Systems analysis

Comment on the Systems approach. UPSC 2022 Paper 1A Qn 1a

David Easton conceptualized political system as an 'information processing system' in which 'inputs' from the environment is received in the form of 'demands and supports' and the 'output' is expected in the form of 'decisions and policy making'. His framework of systems analysis was found very useful for the comparative analysis of diverse political units such as modernized as well as developing politics and for the analysis of international political system.

Description of David Easton's Political System- He classified demands, supports and outputs into four types each.

Demands - Demands are generated through communication channels by pressure groups and enjoy certain social and cultural approval.

    1. Demands for allocation of goods and services
    2. Demands for regulation of behavior such as provision of public safety, controls over markets and rules pertaining to marriage, health and sanitation
    3. Demands for participation in the political system such as right to vote, to hold office, to petition the government bodies and officials, and to form political associations and
    4. Demands for communication and information, such as the affirmation of norms, the information regarding policy intent and display of the majesty and power of the power of the political system in times of foreign threats

Supports -

    1. Material supports such as the payment of taxes and rendering service in public interest such as social work or military service.
    2. Obedience to law, rules and regulations
    3. Participatory supports such as voting political discussions and other forms of political activity and
    4. Paying attention to governmental communication and showing respect to public authority

Outputs -

    1. Extractions which take the form of taxes
    2. Regulations of behavior which covers a wide range of human activity
    3. Allocation and distribution of goods and services, opportunities, honors and the like
    4. Symbolic outputs, including affirmation of values, display of political symbols and communication of policy intent.

Feedback mechanism is expected to adjust outputs to inputs. It is essentially a communication process.

Criticism - Systems approach is criticized for its inability in understanding the structure and functions of political power as well as in analyzing mass political behavior such as voting behavior.

Easton's model of political system has served as a starting point for Gabriel Almond's model of structural-functional analysis and Karl Deutsch's model of communications theory.

Discuss David Easton's model of systems analysis. UPSC 2015 Paper 1A Qn 4c

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