David Eastons Model of the Political System - Essay Example

David Easton’s model of the political system Introduction Governments operate on special systems by which various decisions are made concerning governance and management of resources. The political system of a country can be compared to an economic, cultural, legal or any other kind of social system. However, this perspective presents a very simplified view of the greater complex system that involves questions of who in particular should have authority and influence the people, as well as the economy. The study of politics and political systems of countries is aimed at knowing how various authoritative decisions are arrived at and implemented in the society. The process of understanding the political life of countries is achieved by taking a comprehensive analysis of each of the piecemeal aspects of the countries. This includes an examination of the operations in each of the existing institutions like special interest groups, the government, political parties (Hay 2002). Additionally, we can also achieve the same understanding by studying the existing nature, as well as consequences of the political practices like propaganda, manipulation and violence among others. By getting such an understanding, it becomes very possible to reveal the particular structure that exists in each of the practices highlighted. This paper examines the functioning of different political systems, with emphasis on David Easton’s model of political systems for comparative political analysis. World Politics According to Stanyer (2007), most of the governments of the world are designed in a way that they provide their citizens with essential services and protection from other states. In their protection function, governments develop various armies and establish policies by which those found perpetrating acts of violence are made to face heavy penalties. Macridis & Ward (2010) explain that governments establish systems of governance in which the citizens can comfortably take part in social and economic activities, which improves their social and economic welfare. Different countries have different political systems, which are not similar in many ways. According to Datta (2013) a political system defines the way in which different governments conduct their activities of governance and management of resources in a country. It determines the kind of leadership structures as well as how change of governments is done. Therefore, the kind of political system in a country determines how citizens are represented in the country’s leadership as well as their contributions to the growth and development of the government (Datta 2013). Through comparison of political systems across different nations, one can easily understand how different countries operate and function. The comparison process can be described as being a individual’s instinctive tendency that forces him/her to make an appraisal of his/her own against those of other people. In this process, the individual is interested in knowing how people in the neighborhood live, their challenges, behavior and methods they use to achieve their diverse goals and objectives. By comparing political systems, it is possible to understand the path of growth that different countries have taken in their match to their present and expected future states. It is important to realise that comparative politics makes the backbone of modern political science (Coakley & Trent 2000). The latest developments in contemporary social science have been responsible for the increased ability of people to make comparisons between different world views in politics and other systems. Comparative politics Comparative politics deals with processes, behaviors, values and ideas that are present in many countries across the world (Suri 2013). It aims at finding out the patterns and regularities as well as the differences and similarities that exist in these countries, which are important in addressing their basic nature, beliefs and working of regimes. Comparative politics looks at the broad range of political activities that include governments and institutions and different organisations that are not necessarily associated with national governments; for instance, communities, associations, tribes among others (Suri 2013). One of the greatest and most important theories that are used in comparative politics is the systems theory, which was proposed by David Easton (Baylis 2001). David studied how different governments were operating and proposed the systems theory as the vest approach in the study of political science and the functioning of different political systems across the world. The contemporary approaches to comparative politics and governments have become many. On such approach is the systems theory; according to David Easton, who is its proponent, the approach is composed of different inter-related variables that are distinguishable from the environment (Easton 2002). The systems theory focuses on patterned relations that involve frequent inter-actions, as well as substantial degrees of interdependence that exists among members of the particular system and established procedures for maintenance and protection of the system. According to Easton (2002), the systems theory is simply concerned with the study of the individual variables that combine to make the single system. In this regard, the theory makes an assumption that the particular system is made up of various discernible, ordinary as well as internally constant patterns that interact with each other in proving the whole with a very effective self-regulating order. Therefore, one can agree that it is the study of sets of interactions that occur within and are analytically distinct from each other. Systems analysis Systems analysis refers to system as being a set of various interactions. According to the perspectives of Hay (2002), it is simply a combination of objects alongside their attributes. Therefore, by saying that a system is in existence, it is to mean that it exists in its particular elements, which are the building objects or units. The individual objects that make up the entire system often interact in special patterned frameworks that achieve a common objective. According to Hay (2002), the systems approach is designed to achieve certain objectives’ first, it addresses the nation’s order of governance. In this case, the systems approach is always designed to achieve the set goals in the different objects or units making up the larger system. In this case, the approach plays a key role in maintaining the integrity of the entire system, which relies on its potential to create and maintain order. In achieving this, the systems approach ensures that resources are effectively divided in a manner that does not permit chaos and conflicts. The second objective concerns the system’s ability to manage the emerging challenges in its respective environment. Often, the changes in the environment are natural; therefore, it is the duty of the system to ensure that it adapts itself to the environment. In so doing, the systems can effectively respond to the emerging changes, thus avoiding conflicts that can cause conflicts among the individual objects and elements. Understanding the political system Fig 1. The political system (Witmer 2013) According to Witmer (2013), the political system, as proposed by David Easton can also be referred to as an input-output approach as indicated in the diagrammatic representation in fig.1. Easton managed to arrange the individual concepts in a theory that allows easy interpretation of the political phenomena in different countries. In his analysis, Easton selected the political system to be the fundamental unit of concentrates and analysis for the intra-systems behaviors of different systems. In his definition, Easton explains the political system as being the interactions in which values are allocated and implemented in an authoritative manner for the usefulness of the society (Witmer 2013). The political system as proposed by Easton as shown in fig 1 above relies on at least one authoritarian and democratic regime as perfect examples for an effective comparative political analysis. A few important things can be learnt from Easton’s model of the political systems theory. First, from his definition, it is clear that when values are allocated in an authoritative manner, the decisions made by those in authority are binding and have to be implemented to the later. Secondly, the system consists of various regularized relentless patterns that are made up of relationships among institutions and the people that interact with them. This means that it is the people that derive mechanisms and approaches through which the institutions as individual elements interact. Just like other kinds of natural systems, the political system is in itself self-regulating (Thomson & John 2007). In this regard, it can change in respect to the environment, correct itself where it makes errors and effectively adjusts itself to structures and processes happing in a government. As pointed out earlier the political system is very dynamic, this is because it can comfortably maintain itself using the feedback mechanism that is designed to collect information from the people that benefit from it. The feedback system is very critical in ensuring the effectiveness of the system inasmuch as it can sometimes change anytime (Witmer 2013). Compared to other kinds of systems, the political system is quite different from other systems in that it has a boundary that separates the individual elements. The inputs, which are made through supports and demands place political systems at work while the outputs, through certain decisions and policies throw away what is not necessary as a feedback. Conclusion In conclusion, it is important acknowledge the fact that political systems are multifaceted, having different regimes that are deemed favorable in achieving countries’ economic and social goals among others. The systems theory, as proposed by David Easton has been used by many political scientists in understanding how different elements interact in a country to ensure that citizens live harmoniously in the social and economic environment. Using the systems approach, people in authority can create effective strategies by which the country can forge its developmental agenda. It is important to realise that the developmental agenda in countries is a process that requires proper decision-making. It is important that all people be involved in the decision-making process so that their views can be incorporated in the country’s governance. References Baylis, J. (2001). The globalization of world politics: An introduction to international relations (2nd ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. Coakley, J., & Trent, J. (2000). History of the International Political Science Association, 1949-1999. Dublin: International Political Science Association. Datta, P. (2013). Political science. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. Easton, D. (2002). The Development of political science a comparative survey. London: Routledge. Hay, C. (2002). Political analysis. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire: Palgrave. Macridis R. C & Ward R. E. (2010). Political atlas of the modern world an experiment in multidimensional statistical analysis of the political systems of modern states. Malden, Mass.: Wiley-Blackwell. Stanyer, J. (2007). Modern political communication. Cambridge: Polity. Suri, K. (2013). Political science. New Delhi: Oxford University Press. Thomson, S., & John, S. (2007). Public affairs in practice a practical guide to lobbying. London: Kogan Page. Witmer, S. (2013). Political systems. Chicago, Ill.: Heinemann Library. Read More