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Definition of Politics:
Greek origin: "Politika" means "
to
walk
before
" or "affairs of the city"
Greek origin: "Politikos" means "relating to citizens, belonging to the state"
Greek origin: "Polis" means "city"
Greek origin: "Polites" means "citizens"
Different interpretations of politics exist due to diverse backgrounds
Universal standard definition: includes elements of
power
,
rule
,
authority
, and
influence
, and how they are acquired and exercised
Allocations of Power:
Manners of acquiring, exercising
power
,
rule
,
authority
, and
influence
For social scientists, politics is the study of power, the powerful, influence, and the rules and the ruled
Democratic
:
Leadership determined by an
electoral
process
De Jure
: legal ways of acquiring power
De Facto
: illegal ways of acquiring power
Elections
are democratic means of acquiring power as people are directly involved in the process of choosing the Head of State
Autocratic
:
Power and determination of succession centralized in the
head
of
state
One-Man rule
Dictatorship
and
Absolute Monarchy
can be forms of autocracy
Theocratic
:
Leadership, power acquisition, and governance determined by the overseeing interpretation/community of the
agreed faith
State functions with obedience to
religious doctrine
Authoritarian
:
Powers of the state vested in one person, usually
civilian
or
military
(dictatorship)
Power of the state led by
one
political
party
with an ideology
Fascism
:
Dictators
may emerge as the "
strong man ruler
" and symbolize ideologies (ex:
Hitler
and
Nazism
)
Totalitarian
:
Government portrays the best of the system/use of
terrorism
to instill obedience (ex:
Hitler
claiming
German
superiority
)
Consensual
:
Variation of
democracy
Head of state acts based on consultation and agreed course of action by different groups/classes in the state to empower
minority
groups
Invasional
:
Established
government
authority overtaken by foreign influence as a hostile means to enforce principles or take advantage of the territory
Politics in General:
Art
and
science
of governance
Means by which the will of the community is arrived at and implemented
Activities of government, politicians, or political parties in exercising political power to make binding policy decisions and distribute benefits
Beginning of States:
Origin found in the development of
art
of
warfare
and wars/conflicts
New states formed and organized due to
military principles
Political
Science
:
Study of state, government, and politics
Study of public opinion regarding governance and its influence on state function and actions of the governed
Systematic study of government and politics, making generalizations and analyses about political systems and behavior
Values and Uses:
Awareness
of government's impact on people's lives
Education
for citizenship
Development
of civic values
Preparation
for careers and professions
Politics: A Broader Sense:
Politics as the activity of
making
,
preserving
, and
amending
general rules under which people live
Politics as conflict resolution linked to
conflict
and
cooperation
Politics as the Art of Government:
Politics as the art of government, exercising control through making and enforcing
collective
decisions
Politics associated with
policy
and
authoritative
decisions
Politics as Public Affairs:
Distinction between
political
and
non-political
activities
Public
sphere involves state
responsibilities
, funded by the public, while
private
sphere involves
individual
interests
Politics shouldn't infringe on
personal
affairs
and
institutions
Politicians tend to draw a distinction between their
professional conduct
and
personal behavior
Feminists
argue that politics does exist in family, domestic life, and personal relationships
Liberals prefer
Civil Society
over the State, viewing private life as a realm of choice, personal freedom, and individual responsibility
Some individuals prefer to keep politics out of personal matters to
preserve
peace
or
boundaries
He Aristotle viewed politics as a noble and enlightened activity due to its public character
Hannah Arendt
endorsed Aristotle's perception of politics, emphasizing its importance in human interaction and individual uniqueness
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
advocated for direct and continuous citizen participation in political life for the common good
John Stuart Mill
believed that involvement in public affairs promotes personal, moral, and intellectual development
Politics is seen as a tool for
compromise
and
consensus
, resolving conflict through negotiation rather than force
Bernard Crick
defined politics as conciliating differing interests by giving them a share in power for the welfare of the community
Politics involves the struggle over
scarce resources
, with power as the means through which this struggle is conducted
Feminists
assert that the personal is political, viewing politics as power-structured relationships and a means of
oppression
and
subjugation
Adrian Leftwich's
view states that politics is present in all social activities and human groups
Marxists
believe that politics is rooted in the economic base and is the most concentrated form of
economics
Karl
Marx
predicted that class exploitation would end with the establishment of a classless communist society
Power can be exercised through
privilege
,
decision-making
,
agenda setting
, and
thought control
Authority
is legitimate power based on acknowledged duty to obey, with
Weber's
three kinds of authority:
traditional
,
charismatic
, and
legal-rational
Civil
Society
consists of private
institutions
independent from the government, including businesses, interest groups, and families
Constructivism
views the social world as constructed by individuals or social groups based on their beliefs and assumptions
Consensus
implies broad agreement accepted by individuals or groups, permitting disagreement on details
Post-positivism
questions the idea of an objective reality, emphasizing how individuals construct the world they live in
Postmodernism
highlights the shift towards fragmented and pluralistic societies, rejecting the idea of absolute and universal truth
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