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Political Science

Political Science. Dr. Nerijus Maliukevičius Vilnius University. Startup. Documentary and the research method . Lions vs. foxes theme in the documentary. Human nature according to presented ideologies? Origins of politics – how do you see it?

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Political Science

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  1. Political Science Dr. Nerijus Maliukevičius Vilnius University

  2. Startup • Documentary and the research method. • Lions vs. foxes theme in the documentary. • Human nature according to presented ideologies? • Origins of politics – how do you see it? • The most influential types of political knowledge in contemporary public affairs? Religion in the documentary? • The use of fear in politics and vicious circle of A. Wendt.

  3. Political science Political science … is an academic and research discipline that deals with the theory and practice of politics and the description and analysis of political systems, political institutions and political behaviour. … a viable professional community sharing the ‘self-imposed standards and norms’ into which the incoming members of the profession are socialized.

  4. Political science Types of Knowledge (Walter Wallace) Religious; Mystical; Authoritarian; Logical deductive; Scientific. !!! All are used in Politics but only Scientific works for Political science

  5. Political science Tools of scientific knowledge Concept – general idea about something (exp. Political culture). Model – a tool which helps achieve knowledge (exp. Easton’s Political system; Policy cycle). Theory – a system of concepts and models which helps to explain and predict social events (exp. Realist theory of IR). ??? Paradigms

  6. Political science Level of analysis problem ??? Policy Politeia Politics

  7. Political science Evolution – from universalism to institualization of PS: Philosophic tradition; Empirical tradition; Scientific tradition; Contemporary traditions – the “smart mix” of all. Exp. of Lithuania

  8. Methodology Research methods: Experimental – problem of controlling the variables; Quantitative and qualitative – lies, damned lies, and statistics; Comparative – how much is enough? Case study – what it proves?

  9. Political science The problem of autonomy? Geopolitics; Political communication; Political economy; … Normative dilemma for political scientist?

  10. Ideas and Ideologies Questions: • Problem of definition. • Development of political ideas. • Ideologies. • “The Power of Nightmares” cont.

  11. Ideas and Ideologies • Marxist ideas are scientific – exp. of Scientific Marxism in Soviet Union?! • Liberalism is not an Ideology but a way of life?! • Conservatism is in fact pragmatism?! • What about pragmatic Barack Obama!!!

  12. Ideas and Ideologies Political ideas (ideals?) vs. Political ideologies (programs? paradigms?) The problem of extreme interpretations!!!

  13. Definition? • Desstut de Tracy (1796) and idea-ology - the science of ideas. • Marx and Engels on capitalism in TheGerman Ideology: • False and deceiving; • Not scientific. … What about Socialism, Communism … and the “ruling intellectual force” of the proletariat? • War and Marxist influences on Karl Popper, Hannah Arendt – Ideology as an instrument for social control.

  14. Definition? • “Ideology – a closed system of thought, which, by claiming a monopoly of truth, refuses to tolerate opposing ideas and rival beliefs” • “Ideology as an action-oriented belief system, an interrelated set of ideas that in some way guides and inspires political action.” “World view” – “Ideal society” – “Roadmap”

  15. Ideas and Ideologies Ancient political philosophy: • Normative ideas about state and politics • Human nature is objectively good and needs to be analyzed • Knowledge is good • Human mind is able to find the best political model for the state • Idealism – the driving intellectual force Socrates, Plato, Aristotle

  16. Ideas and Ideologies Political philosophy of the Middle ages • Teocentrism; • Dual human nature (soul and body) • Practical problem of the Church vs. the State is solved for the benefit of the Church St. Augustine

  17. Ideas and Ideologies Political philosophy of the Renaissance - the First divide? • Anthropocentrism (Prometheus as a central theme) • National state vs. monarchy and empire • Absolute secular power Machiavelli, Hobbes?

  18. Ideas and Ideologies Political philosophy of Enlightenment – the Second divide? • State is the result of social contract • Civic society is superior to the state • State power can not be total • Idea of separation of powers Locke

  19. Ideas and Ideologies • Legacy of Political ideas and explanatory power. • Diplomacy: • Classical or Hugo Grotius type • Realist or Nicola Machiavelli type • Ethical or Immanuel Kant type • International relations (Alexander Wendt’s constructivism): • Relations of Kant, of Locke or of Hobbes style.

  20. Ideas and Ideologies Liberalism – the highest value is given to individual, his freedoms and rights. Historic context: • Fall of feudalism, birth of capitalism • New class of bourgeoisie Contra: • Absolutism and feudal privileges Pro: • Constitutional/representative government; • Laissez-fair capitalism with no State intervention.

  21. Ideas and Ideologies Principles: • Individualism • Freedom • Rationalism • Equality • Tolerance • Agreement • Constitutionalism

  22. Ideas and Ideologies • John Locke, Adam Smith, John Stuart Mill, Thomas Paine, Maynard Keynes, contemporaries. • Classical Liberalism, Social Liberalism, Contemporary Liberalism (American, German, other)

  23. Ideas and Ideologies Conservatism – the highest value is given to loyalty, tradition, authority, order and stability. Historical context: • Reaction to revolutionary movement of the XVIII century • Old class of aristocracy and royalty Contra: • Reform Pro: • ancien regime • “Change in order to conserve”

  24. Ideas and Ideologies Principles: • Tradition • Pragmatism • Imperfection of human nature • Hierarchy • Authority • Government

  25. Ideas and Ideologies • Edmund Burke, Joseph de Maistre, Samuel Huntington, contemporaries. • Classical Conservatism, New right, Neo-conservatism

  26. Ideas and Ideologies Socialism – the highest value is given to social community, justice, equality. Historical context: • Reaction to the industrialization • New class of workers Contra: • Capitalism Pro: • Reform/revolution • Common ownership

  27. Ideas and Ideologies Principles: • Collectivism • Social equality and justice • Cooperation and brotherhood • Monolithic society without classes • Public property

  28. Ideas and Ideologies • Karl Marx; Friedrich Engels; Vladimir Lenin; Leon Trotsky, contemporaries. • Marxism, Communism, Social democracy, New Left

  29. Spectrum?!

  30. Ideas and Ideologies Radical (goal and means) political ideologies • Anarchism • Fascism • Nazism • Religious fundamentalism

  31. Discussion • Uses and misuses of Political Ideas and Ideologies? • Intellectual influences on Political leaders. • Influences on Political thinkers: family, mentors, jail… other?

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