Introduction to Comparative Politics: State Building and Challenges

This essay, an analysis of comparative politics, investigates the reasons behind the varying success rates of countries in building effective states. It begins by acknowledging the impact of global economic crises, particularly on developing nations, and the interconnectedness of economies. The essay then examines specific examples, such as the economic growth in East Asia, China, Malaysia, and Thailand, and contrasts them with the challenges faced by countries like North Korea. It further explores the impact of technological advancements, political conflicts, and economic reforms on state-building. The essay also discusses the effects of events like Brexit and the influence of foreign policies, such as the American perspective on democracy. The analysis highlights the importance of effective policies, inclusive political institutions, and the impact of colonial legacies. The essay concludes by summarizing the key factors that determine state success, including resource management, and the ability to navigate economic and political challenges.

Introduction to
comparative Politics
2019/20

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................4
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................5

INTRODUCTION
There are various countries who are successfully run and establish states as well while
many of them are only struggling and it is so because most of the developing countries were also
hit hard by economic and financial crisis such that its impact is also delayed. Moreover, the
closer the developing countries are interconnected with the world economy, unrefined the
effects. It is also realized that most of the country did not have sufficient resources and as a
result, they ace only struggling. In the same way, current essay also provides range of reasons
why, some countries succeeded in building effective states but many of other countries still
struggling.
MAIN BODY
The world has to deal with hardest economic crisis in 1930 which is soon recover from
2009 and most of the minister also concern with fragile and slow moving and they also warned
against growth without employment and also discontinuing the economic stimulation. Therefore,
most of the people make prediction such that China, India, Brazil and Japan were optimistic. UN
Economic Commission for Latin America also predicted that the growth will be turn positive
from 2010 onwards. But unfortunately, not all the companies reported as a brightening of
economic prospect and they fail. Johnson and Koyama, (2017) states that the original
developmental state of East Asia has many economic characteristic but there is a less number of
countries who are success to build effective state. As East Asia witnesses almost uninterrupted
rapid economic growth from last many years. While, Sperling, (2018) argues that China is
observed as a rapid sustained growth from past many decades. Even countries such as Malaysia
and Thailand have rapid economic growth and it has authoritarian political system as well.
The countries success and growth strategy was underpinned by open economic
environment for the export oriented manufacturing sector and in this, most of the multinationals
are mostly dominated. Both the countries have their own sources that makes its growth and
consider one of the strongest among all. On the other side, Levitsky and et.al., (2016) argues that
there are many countries which did not effectively build effective states such that North Korea, it
has lack of property rights and the economic institution also make it impossible for the people to
own the property though the state owns everything and it also includes nearly land and capital.
While author also state that North Korea could be wealthier and at the beginning, farmers are
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also allowed to have their own plots and can sell them as well. But they did not generate much
incentives and as a result, it still struggle to build state.
Not only economic situation affect, but there are new technologies which are extremely
disruptive in 18th century where a tiny Britain undergoes in a railway mania and it affect the
country overall position in opposite way. In addition to this, it is not essential that developed
countries are not facing any issue but it may also have own histories related to political conflicts,
liberalization attempts, economic reforms etc. As a result, the countries are consider as a
developed country and they also maintained more extensive relationship with Western
democracies as well as global economy in the past. Further, these countries also get benefited
from scientific and technical cooperation, trade relation and capital inflows. While, Foltz (2017)
states that most of the American foreign policy makers observed that democracy is the only and
best tool that achieve political cohesion in the global south and Nation building is also an
important and positive consequences.
For example, at the time of Brexit it affect the overall economy of the country and
almost entire world affected from it in negative way. Such that US dollar is increases and Japan
Yen also increases, that affect in negative way upon the economies. Further, higher the US dollar
creates pressure upon China to float yuan lower and it is also caught in divergence between two
biggest export market i.e. EU and US. The economic crisis especially Brexit creates vast impact
upon UK economy and as a result, in 2017, its pushed up inflation by 1.7 percent (Why have we
seen so few developmental states, 2018). Not only this, most of the sudden changes are also
implemented and it affect the overall working of the country in opposite way. Such that most of
the company also shift assets, offices and business operations out from Britain and take transfer
because of low economic condition. Therefore, it shows that the brexit is in US but affect the
overall world in negative way and it is so because all the countries are build their effective states.
Therefore, it is analysed by Andrews, Pritchett and Woolcock (2017) that when countries
start responding to crisis then it will creates positive impact upon themselves such that they
develop policies and many wealthy policies are also responded with extensive fiscal intervention
such that India which has fiscal deficits that increases expenditure. As a result, it put emphasis on
monetary policy and also provide credit access option for producers. Therefore, if the
government loses its legitimacy even it it is performing its function properly then the chances of
failing increases and also struggling to secure and also build the state effectively.
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In addition to his, it is also analysed by Rietmann and Lieven, (2019) that failure of
countries should also be consider because of poor performance, low income and fluctuation in
political system. On contrary, effective states are those which are control their territories and also
have open and inclusive political institution which are thriving economies, low level of
corruption and also have a commitment to tackle major issues such as poverty and
discrimination. On the other side, Christensen and Laitin, (2019) argues that colonial legacy is
consider one of the biggest issue that cause fail of many country such that Africa where the state
boundaries are drawn up by colonial powers and as a result, many of the new states are
landlocked and also faces issue with the economic development. On the other side, due to cold
war, many countries are also struggling for not building states such that US and Soviet Union
sought to advance their geographical interest and also support different regimes such that Asia,
Africa and Latin America. But most of them are corrupt and violated many human rights of their
people.
Furthermore, many countries also faces issues related to policies which is pursued by the
government and there are so many states which are also develop their real developmental
progress even after facing many issues. The example is East Asia such that from last four
decades, the proportion of East Asia's population's poverty is decreases from 40 to 10 percent
and this drastic reduction in poverty is also seen ever in the world. Further this is also achieved
through strong states and also empower, while on the other side, Africa also pursued damaging
the economic policies which have weakened the capacity of the state and as a result, it has an
ability to deliver the public goods as well. Though in this world, there are countries which are
failed but it also provide a range of better products such that Afghanistan, Angola, Chad and
Sierra Leone and they also provide highly profitable commodities such as oil, heroine and
diamond that provide endless resources which affect overall country in negative way.
In addition to this, .Johnson and Koyama, (2017) analysed that World Bank estimates
more than 500 million people live in low income countries and suffering from stress and event
there are countries which also have lowest level of life expectancy, literacy and different access
of basic services with highest level of mortality, crime and corruption. That is why, there is a
need to develop policies that supports countries to leads it towards right direction and also
generate sources as well.
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CONCLUSION
By summing up above, it has been concluded that many countries are succeeded in
building effective states but on the other side, many of the countries are also struggled with the
same and it is so because most of countries implement the best strategy to overcome form the
economical situation. From the above, it is further concluded that Malaysia was the failure of
state that also foster globally competitive domestic capitalist and there are many old
developmental states that could also move steadily up the technology ladder and it become
uncompetitive with an increase in wages that further affect entire country image. Moreover, it is
also concluded by the report that some countries succeed to build effective states because of
opting the best varieties of resources and strategies that leads to build effective states and on the
other side, many countries only struggled.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Andrews, M., Pritchett, L. and Woolcock, M., 2017. Building state capability: Evidence,
analysis, action. Oxford University Press.
Christensen, D. and Laitin, D. D., 2019. African States Since Independence: Order,
Development, and Democracy. Castle Lectures in Ethics, Pol.
Foltz, W. J., 2017. Building the newest nations: short-run strategies and long-run problems.
In Nation Building in Comparative Contexts (pp. 117-131). Routledge.
Johnson, N. D. and Koyama, M., 2017. States and economic growth: Capacity and
constraints. Explorations in Economic History. 64. pp.1-20.
Levitsky, S. and et.al., 2016. Challenges of party-building in Latin America. Cambridge
University Press.
Rietmann, N. and Lieven, T., 2019. How policy measures succeeded to promote electric
mobility–worldwide review and outlook. Journal of cleaner production. 206. pp.66-75.
Sperling, V., 2018. Building the Russian state: institutional crisis and the quest for democratic
governance. Routledge.
Online
Why have we seen so few developmental states. 2018. [online]. Available through:
<http://www.effective-states.org/why-have-we-seen-so-few-developmental-states/>.
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