What is Political Science?

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What is Political Science?

• An introduction to the study of politics

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What is Political Science?

• 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).

Plato and Aristotle
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What is Political Science?

• What is political science?
• The scientific study of politics and
  government
• What political science is not?
• A perfect science that has all the answers
• Is political science a science? If so, how is
  politics scientific?

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Branches of Political Science

• Political Theory
• International Politics
• Domestic Politics
• Comparative Politics
• Political Statistics
• Public Administration
• Provincial/Local Politics

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Defining Politics and Political Science

• Some definitions of politics
• At its most basic level, politics is the struggle
  of "who gets what, when, how.
• The study of human interaction and organization
  with a view of maximizing happiness and human
  potential for both men and women
• Groucho Marx - "politics is the art of finding
  trouble everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly,
  and applying the wrong remedy."

Groucho Marx
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Additional Definitions of Politics

• "politics is a means through which individual
  and group interests compete to shape government's
  impact on society's problems and goals"
• "the process by which rulers are selected and
  empowered to make decisions, take action to
  attain common goals, and reconcile conflicts
  within a political community"

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What is Politics?

• Are we always going to be happy with the
  decisions that are made? If not, how will we
  react? The way we react is called politics.
• In essence, politics is an activity whereby an
  individual or group seeks power by mobilizing
  support for their particular point of view.
  Politics is the ability to get what you want by
  obtaining power. What is Power?

The Essence of Politics?
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What is Power?

• Power is the ability of a person, group, or
  nation to get what it wants.
• As an equation, power is The ability of A to get
  B to do X (or not do X)
• In the case of governments, they can use soft
  power (e.g. persuasion), or hard power (e.g.
  military force)

U.S. Aircraft Carrier.
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Other Definitions of Power

• The ability of one person to get another to do
  his or her bidding
• The ability of governments, and of governmental
  leaders, to make and enforce rules and to
  influence the behavior of individuals or groups
  by rewarding or punishing certain behaviors
• Robert Dahl A has power over B to the extent
  that A can get B to do something that B would
  otherwise not do
• Steven Lukes A exercises power over B when A
  affects B in a manner contrary to Bs interests

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What do Political Scientists do?

• Political scientists study conflicts, both
  small and large, in an effort to develop general
  principles or theories about the way the world of
  politics works.

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Basic Concepts in Political Science

• 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

North Korean Leader Kim Jong il
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Concepts in Poli Sci

• 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

Canadas claim of sovereignty Over Canadas North
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Concepts in Political Science

• 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

Serbian Nationalism
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Additional terms that a political scientist needs
to know

• Citizenship Membership in a political community,
  such as a country, including rights, duties and
  responsibilities.
• Government A system by which a group of people
  makes laws that are enforced to guide the affairs
  of the community, such as a country, province or
  municipality.
• Society A group of interacting people who share
  a community
• Authoritarian A form of decision making or a
  government system in which one person, or a small
  group holds all power (e.g. a dictatorship).
• Democratic A form of decision making in which
  all group members have a vote.
• Consensus A group decision reached through
  discussion to which all group members agree.

Consensus Not easy!
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Heres some more!

• Politics A human activity in which opposing
  individuals or groups mobilize support to obtain
  power to govern.
• Power The ability of an individual or group to
  get what it wants. (The ability of A to get B to
  do C)
• Common Good That which benefits all (or most)
  people in a community or society.
• Rule of Law The fundamental constitutional
  principle that no government or person is above
  the law and that society is governed by laws that
  apply fairly to all sometimes referred to as
  law and order
• Direct Democracy A government in which all
  citizens directly participate in decision making
  without representatives (Ancient Greece)
• Representative Democracy A democracy in which
  citizens periodically elect others to represent
  them in government.

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The Beginnings of Democracy

• The origin of democracy goes back to the 5th
  Century BC (495-429 BC).
• The polis (city) of Athens was the most famous
  of the city states. It was here that the idea of
  democracy first took shape that is, that
  citizens of the city could have a direct say in
  the affairs of the state. This democracy was
  direct democracy since people could make
  political decisions themselves without
  representation.
• However, only free born males over a certain age
  could vote. Women and slaves were excluded from
  political participation (politics).

Plato Greek Philosopher
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The Beginnings of Democracy

• However, as Athens grew in size, the idea of
  Direct Democracy became impossible to maintain
  (too many decision makers).
• As a result, their system was eventually changed
  to a Representative Democracy whereby citizens
  would elect other citizens to represent them. The
  role of these representatives (politicians) was
  to give a voice to the concerns of their
  communities.
• Plato, Socrates and others were deeply critical
  of representative democracy. Socrates was later
  put to death for his views. Why?

The Trial of Socrates
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Representative Democracy

• In our current democratic system, we use
  political leaders to represent our concerns
  within Canadas Political institutions.
• However, if we cannot exercise direct democracy
  except at the ballot box, is it still democracy?
  What if they make decisions without our consent?
  What if they satisfy the majority of Canadians
  (to win elections), but ignore minority voices?

Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper
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Hurricane Katrina
During the flooding of New Orleans, the U.S. Army
was sent in to restore order. However, in many
areas there was an absence of authority.
Government simply did not exist. What happened?
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Hurricane Katrina
Looting in downtown New Orleans
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Hurricane Katrina
The response to Looting. Is this necessary?
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Jean Jacques Rousseau

• French Philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau
  (1712-1778) disagreed with Hobbes and thought
  that societies were free and friendly before
  governments were formed. In his famous political
  work The Social Contract he states that Man is
  born free, but everywhere he is in chains.
• He believed that humans have a general idea of
  what is the Common good. That is, they know
  what is morally right and wrong. All we need is
  a Social Contract which represents the general
  will of the people. Our common sense will save
  us from ourselves not an all powerful
  government. Do you agree with Rousseau?

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Why do these students Obey?
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Why do People Obey?
Why are they waiting in line? Did someone teach
them?
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The Magna Carta

• The Magna Carta was signed in 1215 by King John.
• With the Magna Carta, governments and people must
  follow the law even the King!

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The French Revolution

• King Louis was an Absolute Monarch. He was
  referred to as the Sun King and above the rule
  of law.
• He was later replaced by Louis 16th. The French
  people eventually revolted against his absolute
  power. The result? The French Revolution

Louis the 14th
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The French Revolution (1789)
Liberty, Equality, Fraternity
The Execution of King Louis the16th
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Questions for Discussion

• How do Hobbes and Rousseaus views on human
  nature differ?
• Do you agree with Hobbes or Rousseau? Explain
  your answer in a short paragraph (150 words)