Introduction Unit Flashcards
(35 cards)
What does Politics mean?
Many connections and interactions that people have with one another to meet basic needs.
What is does political science mean?
Academic discipline that studies systems of government, political activities, political thoughts, and political behaviour.
What does political perspective mean?
The way a persons beliefs and values can affect his or her position on, issues of civic importance.
What does political Significance mean?
The importance of particular policies, civic actions, issues, events, or development based on their impact on the lives of citizens, or their influence on government decision making.
What are objectives and results?
Factors leading to events, policies, decisions, and/or plans of action and their intended and unintended consequences.
What is stability and change?
How and why political institutions and government policies change or remain the same over time.
What does evidence mean?
The facts that underline a particular policy , law, or action.
What are ethics?
Moral principles that govern a persons behaviour or conduct.
What are ethical dilemmas?
A scenario where there is no clear right or wrong course of action.
What are ethical considerations?
The moral north of a particular policy, action, or law and tries to discern what is “right” or “wrong” in a given situation.
Where did the term politics originate?
Originates from Polis (city-state) then Polites (citizens) and finally Politikas (civic) all deriving from Greek.
What does political science seek to understand?
Tries to understand the theory and practice of politics by analyzing how power and resources are distributed and exercised within a society.
What four aspects shape a persons political perspective?
- Who am I?
- Where am I?
- Political ideology
- Communities of intrest
Can perspective change over time? Is it always straightforward?
Perspective can change over time and it is not always straightforward.
Will every person agree on the significance of an issue? Why or why not?
No, not everyone will agree because everyone has different beliefs.
What are the different scales of significance?
- Global
- National
- Regional
- Individual
- Not at all significant
Why does change occur?
Change happens because things around or within us shift, and we adapt to keep up or grow.
What are the conditions that affect the well-being of citizens?
Social, economic, and political conditions affect the well-being of citizens.
What are political objectives?
Political objectives are created in response to changing conditions.
What is the difference between intended and unintended results?
Intended: Outcomes you expect to happen whether they be good or bad.
Unintended: Outcomes from the decision that you might not expect to happen as a direct action of the decision.
Is stability and change good or bad?
Stability and change are neither good nor bad.
What are the pros associated with stability and change?
- Important political, social, and economic institutions are working well.
-Problems are solved, injustices addressed, conditions improved, and new opportunities are made available.
What are the cons associated with stability and change?
- New opportunities or injustices may not be addressed because institutions and people are resistant to change or unable to change
- Critical political, social, and economic institutions stop working effectively and people’s lives are negatively affected.
What are facts?
Something that can be shown to exist or have happened.
