PolGov 1

• Politics defined by David Easton


  a human activity concerned with the authoritative decision-making and action by the government which results in an authoritative allocation of values for society.
• Politics defined by Harold Lasswell


  how official governmental decision-making and action

  identifies:

  (1) who in political society receives how much of what benefits, rewards, and advantages,

  (2) when they receive such and

  (3) how they will receive such.
• Politics


  refers to the decision-making and decision-enforcing processes that happen in any group that makes and enforces rules for its members.

  Politics is a process by which policy-makers

  choose which actions they will and will not

  take.
• Origin of the word 'politics'


  Greek word from which the title of Aristotle’s book Politics also derives; politika means “affairs of the cities”.
• Political Science


  the systematic study of political and governmental institutions. In this field of knowledge, the principles, processes and structures of government institutions are given importance.
• Aristotle


  Father of Political Science
• Niccolo Machiavelli 


  Father of Modern Political Science

  wrote The Prince (1513); “the end justifies the means”.
• Government


  formal institutions through which a group of people is ruled or governed. This includes persons or organizations that make, enforce, and apply political decisions in a society.
• Governance


  the process by which laws and policies are enacted by the

  government through the implementation of programs that uphold the general welfare.
• Ideologies


  a set of beliefs and ideas that shape an individual’s or a group’s views, actions, and interactions with the world.
• Political Ideology


  a set of beliefs and ideas that define political activities, policies, and events.
• Functions of political ideology

  1.It explains how society and politics are organized and how various aspects of politics work.

  2. It evaluates whether a certain political action or program is good or bad.

  3. It orients those who subscribe to it to have a sense of identity and direction.

  4. It provides a program or plan of action that will bring about political change.
• Political Spectrum


  is a graphic representation of political ideologies along a line.
• Liberalism


  • Liberalism emerged as a result of the breakdown of feudalism and the development of capitalist society. (due to oppression)
  • Liberalism can be traced back to John Locke. He argues that legitimate political authority only comes from the consent of the governed.
  • The purpose of the government, according to Locke, is to protect citizens’ lives, liberty and property (social contract theory).
• Basic Tenets of Liberalism

  • Fulfillment of the individual through the satisfaction of his interest.
  • Individuals are born equal and should have equal opportunities
  • Economic and social inequality are undesirable and seeks to establish a society that provides opportunities to all
  • Holds that all individuals should have equal treatment before the law regardless of social status, race or sex (rule of law).
  • Economic freedom is also closely associated and involves support for free markets and private property rights.
  • A limited and democratic government is also fundamental
• Elements of Liberalism

  1. Individualism
  2. Freedom
  3. Reason
  4. Equality
  5. Toleration
  6. Consent
  7. Constitutionalism
• Socialism


  Arose in the context of Industrial Revolution along with communism and largely as a response to a time when business owners were becoming extremely wealthy by exploiting their workers.

  It facors cooperation than competition; collectivism over individualism
• Communism


  Arose in the context of the Industrial Revolution along with socialism and largely as a response to a time when business owners were becoming extremely wealthy by exploiting their workers.

  Aims to establish a society that is classless, egalitarian, and stateless
• Similarities of Socialism and communism

  1.Both tend to prevent the effects of capitalism.

  2. Both assume that all goods and services will be produced by government-contained institutions or collective organizations rather than privately-owned businesses.

  3. Both believe that the government (or some form of it) plays a large role in economic investment and planning.

  4. Each is built on the premise that individuals will contribute to society based on their own ability.

  5. Both ideologies promote equality.
• Basic Philosophy

  Socialism: From each according to his own ability to each according to his contribution

  Communism: From each according to his own ability to each according to his needs
• Ownership of Econ resources

  Socialism: Individuals own personal property, but all

  industrial production capacity is communally owned and managed by a democratically elected government

  Communism: All economic resources are publicly owned and controlled by the government. Individuals hold no personal property or assets.
• Distribution of Economic Resources

  Socialism: Production is intended to meet individual ability and contribution

  Communism: Production is intended to meet all basic human needs and is distributed to the people at no charge.
• Class Distinction

  Socialism: Classes exist but differences are diminished. It is possible for some people to earn more than others

  Communism: Class is abolished. The ability to earn more than other workers is almost nonexistent.
• Religion

  Socialism: Freedom of Religion is allowed

  Communism: Religion is effectively abolished.
• Anarchism

  • Anarchism is the most extreme of the ideologies on the left as it advocates the total dismantling and elimination of state.
  • Anarchism believes that the state is unnecessary evil because it exercises coercive authority, which violates the freedom and equality of individuals.
  • Anarchists entertain optimistic assumptions about human nature. They believe in spontaneous social harmony.
  • Anarchism has inspired movements around the world, no anarchists party has ever succeeded in winning power on a national level.
• Conservatism

  • Conservatism arose as a reaction to the frenetic pace of economic and political change during the French Revolution.
  • Conservatism is defined by that desire to preserve institutions and is reflected in a resistance to, or at least suspicion of, change.
  • Conservatives believe that reliance must be placed on experience and history instead of abstract principles such as freedom, equality and justice.
• Basic Tenets of Conservatism

  1. Upholds a strong, stable government and firm implementation of laws.
  2. It values continuity of tradition and is more nationalistic religious, and moralistic.
  3. Conservatives prefer a strong military and advocate a strong presence in international affairs.
• Elements of Conservatism

  1. Tradition
  2. Pragmatism
  3. Human imperfection
  4. Organicism - the doctrine that everything in nature has an organic basis or is part of an organic whole.
• Reactionism

  • Reactionism is a variation of conservatism. It advocates a return to the “old ways”.
  • Reactionaries consider the present state of society as flawed and look to the past which they consider as a more orderly and better time.
• Reactionary

  • “Reactionary” derives from the French word reactionnaire which means reaction.
  • In this French usage, reactionary denotes “a movement towards the reversal of an existing tendency or state” and a “return to a previous condition of affairs”.
• Fascismo


  Italian term derived from fascio meaning “a bundle of

  sticks”, ultimately from the Latin word fasces.
• Fasces


  a bundle of rods and a single axe which were carried as a symbol of magisterial and priestly authority in Ancient Rome. They were featured prominently in important administrative ceremonies and public processions such as triumphs.
• Fascism

  • Appeared before WW2 because;
  • many people thought that democracy was weak and full of moral perversions,
  • capitalism was too materialistic and unfair to the people,
  • communism, although unifying and fair, did not care about the needs of the nation and hampered business initiative.
  • does not have identifiable core principles or ideas. Clearer on what it opposes rather than what it supports.
  • STATE is more important than any person, group, liberty, or provision
• Facists

  • believe that society is in danger from various threats such as invasion, war or rebellion, government with unlimited powers is
  • needed to address these threats.
• Fascists

  • believe that society is in danger (invasion, rebellion, war)
  • a very strong government with unlimited powers is needed to address these threats
  • style - political aesthetic of romantic symbolism, mass mobilization, a positive view of violence, and promotion of masculinity, youth and charismatic authoritarian leadership.
• Power

  general definition: the ability of a person to carry out their will

  politcal terms: the ability to exercise control or impose restrictions over individuals, as well as compel other people to do certain tasks.
• Power implies the ability to influence or control others or to get things done by others. It is always viewed in the background of relationships.

  ● There is a superior + inferior ; leader + follower
• Power is closely tied to the concept of authority, which is the right to exercise power in society.
• Power is not something which is permanently fixed. It is subject to change and it has a source.
• Power is a very complex notion. No simple analysis can unearth the various aspects of power.