2 - Politics, Power & Authority Flashcards
What are descriptive questions?
How things in society work
What are normative questions?
What should be
Meanings of politics
- Formal government activity
- Dishonesty seeking personal gain
- Noble pursuit of the public good
What is politics?
- Social – behaviour b/w people and the views that society holds on issues
- Process – how decisions are made and how society coordinates and cooperates in decision making
- Conflict – discourse and conflicting opinions
- Binding decisions - implemented and enforced by those with authority
Aspects of politics
- Collective action
- Conflict and cooperation
- Authoritarian decisions
- Laws and decisions enforced against the disobedient
What is government?
- Activity of governing or ruling
- Exercising authority over others
- Institutions responsible for coordinating collective decisions
Aristotle’s 2 questions
1) Who rules?
2) In whose interest?
One rules in the interest of the rulers
Tyranny
One rules in the interest of the governed
Monarchy
Few rule in the interest of the rulers
Oligarchy
Few rule in the interest of the governed
Aristocracy
Many rule in the interest of the rulers
Democracy
Many rule in the interest of the governed
Polity
What is the state?
- Territorial community
- Centralized governing authority
- Sovereignty, including the monopoly of legitimate violence
What is power?
- The ability to produce results
- Influencing others’ behaviour
3 main forms of power
1) Coercion
2) Influence
3) Manipulation
What is hard power?
The stick - force and coercion
The carrot - bribes and sanctions
What is soft power?
- Attraction
- Agenda setting
- Getting others to want what you want
- Institutions, values, policies
- The status of a nation in the global community can grant them soft power
Power as empowerment
- Counter self interest
- Ability to help others achieve their goals
- Productive power
What is productive power?
It generates the subject of power (student, slave, worker, politician, etc.)
The world can be split into three different planes
1) Military
2) Economic
3) Key transnational issues
What is authority?
- The right to demand
- The right to punish those who disobey
