Civil service – also: state / public administration or bureaucracy) the hands of the executive; government employees working in many administration offices /services run by the state & implementing government policies they mostly are not politicians, but career civil servants
13: Other actors - civil service / bureaucracy: civil service /bureaucracy consists of various governmental offices & agencies through which government exercise its functions & implements & administer policies государственный служащий civil servant professionalization: individuals are hired on the basis of merit which is proven by the use of competitive examinations
14: Other actors - civil service / bureaucracy (optional): Functions of the bureaucracy - summary: to administer and carry out the policies of the government to provide professional advice to the political executive by evaluating and initiating new policy proposals to act as the direct link between the government and the people of the state by informing the public of government policies and also by receiving input from the public, interest groups, etc.
15: Civil service / bureaucracy: some characteristics of bureaucracy: neutrality (should be non-partizan) professionalism hierarchy but often also negative ones: patronage nepotism corruption
16: Other actors – civil society: civil society гражданское общество a bit controversial concept the citizens who are - politically, socially or culturally - playing an active part in society, but who are not necessarily involved in the political and economic decision-making consists of various voluntary organizations not controlled by the state, e. g. non-governmental organizations (NGOs) another possible definition: an organized (self-organized) public space between official political & private spheres
17: Political participation: What is political participation? ( how much people participate in the political process; see in the note below) What do you think: How important it is for quality of democracy…?