Introduction to Political Science - Essay Example

Introduction to Political Science: Political science educates one on the various approaches and political systems that affect approaches to provision of legislative and executive arrangements. The systems through which these arrangements are made define the approaches that the systems may employ and they provide for an understanding of the different aspects involved in political science. Through this system, one is in position to analyze the different political systems that exist around the world and explore to understand political behavior. One of the major parts of political behavior is evident in democracies that have embraced political party systems. These democracies have many advantages and disadvantages. They coordinate in a manner that allows for political behavior and conduct to remain objective in leading the political party to achieving its objective. Democracies provide for freedoms that give the political parties their approach to defining their political objectives. Political parties refer to groups of people joining to contest elections through which they hold power hence running the government. These people may not necessarily share ideologies in real life but for political reasons affiliate themselves with ideologies that will drive their agenda. They may agree in policies developed or procedures or programs developed for the society. They work together as a unit to promote the good of the community in a collective approach. The different ideologies may not matter considering members of the political party have one core ideology that drives them. It is under the political party that electorates elect those to run the government. The management of parties is different in different political jurisdictions. Some have more than one party applied as the multiparty system while others operate on one party like Chine. These differ in approach and each has different management styles that may fit its operations in a country. These parties have developed as the defining features of the modern day democracies. The application of parties in the democracies varies with others using a single dominant party system, a system allowing two political parties and one that allows the development of a multiparty system. Each of these party systems is effective depending on the jurisdiction bestowed to it by the legislative arm through the guidance of the constitution. The party system provides an approach to election of leadership that base on the different leadership’s styles and systems that enhance political drive within a country (Jackson). Single Party System: These political party systems involve one dominant party authorized to hold power legally. The system may still provide room for the development of other small parties that may control some political space and enhance its approach but this particular party under leadership rules over them. These other small parties have a legal obligation to accept the leadership of the main party and remain loyal to its rule of law. The political party system may have other positions within that hold more responsibilities and important positions than those held in the government. Some countries that employ this system of political parties are China and North Korea. Nazis regime in 1934 and 1945 held this kind of system and hence many equating them to dictatorship party systems. They are also associated with tyranny that inflicts positions of government leadership. The system may involve other political parties that may form opposition although these parties may never hold power. Dominant parties have been associated with the use of voting fraud and patronage to retain power. These parties hardly lose power and may remain dominant for a longer period. The People’s Action Party of Singapore, Cambodian People’s Party in Cambodia, African National Congress party in South Africa, National Liberation Front in Algeria, Liberal Democratic Party in Japan and the Institutional Revolutionary Party in Mexico mark examples of the single party systems that have existed before in the history of the world. Advantages of a single party system: Less political tensions and resources considering only one party is recognized and supported. Ease in control of the political party system of the country Proper administration of the law and easy decision making considering no coalitions to consult Disadvantages of a single party system: The representation of the people is poor with the political rights of the people under the mercy that the ruling party decides to provide. People that hold different political views are easily shut out and hence less chances of democracy prevailing. Two Political Parties System: The United States, Ghana, Jamaica and Malta have this system of political parties. The system involves two political parties being dominant in the country. These succeed to the extent of difficulties for electoral success to occur under another party’s authority. The system embraces a right wing party coalition and a left wing party coalition as the most common ideology through which their political influence is developed. These parties may be all inclusive and broad in ideology. The democratic and republican parties in the United States provide a classical example of this system of party leadership. The success of one party in an election is faced with bitter rivalry in the next for the electorates to select the party to run government for that term. The system of American politics has developed a status quo that represents only two party systems that have made the United States translate into a two party system which is broad based and much inclusive compared to others (Grisgby, p.219). Advantages of a two party system: Ease in making political decisions considering only two parties are involved and the ruling party is in charge despite contribution of the other party. Creates political order as opposed to the multi party system that may become associated with political violence and vast election malpractices Disadvantages of a two party system: Restrictive in nature Limits exercise of democracy. Multi Party System: The multi party system embraces many parties in a political jurisdiction. It holds more than two parties and one of the parties is elected into office by the electorate. Many nations employ this system of parties. They include Australia, People’s Republic of Bangladesh, India, United Kingdom, Canada, Pakistan and Norway. These mentioned have two very strong parties and other small parties that have representation in the government. These small parties hold the balance of power in most cases and provide support for the parliamentary system and hence their possible participation in political coalitions. These coalitions are normally between a smaller party and a dominant party. The small parties may also act independent from the other parties and hence exercising autonomy that gives them power and political space. One party is likely to gain power and these others will work together with it to provide support in leadership. These others form an opposition that keeps the ruling party under check. The trend on these forms of parties has emerged over the years and has provided support to the development of a state in leadership since the early 1980s. Some states like Ireland have not had one party hold power independently. They depend on coalitions that support the leadership of their people leading to successful management of the political process. Advantages of a Multi party system: Involves many people and hence providing better representation of the people and the views of the people compared to these other systems Provides the people with more options in choosing leadership Disadvantages of the multi party systems: Difficulties in decision making considering the leader has to consider all parties that may be involved in the coalition Work Cited: Grisgby, Ellen. Cengage Advantage Books: Analyzing Politics. Cengage Learning. 2015. Jackson, John. S. The American Political Party System: Continuity and Change Over Ten Presidential Elections. Brookings Institution Press. 2014. Read More