Theories: Classic and Modern

1. Theories: Classic and Modern Political Science Mr. Aaron BBS

2. Classic Theories • Niccolo Machiavelli wrote The Prince, which is about getting and using political power. Many philosophers see him as the first modern philosopher because his thoughts about politics were not rooted in religion. He was pegged as a realist. • The Contractualists, Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau, all analyzed why political systems should exist at all. They all agreed upon the idea of a social contract. Rousseau argued though that society can be drastically improved, leading to human freedom, through general will—what everyone wants over and above the “particular wills” of individuals and interest groups.

3. Marxist Theories • Karl Marx (1818-1883)produced a complex theory existing of economics, social class, and history. • Economics: Marx concentrated on profit. Workers produce things but get paid only a fraction of the value of what they produce. The workers, or proletariat, are paid too little to purchase the products they have made leading to depressions. • Social Class: Marx concentrated on ownership. Most laws concern property rights because the bourgeoisie want to hold onto their property. The proletariat owns nothing. • History: Marx concentrated on learning from the past to predict the future. His idea of a superstructure led him to think that once capitalism fails, socialism will prevail.

4. Contemporary Theories • The events surrounding WWII and political leaders at that time, led political scientists to examine how politics works and not how it is supposed to work. Many took the behavioralist approach/theory to concentrate on actual human behavior as opposed to thoughts or feelings. However, many argue that this theory neglects the possibility of change and its impact. • The systems model looks at citizens’ demands, or “inputs”, are recognized by the government and decisions/actions, or “outputs”, are made. This approach is biased towards the status quo and does not handle upheaval well.

5. Contemporary Theories • The modernization theory argues that the economy, culture, and politics are fused together as one package. If one facet changes, the others will change along with it. • The rational-choice theory argues that one can predict political behavior by knowing the interests of the actors involved because they rationally choose to maximize their interests. What will give the “actor” the largest payoff? • Finally, the new institutionalism theorists argue that government structures take on a life of their own and shape the behavior and attitudes of the people who live within and benefit from them.

6. Vocabulary • Realism: Working with the world as it is and not as we wish it to be. • General Will: Rousseau’s theory of what everybody in the community wants. • Proletariat: Marx’s name for the industrial working class. • Bourgeois: Middle class in general • Superstructure: Marx’s term for everything that is built on top of the economy (laws, art, politics, etc…) • Leftists: Favors social and economic change to uplift poor • Status Quo: The current situation