What makes one democracy thrive while another struggles to keep its balance? And why do the United Kingdom and the United States – two long-standing democracies – interpret constitutional power so differently?
In this comprehensive study, constitutional law specialist James Michael Corbett examines the intersections of state, government, and legal systems across nations. From the balance of power between Congress and Parliament to the evolving role of Supreme Courts in protecting civil rights, this assignment explores how political culture, democratisation, and modernisation shape governance in practice.
Through a rigorous comparative framework, Corbett analyses key constitutional principles, electoral transformations, and the dynamics of political accountability – revealing how legal design shapes political reality, how nations evolve, and how democracies are tested.
A compelling read for students of political science, public law, and international governance – and for anyone intrigued by the forces that shape modern democracy.
Table of Contents
- 1 The Discipline of Comparative Politics
- The discipline of comparative politics and the three political elements
- How the UK and US constitutions promote separation of powers and checks and balances
- The differences in the powers of the US President and the UK Prime Minister
- Where sovereignty lies within the UK and US constitutions
- The differences in the power of Congress and Parliament to scrutinise the executive branch
- How the US and UK Supreme Courts can provide scrutiny of the executive branch
- The Supreme Court of the United States does not adequately protect civil rights
- Foreign policy
- 2 Political Culture and Democratization
- The political research
- State Democratisation in Practice
- The Impact Pressure Groups are able to have in the US and the UK
- The Gary McKinnon Case (Extradition Watch)
- 3 Value Change and Modernization
- The Power of the Electorate
- Citizens make up Democracy
- 4 Electoral Change
- The political decline
- Electoral change and the media
- 5 Predictability/Contingency
- The application of contingency in politics
- 6 Concept-Formation
- 7 Objectivity and Scientific Status
- Doubts in nature and natural theory
Objectives and Key Themes
This work provides a comprehensive analysis of comparative politics by examining the structural, cultural, and behavioral differences between the political systems of the United Kingdom and the United States. It explores how these nations manage executive power, constitutional frameworks, and the influence of the electorate, while investigating the role of modern media and civil society in shaping democratic outcomes.
- Comparative analysis of the UK and US constitutional frameworks and separation of powers.
- Evaluation of political culture, modernization, and the evolving values of the electorate.
- The impact of pressure groups and judicial scrutiny on government policy.
- The shift toward candidate-centered and "celebrity" politics in the digital age.
- Methodological considerations regarding predictability, contingency, and scientific objectivity in political research.
Excerpt from the Book
The Gary McKinnon Case (Extradition Watch)
An outstanding campaign led by liberty was in relation to fairer extradition laws and the opposition of unfair extradition proceedings, the most prominent case being that of Gary McKinnon who gained worldwide press attention. The 16th October 2012 saw a victory for Gary McKinnon, after a decade long ordeal, as the then Home Secretary, Theresa May, announced that she was refusing to allow Gary’s extradition to the US on the basis that doing so would breach his Human Rights. Gary McKinnon was charged in 2002 with hacking into United States (US) military and NASA systems, but maintains that he was looking for UFO’s and evidence of free energy suppression. Gary, who has Aspergers Syndrome could have spent up to 70 years in a US jail if convicted. It was argued by his lawyers in an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) that because of this factor and because the crime was committed in the UK that he should be tried in the UK. The director of Liberty, Shami Chakrabarti said of the Home Secretary’s decision “This is a great day for rights, freedoms and justice in the United Kingdom.” It was the Human Rights Act (HRA) which prevented the extradition.
Chapter Summaries
1 The Discipline of Comparative Politics: This chapter defines the scope of comparative politics, focusing on the systemic comparison of political systems, constitutions, and the balance of executive and legislative powers in the UK and US.
2 Political Culture and Democratization: This section explores how cultural norms and "civic culture" influence democratic stability and public participation, illustrated by the role of pressure groups and the Gary McKinnon extradition case.
3 Value Change and Modernization: This chapter analyzes the evolution of public values from material to post-material priorities and examines the power of the electorate in modern industrial societies.
4 Electoral Change: This section details the decline of traditional class-based voting in favor of candidate-centered and issue-based political behavior in Western democracies.
5 Predictability/Contingency: This chapter discusses the methodological challenge of managing uncertainty in political science and the strategic nature of political decision-making in the face of contingent events.
6 Concept-Formation: This chapter outlines the importance of precise, inductive concept-formation to build a robust and understandable framework for analyzing political reality.
7 Objectivity and Scientific Status: The final chapter addresses the necessity of rigorous, bias-free research while acknowledging the need for subjective context when studying human-centric political phenomena.
Keywords
Comparative Politics, Constitutional Law, Democracy, Political Culture, Separation of Powers, Executive Power, Electoral Change, Modernization, Post-materialism, Political Scrutiny, Pressure Groups, Civil Rights, Contingency, Political Behavior, Scientific Objectivity
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this publication?
The work focuses on the comparative analysis of political systems, specifically comparing the constitutions, government structures, and legal mechanisms of the UK and the US.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The central themes include the separation of powers, the role of political culture in democratization, the impact of electoral change, and the evolving influence of the media on political behavior.
What is the primary research objective?
The primary goal is to examine how different nations handle executive and legislative power, and to understand how these dynamics are affected by evolving public values and electoral trends.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The work employs the comparative method and empirical analysis, drawing upon diverse social science theories, including structural theory, cultural theory, and rational choice theory.
What is addressed in the main body of the text?
The main body covers constitutional comparisons, the power of supreme courts, the influence of pressure groups, the significance of value change in post-industrial societies, and the methodological requirements for objective political study.
Which keywords characterize this work?
Key terms include comparative politics, constitutional law, democracy, political culture, electoral change, and political behavior.
How does the author define the "individualization of politics"?
The author describes it as a shift away from socially structured, group-based political decisions toward an eclectic, egocentric pattern where individuals base choices on policy preferences, performance assessments, and candidate images.
What role does the media play in modern electoral processes according to the text?
The media acts as a catalyst for "celebrity politics," forcing political actors to prioritize image, status, and visibility to influence public support in an technologically advanced society.
Why does the author argue that political science requires a degree of subjectivity?
The author argues that because political science studies human systems, it is impossible to generate adequate frameworks without understanding context, democratic norms, and the human aspirations of the agents involved.
- Quote paper
- James Michael Corbett (Author), 2024, An Analysis of Comparative Politics in Constitutional Law, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1661802
