Political Forces and State Influence: Armed Forces, Bureaucracy, and Public Opinion
Armed Forces and Their Political Role
Professor Silva Bascuñán defined armed forces as “organizations of arms provided compelling enough to overcome any resistance.” No doctrine exists as a general theory of why the armed forces could take a political role within civil society. Within the thesis the authors have made, it is important to note:
- The lower the country’s economic development and the degree of political legitimacy of the armed forces, the greater the intervention of those in state politics (Lipset).
- When the lower the level of political culture of a society, the greater the military presence (Finer).
- The high urban growth, coupled with social conflict and the proximity of elections, contributes to military interventionism (Solaun and Quinn).
- The fact that the armed forces have their own theories on the conduct of the state has made military centers work as real centers of political thought (Schooyans).
Forms of Intervention
Expertise in matters of proper defense policies of the state. This occurs with greater emphasis on democratic and constitutional government and is done by following the established legal standards. The armed forces constitute a pressure group after the military coup. They tend to reject these actions due to the fact of being unconstitutional. The objective of this pronouncement is to oust the government in question. However, if there is accompanying this purpose the aim of replacing the existing political regime, its decision is now called a coup. When the civil power is displaced in favor of military power, we are in the presence of militarism.
Bureaucracy
Bureaucracy, according to Professor Mario Justo Lopez, is the subject of governmental organization; its business is “formal,” not “initiative,” not “directed,” not “lead.” Its role with respect to the political decision is only passive and obedient as an executor. “Bureaucracy plays a minor role in the organization of the state, carrying out certain policies but not making decisions on them.” However, the fact that the bureaucracy has been diverted in its act from its original purpose, and this has come to be understood as a political force. Today, its influence is so great that government action has moved from being an instrument of government to co-author of the government. Originally, the bureaucracy is characterized by following orders, having established a pattern of action. However, each day it has tended to have higher levels of modernization, going to take prominence in the political decision. This has introduced the debate on whether the state’s actions should be driven by political or technical means.
Constitutional Regulation of the Electoral Body
- Article 5 of the Constitution, Sections 15, 16, 17
- Article 18, Chapter IX of the Constitution, Electoral System
- “Electoral Justice,” Articles 95-97 of the Constitution
Suffrage
Suffrage is an electoral system whereby authorities are chosen or a particular opinion is revealed. This idea of suffrage shows Sieyes’ thinking, who imposed the notion that sovereignty belongs to the nation, whose meaning is expressed through the will of its representatives. The nature of the role exerted by suffrage varies with the nature of participation accorded to the governed in the legal system concerned. That is why the franchise is recognized in a purely representative democracy is not the same as that recognized in a direct democracy. In the latter, the citizens decide, through the vote, on their own legal rules, and decisions are required by the course of public life. On the other hand, in democracies…
Public Opinion
It exercises effective action. The opinion is disseminated through mass media, such as radio, newspapers, or television. An example of the nature of political power, public opinion has found that very often there are bills that are not sent to Congress or, if sent, are not approved for fear of a backlash of public opinion. It is called negative action or conservative public opinion. For example, in Chile, economists say compensation for years of service should be eliminated to fire a worker in order to streamline the labor market. However, it is impossible to legislate on this subject due to the negative response that would exist on the part of the public. Finally, the public generally, to develop optimally, requires a democratic regime. There are clear examples in the world that when democracy does not develop respect for human values and fundamental human rights, public opinion is often very poor.
Political Forces, Organic Groups, and Pressure
It is important to differentiate the concept of pressure groups from the interest group. By “interest group” we mean a group of people who share a particular interest or opinion and, based on this, have an influence on decisions and the actions of other actors in political life. However, when this group has an influence on institutions of public authority, we are facing a pressure group. We should not confuse the lobbyist with the public, as this if you have an organization among its members. But not to be confused with a political party, as he is only seeking to pressure the public to take a decision but not taking responsibility for it. However, the political party seeks to achieve the power to make decisions directly. This is why a person can belong to several pressure groups but only to one political party.
Classification of Interest Groups
According to the will of those who make up the group:
- Group of fact: One in which people become members spontaneously, without any order. Examples: family, ethnicity.
- Group of volunteers: Characterized as people become part freely. Examples: unions, professional associations.
- Tax group: When the person can not freely join or leave, but their membership is imposed. Example: Corporations in the Middle Ages.
According to its purpose:
- Promotional groups: Search advertising and knowledge of a particular topic or idea. Members have an unlimited basis. Example: churches.
- Functional groups: Those that form the basis of a particular function of society. Example: industrial unions.
In response to those who make up the group:
- A group of people: As its name implies, are made by people. Example: unions.
- Groups of organizations: Formed by two or more organizations. Examples: confederations and federations.
Other classifications (among others):
- Given the time of its duration: Temporary pressure groups, permanent lobbying.
- According to the amount of its purpose or purposes: Lobbying limited scope, multi-purpose.
- National Groups, International Groups: Nationality.
Types of Lobbying Pressure
- Material pressure groups
- Moral pressure groups
Forms or types of Persuasion Pressure
- Persuasion: The pressure group seeks to convince by providing information geared towards the objective.
- Corruption: The group buys or bribes authority through a fee or offer.
- Intimidation: The group threatens the government with a bad result if the decision is not sought.
The Armed Forces as a Political Force
The armed forces are a special form of political force, along with bureaucracy, have two characteristics that differ as to the merits of the other political forces: on one hand, the fact that they are public service that is part of the state and, on the other, the property of not having a policy unique in nature, but that being independent can be politicized by external pressures.