Regime Type

Found in

Description/Ideals/Vision of the Good Life

Economy

Cultural Context:  Dominant Religion(s)

Cultural Ideals for Women

Gender Regime

Liberal Individualist
Regimes 

US

Regimes which stress individual freedom as the highest social good as well as the means to creating economic prosperity.  Such regimes aspire to minimal regulatory and "umpire" roles for the state.

The good life is where every individual is free to provide for himself, to compete, to be free from state interference.

“The pursuit of happiness”

Free market, minimal regulation.

Market mechanisms are preferred over state mechanisms.

Reproductive labor not recognized as contribution to society/economy - merely a personal choice, lifestyle

Women without children face fewer barriers to participating fully in the economy and are not compensated for their reproductive labor. 

Christianity (Protestants more numerous overall, but Catholics single largest Christian denominatiion

High degree of religious pluralism.

Some secularism.

From Liberalism;  Women are conceived as free and equal individuals who must compete in the marketplace, polity on the same terms as anyone else.

Women's should be able to sink or swim on their own merits; no special provisions are necessary for their success because they enjoy formal equality. 

Motherhood is idealized as women's most important role, as natural, sacred, “too important to be paid,” as a  “lifestyle choice.”

From Christianity: Patriarchy/the male headed household/nuclear family is the norm.  God over man; man over woman; parents over children.

Men as breadwinners; women as domestic helpmates.

 
Discrepancies in achievement, earnings, etc. are dismissed as the result of “private” or individual choice and , therefore, not systematic discrimination, social injustice, or anything actionable by the state.

The state adopts gender blind standards, policies, which amount to the norms derived from the performance of unencumbered male workers, citizens.

Women, while enjoying high levels of literacy, education, and health, are paid less than men doing the same work, still suffer from gender segregation and "tracking" in the work place; 

Women are significantly underrepresented in the upper echelons of corporate governance and in national politics and policy making.

Women do the lion’s share of reproductive labor (child rearing, housework) without being compensated.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Social Democratic Regimes
 
 

A regime whose aim is to ensure social justice, full incorporation of all citizens.  State as guarantor of social rights.

The state intervenes in the economy to ensure everyone enjoys health, education, housing, a job in one’s chosen profession or retraining and support in difficult life circumstances.

The state subsidizes the cost of raising children because children are seen as a rights bearing individuals entitled to health, education, housing, family life. 

Rearing children is also recognized as socially valuable work and sometimes compensated.

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Marxist-Leninist Regimes
 
 
 

A regime which aims to accomplish economic and social justice by eradicating class privilege and private ownership of the means of production and legislating more egalitarian compensation schemes.

The equality of men and women as workers is stressed.

A single political party enjoys a monopoly of political power, does not allow political competition and attempts to control other forms of social organization.

The state controls the economy to ensure everyone enjoys health, education, housing, a job and support in difficult life circumstances.

The state subsidizes the cost of living and the costs of raising children because children are seen as a rights bearing individuals entitled to health, education, housing, family life. 

Rearing children is also recognized as socially valuable work and sometimes compensated

Women are valued for both their productive and their reproductive labor.  Thus, women’s workforce participation is higher than in culturally similar countries .  The state creates institutions to do women’s work, such as raising children, caring for the elderly, sometimes even to do domestic labor at a different sale, e.g., cafeterias, community laundries, etc.

Militarist Regimes

Regimes that are installed and maintained by force, e.g., military coup, revolution, civil war.  Their leaders have had long careers in the military or have close ties to the military. 

Such regimes exist o perpetuate a high degree of social inequality including gender inequality.

They may also rely upon traditional belief systems to justify inequalities between men and women, classes, races, etc.

The most lucrative industries are often in the direct control of political elites or have been “nationalized.” 

High degree of political corruption and (skimming, bribery) is the norm in transacting business.

Developmental Regimes

Regimes whose main goal is rapid economic growth, raising standards of living, "catching up to the West"  or with neighboring countries with the a strong role for the state in deciding development strategies, investing in key sectors of the economy. 

The state manages the economy closely, directing investment, seeking and channeling foreign direct investment, development loans, aid.

The state also implements whatever policies donors/lenders require for it to obtain funding.

Women are seen as a source of untapped economic potential or simply a resource that needs to be cultivated, exploited in order for the economy to grow,

Transitional  Regimes

Regimes that are moving from more repressive regime types to more democratic ones, e.g., moving from traditional oligarchy or Marxist-Leninist dictatorship  to a greater degree of political pluralism and economic competition.

The state guides the economy in a more liberal direction, deregulating, privatizing, selling off formerly nationalized industries to multinational corporations, or private investors.

Women’s workforce participation is generally needed, encouraged for the economy to grow.

Fundamentalist Religious Regimes

Regimes whose legitimacy is derived from its relationship with religious authorities and whose public policies largely consist of translating religious ideals into public policy.

Oligarchic or tribal control of resources and wealth.

Women’s role in the economy, family dictated by religious teaching.

Nation-building Regimes

Regimes whose primary task is nation-building, recovering from generations or centuries of colonization.  In addition to the emphasis on nationalism/national  identity, economic independence, development and stability are generally the highest priorities.

The state nationalizes key sectors of the economy and guides investment, development in desired directions. 

Often women are needed as workers as in any developing country but at the same time their special status as mothers to the nation, the next generation of ________s may cause the state to pursue natalist, neo-traditional types of policies.

Some other regime type you feel needs to be invented?