![]() However, like Easton’s theory, it has various weaknesses that affect its credibility.īoth theories have played pivotal roles in establishing an understanding of the modern political landscape. Political socialization, recruitment and communication are all ideas that should be taken into account in order to conduct an accurate comparison between two political systems (Monroe, 1997:227).Īlmond’s theory can be seen as a very important approach to comparing political systems. Almond also underlines the role that political culture plays in shaping political systems (Wiseman, 1971:23). However, political systems are extremely dynamic and are therefore always undergoing change in order to adapt to the changing conditions in the contemporary political landscape. Almond uses this example: ‘interest groups provide the mechanism through which political issues are articulated political parties then address them in a coherent and meaningful way government in turn enacts public policies to address them and bureaucracies finally regulate and adjudicate them’ (London, 2008). Almond makes use of a model to illustrate what happens within a political system, this model is based around the idea that in a political system there are inputs and outputs which work in unison with each other in order to bring about the successful functioning of a political system. Almond’s theory provides a mechanism through which a more accurate comparison of political systems can be made due to the fact that it not only takes a political system’s structural components into account but also its institutions and how the institutions function within the system (Munck and Snyder, 2007:63-64). ![]() However, in order to adequately compare two political systems one must look further than just what institutions the two countries have in common and more so as to how the various institiutions within the countries function (Johari, 1982:77). His theory emphasizes the idea that political systems consist of ‘various institutions, political parties, the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government and bureaucratic machinery’ (London, 2008). Gabriel Almond introduced his functionalist theory in the 1970’s as an alternative approach to the study of comparative politics. David Easton’s system’s theory has had a major impact on both the empirical and theoretical evolution and ‘subsequent development of the modern contemporary political landscape’ (Fuchs and Klingemann, 2003). Easton believes it is essential to examine the ways in which various political systems interact with the environment both within and outside of society in order to fully comprehend how political systems manage to maintain stability in a world full of change (Fuchs and Klingemaan, 2003). Political systems want to persist which therefore makes the issue of persistence the most inclusive and important objective for any political system (Ray, 2004:12). Easton’s systems theory is mainly concerned with the idea of persistence. According to Easton, the political system can be defined as a system of interaction through which ‘authoritative allocations are made and implemented for a society’ (van der Eyden, 2003:264). ![]() Easton has been renowned for viewing political processes as being dynamic within which stability is achieved via the establishment of equilibrium between the various inputs and outputs Susser, 1992:181-183). The systems theory was devised by David Easton as a response to the much criticized and outdated traditional political approaches of the mid 1950’s which mainly revolved around the concepts of ‘historicism and empiricism’ (Fuchs and Klingemaan, 2003). ![]() ![]() The two main theories which will be examined in this essay are the systems theory as proposed by David Easton and the functionalist theory which was developed by Gabriel Almond. The theories aim at identifying and exploring the various processes, patterns and regularities that are present in and amongst different political systems the world over. There are various theories associated with the studying and comparing of political systems all which have their strengths and weaknesses. Show how each of these theories promote our understanding of comparative politics.Ĭomparative politics is a field of study that enables the systematic study and comparison of the world’s political systems. Identify the main differences between the systems theory as formulated by David Easton and the functionalist theory as set out by Gabriel Almond. ![]()
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