Political System

Media and Politics

Definition:

A political system is a system of politics and government. It is usually compared to the legal system, economic system, cultural system and social system.

Basic Features:

1. Interaction:

Almond in his Book “The Policies of Developing Areas” writes: 

Political system is a system interactions to be found in all independent societies which perform the functions of integration and adaptation (both internally and externally) by means of employment or threat of employment or more or less legitimate physical compulsion.

2. Use or Threat of using legal force:

It allows the legal authority to use force. Legal authorities can use force to compel anybody to obey its orders. 

Consequently, we have to agree with Max Weber that legitimate use of force is a distinct feature of political system, giving it a special quality and importance, and its unity as a system.

3. Interdependence of Parts:

Interdependence means that when the properties of one component in a system change, all the other components and the system as a whole are affected. Political parties have wider base, change the performance of all other structures of system and affect general working of system. Not only that but the emergence of trade unions and pressure groups affect working of political parties, the electoral process, the legislature, the bureaucracy and judicial system.

4. Comprehensiveness

Political system includes all interactions from the formal as well as informal institutions in the society. It includes the interaction of regionalism, religious upheavals, inflation, party politics, tactics of pressure groups and social changes brought about by modernization.

5. Boundaries:

There are certain boundaries (some do’s and don’ts ) and the rights and duties. Boundaries of political system frequently change. When individuals form interest groups, they change their role from non-political to political ones. 

Political System (Anthropological Viewpoint)

From anthropological viewpoint, political system is categorized into two types:

1. Centralized:

i) Band:

Band is a form of anthropological political system noted for its simplicity. A band usually contains 30 to 50 individuals. It advocates equality. Bands often exhibit weak form of leadership.

ii) Tribes:

Tribes are loosely structured anthropological system composed of families and other communities which are based solely on kinship. Tribes are the most basic and primitive form of political system. Often, the elders of families lead the tribe.

Difference:

Main difference between a band and tribe is the size of community. 

2. Decentralized:

i) Chiefdom:

It is more complex than band and tribe. It is composed of a number of villages under control of one individual called as Chief. According to anthropologists, such a form is very stable.

ii) State:

A state greatly differs from a band, tribe and chiefdom because of its developed nature. A state is governed by rules and laws which generates from a just law-making body. States are the governing bodies of nations where sovereignty resides. It has a definite territory.

Empire:

It crosses geographical boundaries, either by agreement or not. It is a supernatural form of government.