Glossary
Corporatist Systems
A type of interest group system where the government controls which groups can participate in policymaking, often by recognizing and collaborating with a limited number of state-sanctioned organizations.
Example:
In a corporatist system, the government might officially recognize one major labor union and one major business association as the sole representatives for their sectors, integrating them directly into policy discussions rather than allowing many competing groups.
Electoral Systems
The rules and methods by which votes are translated into seats in a legislature or other elected offices, significantly impacting the number and type of political parties and the overall regime.
Example:
A country's electoral system might be based on proportional representation, leading to many small parties in the legislature, or a winner-take-all system, which often results in a two-party dominant system.
Illiberal Democracy
A political system that holds elections but lacks key liberal democratic components such as robust protection of civil liberties, rule of law, or independent media, often characterized by state control over civil society.
Example:
Despite holding regular elections, a country might be considered an illiberal democracy if its government systematically suppresses opposition voices, controls the judiciary, and limits the freedom of assembly.
Interest Groups
Organized associations that seek to influence public policy on the basis of a particular common interest or concern, often through lobbying, public campaigns, or direct engagement with policymakers.
Example:
The National Rifle Association (NRA) in the United States is a prominent interest group that lobbies lawmakers and mobilizes its members to influence gun control legislation.
Linkage Institutions
Structures within a society that connect the people to the government or central authority, allowing citizens to express preferences and hold leaders accountable.
Example:
In a democracy, linkage institutions like political parties, interest groups, and the media serve as crucial channels through which citizens can communicate their demands and influence policy decisions.
Neo-corporatist
A term describing a system where interest groups, while not fully state-controlled, still have institutionalized relationships with the government, often through peak associations, influencing policy in a more structured way than pure pluralism.
Example:
Some argue that certain European democracies exhibit neo-corporatist tendencies, where major labor and business federations regularly negotiate economic policy directly with the government, rather than engaging in open, competitive lobbying.
PAN (Partido Acción Nacional)
A conservative political party in Mexico that emerged as a significant opposition force, eventually winning the presidency in 2000 and signaling a shift away from the PRI's corporatist dominance.
Example:
The victory of the PAN in the 2000 presidential election marked a pivotal moment in Mexico's democratization, demonstrating a significant weakening of the long-standing one-party rule.
PRI (Partido Revolucionario Institucional)
A Mexican political party that dominated the country's politics for much of the 20th century, utilizing state corporatism to maintain control over various societal sectors.
Example:
For decades, the PRI in Mexico effectively controlled labor unions, peasant organizations, and other groups, ensuring their loyalty and limiting political opposition through a corporatist structure.
Pluralist Systems
A type of interest group system where many autonomous groups compete freely for influence over government policy, with no single group dominating the political process.
Example:
In a pluralist system, various environmental organizations, business lobbies, and labor unions might all independently advocate for their interests in a country like the United States, often clashing but ultimately contributing to a diverse policy debate.
Political Parties
Organizations that seek to attain and maintain political power by nominating candidates for election and articulating specific ideologies or policy platforms.
Example:
In the United Kingdom, the Conservative Party and the Labour Party are major political parties that compete for control of Parliament, each offering distinct visions for the country's future.
Single Peak Associations (SPAs)
Organizations within corporatist systems that represent a specific sector or industry, often composed of businesses or entities within that sector, and are officially recognized by the state for policymaking input.
Example:
A national association representing all major steel manufacturers, officially sanctioned by the government to provide input on industrial policy, would be considered a Single Peak Association in a corporatist state.
Social Movements
Large, often informal, groups of individuals or organizations that come together to pursue broad social, political, or economic change, typically operating outside traditional political channels.
Example:
The environmental movement, advocating for policies to combat climate change and protect natural resources, is a global social movement that influences public opinion and pressures governments.