First Midterm 201 Flashcards
What is Politics
who gets what when and how Harold Lasswell 1936
allocation of scarce resources like land, money and energy.
conflict
Politics as Defined by Karl Marx
the organized power of one class for oppressing another. to eliminate the basis for classes is to eliminate the need for politics.
Politics as Defined by Francis Fukyama
end of history thesis
liberal democracy or democratic triumph that puts an end to all ideological conflict.
Aristotle’s Classification Scheme
a judgment of the degree to which it ruled in the interests of all as opposed to the interests of some small section of the population.
Good Forms of Aristotle’s Classification
1 RULER: monarchy
FEW RULERS: Aristocracy (best people in power) most preferred by Aristotle
MANY RULERS: Polity
Corrupt Forms of Aristotle’s Classification
1 RULER: Tyranny
FEW RULERS: Oligarchy
MANY RULERS: Democracy (mob)
Meritocracy
rule by the people who are the ‘best rulers’
most education and best in their field
Power
the ability to force behavior upon those who would not otherwise choose it; implies coercion. possession of violence.
unstable
force
Authority
associated with legitimacy. Has the consent of the ruled.
Agreement; Consent
power in to authority is the goal of most regimes - through the law, constitution
People must believe in the law to uphold the authority
Plato’s Cave
Republic: what the state ought to be like. What does the good life look like.
Fictional conversation between Socrates and Glaucon
Argues that rulers must go back
The role of leaders to liberate their people.
Sovereignty
highest form of authority in society.
Supreme law making body
Larger entity containing bureaucratic, judicial, military, police and security institutions.
Civil Society
the body non governmental institutions that link the individual and the state
examples include trade unions, religious institutions and voluntary organizations.
Approaches to International Relations
Realist: traditional approach. state as the key actor . difficulty of securing agreement between states can be barrier to resolution of supranational problems.
Governance
traditional governmental institutions and all other inputs such as the market, interest groups
Normative Analysis
whether when why ought
classic method
what constitutes the good life
not resolvable by an appeal to empirical facts
imagined future
intersection of individualism and collectivism
Empirical Analysis
seeks to identify observable phenomenon in order to establish what is.
testable and measurable
value free
came with the rise of behaviorism: human behavior capable of being measured in a precise way
Positivism
science must limit itself to what is observable. separation between fact and value.
logical positivism - normative claims are meaningless
Deductive vs Inductive
ALL UNDER EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS
deductive method associated with rational-choice theories: politics as a response to the problem of collective action. starts with an assumption of human behavior.
inductive method associated with behaviorism. start with empirical observations
Semantic Analysis
meaning of the concepts we use.
there aren’t commonly accepted definitions
The State
Max Weber: the state has a monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force in enforcing its order within a given territorial area.
The State must have- monopoly on power, legitimacy, physical force, citizens/people, land/territory with internationally recognized borders.
Sovereignty
Jean Bodin: the most high absolute and perpetual power over the citizens and subjects in a commonwealth.
Night-Watchman State
role of the state is minimal
ensures external and internal security+ property rights
little role in civil society
maximizes freedom, protect individual rights to life liberty and property
large military to be used only in self-defence
Interventionist or Developmental State
government and private business partner together to concentrate on rapid economic growth
social and economics system or programs focused on equality
robust education system or programs
How Subject the Leaders of a State are the Will of the People
very- liberal democracy
illiberal democracy
authoritarian state
not at all- totalitarian state
Liberal Democracy
free and fair elections universal suffrage personal liberty protection of individual rights effective and accountable to the people
Illiberal Democracy
elections are held but little protections for rights and liberties
state control
constraints on communication and opposition parties.
Authoritarian State
no fair elections
political leaders lack accountability
citizens have no rights
ruling party usually comprised of individual, family, military, ruling
Totalitarian State
brutal and oppressive
severe punishment for any communication critical of government
Forms of Power
complete control institutional power (ex. banks) media social power (ex. celebrities) economic power (ex. lobbyists, industry) dogma/religion party power labour power
voting doesn’t necessarily change everything because you are only changing one form of power.
Pluralism
theory of the state
Classical Pluralism
Dahl- society made up of many competing groups and the government must reflect balance of power of those groups. polyarchy
no one group is dominant ensured by competition
formation of groups is normal and natural and results from scarce resources
constant tension between groups
authoritarian = bad
Interest Groups
sectional groups: protecting interests (usually economic) example: unions
cause groups: promote interests or ideals example: homeless or ethnicity
offer checks and balances
Elitism
led by unified, self conscious elite that protect their own interests
power concentrated in the hands of elite that dominate economic, military and governmental spheres
IRON LAW OF OLIGARCHY: all complex organizations under the direction of a dominant group.
Corporatism
state incorporates economic interests and trade union/industry interests in order to control them and civil society in general.
Marxism
state always controlled by its economic elite
classes based on material status
capitalism has two classes dominant class Bourgeoisie (owners)
dominated class Proletariat (workers)
society controlled by the means of production
economic power = political power therefore emancipation by the working class is pointless by gaining votes and winning an election because the power lies in the economic sphere.
New Right Theory of the State
advocated for by liberal free market thinkers
state has tendency to expand its activities far beyond what is healthy for society because :
competitive electoral politics encourage politicians to offer ever increasing benefits to attract votes but once elected get close to bankruptcy because cant meet promises ( economic consequences of democracy )
state bureaucracy to expand because it is in its interest to do so. increase intervention and create big government , team up with interest groups
against pluralist theory because the state is not neural and the interplay of competing interests does not foster stability but leads to hyper-pluralism of powerful groups vs weak government
Traditional Authority
based on traditional customs & values. ex) divine right of kinds, aristocracy
Charismatic Authority
personal traits of an individual. intangible qualities.
often emerge at times of crisis
Legal-Rational Authority
based on the status of the office within a constitutional structure. the fact that you believe in the law
constitutional convention
most powerful
Bernard Russell
power is the production of intended results: the unforeseen effects of our influence on others cannot be called power.
Michel Foucault
power is unavoidable, power is everywhere, power relations.
can only change its focus and implementation
Faces of Power
Luke’s Three Dimensions of Power
1) get one group to do something they wouldn’t do otherwise. pluralist decision making approach. exercise of power. certain groups might exercise power of one area but cannot dominate across a range of policy-making issues. public exercise of power. (empirical)
2) barriers to public airing grievances. dominant elites keep issues that might threaten position off agenda. non decision making (not empirical)
3) influence on group determining wants and therefore exerts power. prevent groups from knowing where their true interests lie. shape demands. (not empirical)
False Consciousness
a belief or perspective that prevents someone from assessing the true nature of situation. Marxist idea that capitalism makes it impossible for most people living within a system to see the true nature of their exploitation.
7 Possibilities for Democracy
- govern in a sense that all should be involved in legislating, deciding policy, applying law, and in governmental administration.
- all should be personally involved in crucial decision making
- rulers should be held accountable to the ruled
- rulers should be held accountable to the representatives of the ruled.
- rulers should be chose by the ruled.
- rulers should be chosen by the representatives of the ruled.
- rulers should act in the interests of the ruled.
Constraints on Freedom
non-democratic government physical coercion physical incapacity rationality psychological influences economic impediments
Negative Liberty
freedom from. no entity stopping me from doing x free from obstruction and interference negate govs stops you or punishes you. John Locke
Positive Liberty
to give or provide a freedom. freedom to
ex) freedom to education
Jean-Jacques Rousseau
Justice
give to others what they are entitled to
procedural justice: process by which an outcome is reached.
social justice: fairness of outcome itself
Meritocratic Theory of Justice
distribution of resources according to what the individuals deserve, based on merit, natural talent, working hard or general contribution to society. just to reward people deferentially.
equal opportunity
Rawls’ Theory of Justice
social contract tradition
individuals in an original position to arrive at the meaning of justice. will conclude:
1. each person is to have an equal right to the most extensive total system of equal basic liberties compatible with a similar system of liberty for all.
2. social and economic inequalities are to be arranged so that they are both: to the greatest benefit of the lest advantaged and attached to offices and positions open to all under conditions of fair and equal opportunity.
Cosmopolitan Theory of Justice
principle that our loyalties should lie with human beings as a whole and not just with those who happen to live in the same country as us
global justice
Communitarianism and Justice
culturally specific justice claims. principles of justice should take into account he particular social and cultural character of the society for which they are intended.
Green Political Thought & Justice
inter generational vs intra generational
claim of justice beyond humans
Ideology
help to explain the world
evaluate the world
orient you in the world
helps you to know how to act in the world.
Classical Liberalism
people rational, individual liberty, capable of living freely, reason, emphasis on individualism, people know and can promote their interests, free to decide goals, limit states role 7 TENANTS; 1. negative liberty 2.equality 3.tolerance 4.property 5. reason and rationale 6.trade
History of Liberalism
prior: religious conformity, catholic church had immense power, separation between state and church didn’t exist. ascribed status, feudalism.
Change emerges from the Renaissance and the enlightenment. exploration, trade, protestant reformation, and the emergence of capitalism.
English Civil War
clashes between crown and democratic republicans in parliament. Rule of law, democracy
Oliver Cromwell, leader of Puritans (revolt leader)
Kind Charles I executed
American Revolution
first classical liberal constitutional document. Division of power, Bill of Rights:
1st Amendment: freedom of speech and religion
2nd Amendment: right to bear arms and protect liberty from usurpation by gov
3rd Amendment: no soldiers in your house unless you let them in
Hobbes and Locke
Socialism
equality structures are designed to subvert equality economy is a fundamentally unfair system collective/cooperative fashion community goals should be larger than those of individuals optimistic view of human nature equality community
Revolutionary Socialism
Third International Organization
popular uprising (Karl Marx) or coupe led by disciplined party
communism falls under this category
Democratic or Evolutionary Socialism
Socialist International Organization
universal suffrage make it possible to achieve socialism through political democracy.
Assumes state can be responsive to the interest of the working class
Utopianism & Authoritarianism
criticism of socialism is that it is Utopian, unrealistic and unrealizable will result in an authoritarian state
Conservatism
Reaction to liberalism Edmund Burke collective wisdom, emphasis on tradition, law and order, patriotism, respect for order organic nature of society change resistant or slow change aversion to rationalism
Neoconservative Principles
good vs evil 1. patriotism and immorality of dissent 2. opposition to world government 3. good vs evil outlook on life, either you're with us or you're against us 4. promotion of American goals through the use of force. conflict ridden Bush 2001-2009 mugged by reality
