㉡ Characteristics of Political Regimes by Rule System Type

㉡ Characteristics of Political Regimes by Rule System Type

The characteristics of political regimes according to the type of rule system are important, including:

 

[Tab.2.5] Characteristics of Political Regimes by Type of Rule System

Type of Regimes	Regime Capabilities	Strengths	Weaknesses
㉠ Human Relations Regime	Informal Authority	Efficiency: Swift and Decisive Decision Making	Instability: Dependent on the Characteristics of the Powerful Individual
㉡ Legal Regime	Canonical Authority	Stability: Middle-Ground Prudence Avoiding the Best and Worst Outcomes	Inefficiency: Prudent but Triggers Numerous Internal Power Struggles.

 

Efficiency and Instability in Human Relations Regime

 

In a human relations regime, the power structure is based on personal relationships and individual behavior aligns with that of the organization. As a result, fast and powerful decision-making can be achieved. The speed of decision-making converges with the speed of individual judgment and the quantity and quality of decisions are determined by individual abilities. Both efficiency and instability arise in this scenario. The political system can turn into a human relations regime when the political organization is in crisis because the human relations regime is fast and efficient. This can be exemplified by most countries delegating power to the rulers through military rule during crisis situations. However, this increases the risks and instability that must be tolerated by all political members.

 

The efficiency and stability of decision-making in a political regime is largely dependent on the wisdom of its leaders. As demonstrated by the Park Chung-hee regime's construction of the Gyeongbu Expressway and its focus on heavy industrial development, if leaders are astute, then good decisions are made quickly and firmly. However, if leaders are foolish, then poor decisions are strongly imposed. The case of Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos, who ruled for 14 years and ruined the economy, is one example. In 1965, when Marcos first became president, the Philippines was experiencing economic growth, with a growth rate of 5.27%, but by 1985, just before Marcos was removed from power, the growth rate had plummeted to -7.31%.

 

The other aspects of instability are subjectivity and irregularity. The human relations regime is heavily dependent on the major power holders, leading to significant impacts by changes in the life or power of these individuals. This has frequently resulted in crisis, such as the collapse of the state when the leader, Attila, died suddenly in 453 AD, causing the Huns to threaten Rome with their military bravery. The Islamic society during the time of Muhammed was also organized around a human relations-type rule system, which resulted in a political crisis when Muhammed died and the Bedouins showed signs of deviating from their faith. In England, there was a period of lawlessness for 19 years after the death of King Henry I (1100-1135), with power struggles between the Matildas and the Step-Sons. In North Korea in the 20th century, the succession of power from Kim Il-Sung, Kim Jong-Il, to Kim Jong-Un has often garnered global attention, as North Korea continues to maintain a typical human relations regime in its one-man dictatorship.

 

 

Stability and Inefficiency of the Legal Regime

 

The legal regime is stable, logical, and trustworthy, and it operates effectively in the macro-level political arena. However, as seen in the fact that the most regulated authorities by law become rigid and their applications become formality without substance, decision-making is slow and there is also political rigidity, thus showing inefficiency.

 

First, let's examine stability. The law is an impersonal entity and a kind of object, as well as an abstract entity, which can persist and be replicated without alteration in the space-time. People change and grow old and die, but the law does not change or die. People can be in one place but not in another, but the law can be distributed by being written down and can exist in all places. Thanks to this, the legal regime can be stable, rule-based, and a means of controlling more people. The stability of the legal regime contrasts with the subjectivity and irregularity of the human relations regime, and there is also a claim that such rule of law opposes the authoritarian discretionary power and control of the authorities.

 

Consider the characteristics of the law. The opinions of all stakeholders affected by the law must be reconciled. Reconciliation occurs when there is a disagreement of opinions but it is still manageable. This is different from "opinion agreement", where even if there is a significant difference of opinions, the capacities of the forces that have reached an agreement outweigh the capacities of the forces that disagree. The laws and regulations that are created through this reconciliation are a means of cooperation among the majority members and a result.

 

Such a stable legal regime is also rigid. It is difficult for the decisions of many people to change in one direction and it takes a lot of time. Thus, a political regime based on the law is also difficult to move and change. In addition, while their decisions may not be the best choice, they can avoid the worst.