Behavior of Political Groups

From BluWiki

The Behavior of Political Groups is marked by their respective goals and tactics. This page is part of my thesis project. If you have any ideas or suggestions, please use the discussion page.

Viewpoint of Oppositional Groups

Tactics

• institutionalized (nonthreatening because no challenge to existing order)
• noninstitutionalized (threatening because of rejection of institutional order)

Goals

• reform goals (only opposition from elite groups who are directly effected)
• revolutionary goals (usually mobilizes a united elite response)

--> problem: institutionalized tactics and reform goals reduces the overall impact of the movement

Viewpoint of Elite Groups

Tactics

• moderate (acceding to the opposition without losing power over the agenda: inclusion of opposition into the process through cooptation, willingness to compromise � cooperation of the opposition and defusion of conflict)
• extreme (repression through coercion � confrontation, conflict)

Goals

• progressive goals (good government, better communications � only opposition from oppositional groups that do not benefit from it)
• conservative goals (power retention, elimination of political competition --> mobilizes united opposition)

--> in order to maintain legitimacy, the government tries to use moderate tactics in order to fulfill progressive goals but it makes the government more vulnerable to challenges from oppositional groups