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Political Concepts

Political Concepts. An Introduction To Political Theory and Statehood. What is Political Science?. The scientific study of politics and government What political science is not? A perfect science that has all the answers. What is Political Science? Continued.

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Political Concepts

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  1. Political Concepts An Introduction To Political Theory and Statehood

  2. What is Political Science? The scientific study of politics and government • What political science is not? • A perfect science that has all the answers

  3. What is Political Science?Continued • Aristotle called Poli.Sci. 'the most authoritative art' and 'most truly the master art‘ Why? • Politics envelopes everything… • The reason is that 'the happiness of the individual is the same as that of the state' (Politics VII.2), 'the end of individuals and of states is the same' (Politics VII.15).

  4. World Politics • World Politics studies the relations among nations. • World Politics is different from domestic politics which deals with the internal decision-making of nation-states.

  5. Anarchy vs Authority • There is no world gov’t or higher authority policing nation-states. What maintains sanity and stability? • A sometimes fragile association of states, reason, the UN, Large Powers, or Power Alliances.

  6. The Search for Utopia • Does the perfect society exist? • Utopia has been translated to mean “no place” • Can Utopia exist? • John Lennon’s “Imagine” • Is this anti-politics?

  7. High Politics: the politics of war between states; military security and diplomacy • Low Politics: trade, int’l organizations, NGO’s, culture, travel • The challenge is to understand the complex interaction among nations.

  8. Key Terms • Nationalism: A set of ideas that help distinguish people from one another. Loyalty or devotion to one’s nation • Patriotism: Pride in a nation’s accomplisments • State: A territorial entity controlled by a government. State is a legal term. Gov is sovereign (recognized by int’l community) • Nation: part of a population that share a group identity (based upon race, religion, language, etc.) • Country: A geographic term. • Government: institution through which public policy is implemented. • Legitimacy: People's attitude that the government's rule is rightful • Gained through: • Existing for a long time • Governing well • Structure of government • National symbols

  9. Sovereignty: National control over the country's territory • Authority: Psychological ability of leaders to get others to obey them • Most people obey what they consider to be legitimate authority most of the time • Order: The structures rules and practices enforced by a group of people • Community: An association of individuals who share a common identity • Government: Those persons and institutions that make and enforce rules or laws for the larger community • Nation-State: Geographically defined community administered by a government • Nation: Made up of a distinct group of people who share a common background, including any or all of the following: geographic location, history, racial or ethnic characteristics, religion, language, culture, and belief in common political ideas • State: A viable, sovereign government exercising authority and power in the name of society

  10. Opposing Views of WP • Realism vs Idealism (Liberalism?) • Internationalism vs Isolationism • Free Trade vs Protectionism • Capitalism vs Socialism • Other Views: Environmentalism, Feminism, Marxism, Liberalism

  11. Realism • Hobbes (1651), Machiavelli • Draws a Very Sharp Distinction Between the Ordered Nature of Politics within Nations and the Dis-ordered Nature of Politics Between Nations • Very Pessimistic Perspective on International Politics • Interaction under Anarchy is Equivalent to Life in a State of Nature • International Politics is Dominated by Fighting or Preparing to Fight Wars

  12. Liberalism John Locke; Immanuel Kant; J.J. Rousseau • Draws a Less-Sharp Distinction Between Domestic and International Politics • Relatively Hopeful (if not optimistic) Perspective on International Politics. • Fear Will Cause Governments to Combine Independent Nations into Larger Political Units. • Process of Political Integration Will Be Reinforced By International Economic Interdependence

  13. Realism Vs. Liberalism • Realism is Pessimistic; Emphasizing Enduring Nature of Anarchy that Cannot Be Altered. • Liberalism is Hopeful; Emphasizing Human Ability to Alter its Environment By Creating New Political Institutions. • More Than A Sterile Debate Among Political Theorists; One Can See the Interplay Between Realism and Liberalism in the Real World.

  14. Realism and State Behavior • Realism Has Been Used to Explain Why There is Sometimes War and Sometimes Peace Among the Great Powers. • Realist Explanations of War and Peace Focus on the Balance of Power. • How do Changes in the Balance of Power Affect the Probability of War and Peace?

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