Welcome to 1.10: Political Stability
In our previous chapters, we looked at how governments get their power (Legitimacy) and how they try to keep it. In this final chapter of Unit 1, we look at the "end result": Political Stability. Think of political stability as the "health" of a political system. When a country is stable, the government functions predictably, laws are followed, and there is no constant fear of a revolution or a coup. When it is unstable, everything feels uncertain.
Don't worry if this seems like a lot of moving parts—we are going to break down exactly what makes a country stand firm or wobble under pressure.
What is Political Stability?
Political stability is the ability of a government or regime to maintain its power and provide consistent governance over time. It means that the "rules of the game" don't change overnight and that the state can handle internal and external challenges without collapsing.
It is important to remember the difference between Regime stability and Government stability:
• Regime Stability: The entire system of government (like a democracy or an authoritarian system) stays in place.
• Government Stability: The specific people in charge (like a Prime Minister or President) stay in power.
Example: In the United Kingdom, the government might change frequently (new Prime Ministers), but the Regime (parliamentary democracy) is incredibly stable.
Factors That Affect Stability
1. Political Legitimacy
As we learned in Topic 1.8 and Topic 1.9, legitimacy is the degree to which a government's right to rule is accepted by the people. High legitimacy usually equals high stability. When people believe their leaders have a right to be there, they are less likely to try to overthrow them.
2. Corruption
Corruption—the use of public office for private gain—is a major "stability killer."
• How it hurts: It undermines the rule of law and makes citizens feel the system is "rigged."
• The Result: High levels of corruption can lead to protests, decreased legitimacy, and eventually, a push for a regime change.
• Course Country Note: The syllabus highlights that comparing corruption levels across our six countries (China, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Russia, and the UK) is a key way to understand their different stability levels.
3. Internal Reform
Sometimes, a government needs to change its own rules to stay stable. This is called internal reform.
• The Goal: To address grievances before they turn into a revolution.
• UK Example: The United Kingdom used devolution (moving some power from the central government in London to parliaments in Scotland and Wales). This allowed the regime to maintain stability by giving different regions more say in their own affairs.
• Russia Example: Changes to how the State Duma (legislature) is elected or how the Federation Council is selected are often used to ensure the ruling party stays in control and the system remains stable.
Challenges to Stability: Conflict and Transitions
Not all transitions of power are smooth. The way power moves from one leader to the next tells us a lot about a country's stability.
Violent vs. Peaceful Transitions
• Violent Transitions: In Iran (the 1979 Revolution) and Nigeria (a history of military coups), power has changed hands through violence. This often indicates a lack of stability and low legitimacy for the previous regime.
• Peaceful Transitions: Mexico and Nigeria have both experienced significant transitions of power between political parties in recent decades that were relatively peaceful. This is a sign of increasing political stability as these countries moved toward more democratic processes.
Internal Threats
Governments often face specific groups that challenge their stability:
• Nigeria: Faces challenges from militant movements like Boko Haram, which seeks to establish an Islamic state in the north. This creates regional instability and challenges the government's control.
• China: The Communist Party of China maintains stability through strict control over governing institutions and the military (the People's Liberation Army).
Summary Table: Stability Tools
Different regimes use different "tools" to stay stable:
Democracies (e.g., UK, Mexico): Use Internal Reform, Devolution, and Fair Elections to keep people happy.
Authoritarian/Hybrid Regimes (e.g., China, Russia, Iran): Use State Control of Media, Nationalization of Resources (like oil), and Strict Party Control to prevent challenges.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake: Thinking "Stability" means "No Protests."
Reality: Stable democracies actually have protests all the time! Stability means the system survives the protest. If a protest leads to the government being overthrown by the military, that is instability.
Mistake: Thinking Authoritarian regimes are always more stable because they are "tough."
Reality: While they might look stable on the outside, a lack of legitimacy or high corruption can make them "brittle"—meaning they might suddenly collapse if things go wrong (like an economic crisis).
Quick Review Box
Key Takeaways:
1. Stability = Consistency and endurance of the political system.
2. Legitimacy is the foundation of long-term stability.
3. Corruption weakens stability by destroying trust.
4. Internal reforms (like the UK's devolution) can be used to prevent instability.
5. Transitions of power can be peaceful (Mexico) or violent (Iran/Nigeria), which serves as a "test" of a country's stability.
Memory Aid: The Three C's of Stability
If you are asked about political stability on the exam, remember the Three C's:
• Consistency (Does the government work predictably?)
• Corruption (Is it undermining the people's trust?)
• Change (How does the country handle transitions or reforms?)