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Political Science Power and Politics. Power and Politics. Politics: is that process in any society, usually working through the institutions of government and involving the use of power, which decides who receives the benefits and who pays the costs of society. Power defined?.
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Power and Politics • Politics: is that process in any society, usually working through the institutions of government and involving the use of power, which decides who receives the benefits and who pays the costs of society. • Power defined?
Power and Politics • Politics and power then, taken together, equal the process and practice of ruling. • Politics is a process. • As Political Scientist Harold Laswell wrote, politics is a means of deciding "who gets what, when, and how."
Politics Our definition of politics makes three assumptions about people and the societies we live in: 1. To be human is to have needs, wants, and desires. 2. The resources that satisfy human needs are usually scarce: not everyone can be wealthy, powerful, or prestigious as they would like to be. 3. Most of the things we want (benefits) are costly: they must be paid for with economic resources, time, sometimes even human lives.
Politics • This process of distribution is politics, and it seems to follow that politics is an essential part of every society. Without politics (this process), society cannot function. • While this idea depicts politics as a positive process that is good and necessary for society, there are those that have come to view politics as synonymous with corruption.
Politics • Is politics inherently corrupt? • Examples? • Hitler, Stalin, Castro, Saddam…most dictators • U.S. not immune. • Examples?
Politics • Remember that politics is a process—and the way that it is carried out is only a reflection on human nature. • Thus, if politics is at the center of all societies, then so is corruption to some degree.
Politics • The most extreme negative attitude towards politics manifests itself as anarchy. • Anarchists see the political process as, at best, an unnecessary appendage to society and at worst, the cause of all society's ills.
Politics • The truth is that there are positive and negative aspects of politics. • To some degree, politics can be unnecessary, unimportant, oppressive, or corrupt. • But it is still necessary, and emphasizing its negative aspects ignores its positive functions like maintaining order, providing security, etc.
Politics • There are two basic concepts of politics: • Government • Power • Power situations?
Niccolo Machiavelli • Machiavelli wrote The Prince in which he drew the conclusion that politics equaled power and that it existed in all aspects of society. • Viewed man as naturally self-centered and highly competitive. • Machiavelli understood that man is driven by his own self-interests – the quest for power — greed.
Niccolo Machiavelli • Machiavelli sought to present the realistic way to successfully wield power. • Thus, political actions should be separate and free from moral considerations. • While he was not advocating immorality, his arguments were aimed at the political theorists of the time who were judging rulers and governments against theologically and ethically based standards of conduct—the way men ought to be.
Human Nature and Politics Hobbes v. Locke
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) • Leviathan(1651) • English political philosopher • Very pessimistic view of human nature. • Believed that society and political systems exist to maintain order among highly competitive and selfish human beings.
Thomas Hobbes (1588-1679) • Man was incapable of controlling and ruling himself. • Only an absolute authoritarian government was capable of controlling society providing order and security. • Without order maintained by an effective political system, Hobbes believed that life for man would be "solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short."
John Locke (1632-1704) • Two Treatises on Government (1689) • Believed man to be rather decent, inclined towards society, and more governed by reason. • Formulated Newton’s concept of natural laws into a political system. • People are born in a state of nature with the natural (inalienable) rights for individuals to life, liberty, and property.
John Locke (1632-1704) • In a state of nature everyone was free to pursue their own self-interest (property) and justice could not prevail. • Government was instituted to provide justice. • What kind of government? A moral government which was legitimate must be designed to protect the natural rights possessed by all men in a state of nature.
John Locke (1632-1704) This could only be done through: • Known and established laws which applied equally to all • Known and unbiased judges to administer justice • An executive with power to enforce the laws Political power would be balanced as gravity balances the forces of the physical universe.
Human Nature • Is man first a social or communal animal who naturally seeks to work with and cooperate with others for the betterment of all society? OR • Is society a collective of self-interested individuals who are brought together by force and forced to cooperate against their natural inclinations? OR • Are people born a "tabula rosa"— a blank slate to be written on?
Human Nature • Can people "learn" to cooperate, if given the "proper" encouragement? • Consequences? • “Ideas have consequences, bad ideas have bad consequences.“ -- Jeanne Kirkpatrick
