Lecture Flashcards
(112 cards)
Laswell’s definition of Politics
Describes the distribution of resources: What, When, and Where.
Laver’s definition of Politics
Community interactions create conflict and cooperation.
Johnston’s definition of politics
decision making that is binding to all citizens under control of the state, affecting relationships between those who implement laws and those who must abide by them.
Definition of Power(Politically)
Its distribution is determined by politics: What Where and how it can be used is dictated by politics.
Aristotles definition of politics
Politics is the art of living together well.
By reading the description of the following four political science articles identify which field of political science they belong to: political philosophy, Canadian politics, comparative politics, or international relations.
- ) An examination of the role of the United Nations in the war in Iraq.
- ) A study of nationalism in the right-wing political parties in Ireland, South Africa, and Japan.
- ) An exploration of the changes made to unemployment insurance by the Brian Mulroney Progressive Conservative government from 1984 to 1993.
- ) A study on the relationship between property and democracy in the writings of Aristotle, John Locke, and John Stuart Mill.
- ) International Relations
- ) Comparative Politics
- ) Canadian Politics
- ) Political Philosophy
Definition of Power
Most power in modern society is consensual because the citizens that inhabit the society consent to the power of leadership.
Definition of Nation
A group of people with common characteristics
Definition of State
A clearly defined territory, power, defined citizenship, institution.
Definition of Nation State
A state where only one Nation is present (rare in modern society)
Definition of Legitimacy
Makes people consent without the need for power or force
By reading the description of the following four political science articles identify which methodological approach to political science that they take: political philosophy, behaviouralism, institutionalism, or political economy. At the same time, try to identify which field of political science that these topics belong to.
- ) An exploration of the effect of opinions on gun control in voting for the Conservative Party in the 2004 and 2006 federal elections using opinion polls from the Canadian Election Study.
- ) A study of how the American and Mexican Senates have constrained the power of the President in those countries during the 20th century.
- ) An examination of how differing understandings of equality have affected the social assistance policies of Saskatchewan governments using the writings of Karl Marx and Edmund Burke.
- ) A study of how rising unemployment rates in Europe have affected trade liberalization efforts at the WTO since its creation in 1994.
- ) Behaviouralism
- ) Institutionalism
- ) Political Philosophy
- ) Political Economy
Definition of Justice
Political outcome that is seen as fair
5 Key Components of a liberal democracy?
Rights and Freedoms, Separation of Church and State, Constitutionalism, Rule of Law, and Representative and Responsible Government
Constitutionalism?
Written document that provides the public with a way to limit the power of the government.
Without
rule of law?
due process, not unlimited power.
Representative government Vs. Responsible?
Representative: You as a citizen gives up your power and chooses to delegate it to a representative.
Responsible: the executive of the government must maintain the confidence of the legislature(MP’s) If not it falls. Need to get 50+1% in confidence vote. No responsible gov in the United States.
Political Philosophy? Pg.33-34
Study of political Ideas
- Read literature written by political philosophers.
- Marx, Aristotle, Hobbs, Rousseau, etc.
Canon of political Philosophy?
A group of people from the past who have some interesting beliefs which may counter each other on what certain intrinsic pieces of politics are and how we should see them and/or follow them.
These certain thinkers were chosen because they were so original, ahead of the game in certain parts of politics.
By yourself, match each of these quotes from a great thinker with one of the ‘Great Questions of Political Philosophy’. Remember the four ‘Great Questions of Political Philosophy’ are as follows: What is human nature? Are the interests of the individual or the community more important? How much should government interfere in the economy and the private lives of citizens? What is the best form of government?
- ) “the Supreme Power cannot take from any man any part of his property without his own consent: for the preservation of property being the end of government, and that which for men enter into society” Chapter XI, Second Treatise of Government, John Locke, 1689.
- ) “‘Unless’ I said, ‘the philosophers rule as kings or those now called kings and chiefs genuinely and adequately philosophize, and political power and philosophy coincide in the same place…in no other city would there be public or private happiness”, Book V, The Republic, Plato, 360 B.C.
- ) “Each of us places his person and all his power in common under the supreme direction of the general will; and as one we receive each member as an indivisible part of the whole.” Chapter VI, On the Social Contract, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 1762.
- ) “Hereby it is manifest that during the time men live without common power to keep them in awe, they are in that condition which is called war, and such a war as is of every man against every man.” Chapter XIII, Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes, 1651.
- interfere in economy and the private lives of citizens.
- The best form of government.
- Interests of the individual or the community.
- What is human Nature.
Ideology from Johnston(281)?
“a more or less consistent set of beliefs about the nature of the society in which individuals live and about the proper role of the state in establishing or maintaining that society.”
3 components of ideologies?
- Idealization(what is a good society)
- Diagnosis(critique of existing society)
- Prescription(the way to transform existing society in the good society)
Political Philosophy and Ideology
Ideologies are often associated with certain thinkers who form the canon of political theory.
Ideology is much simpler, accessible and less systematic.
Left Vs. Right =
Authoritarian vs. Libertarian