Intro

Question 1

Political theory vs political ideology

Answer 1

• Theory tends to be more reflexive, normative, open to change and democracy and counterarguments
• Theory and action work together (Arendt)
• Ideology is a system of thoughts, explaining how things work, logic of an idea, not as open to counterarguments

Question 2

Functions of Political Theory (clue there is 4)

Answer 2

• Heuristic = To make sense of what happens; to derive concepts and problems that we’ll use to understand what is going on
• Pedagogical = To show policy makers how political ideas shape institutions and power relations; goal of passing judgement on things; use concepts to understand and judge what’s going on
• Critical = To critique what’s going on; based on the idea that we can always do better and we can always understand better;
• Ethical = To understand, judge, and propose improvements, we need to have an impulse to find a good life. We need to want to improve ourselves and the world. To create a good life and the correct institutions to improve the world.

Question 3

Origins of Green Political Theory

Answer 3

• With environmental and animal ethics (in 1970s). Connecting how we treat animals and how we treat the environment
• Environmental justice movement (1970s) - toxic waste protests in US
• Climate justice (1970s/80s)
• Green political thought (Andrew Dobson)