Intro Flashcards
What is political science?
It is more than just studying the government it includes: human, community, power, conflicts, change
What is POWER?
the ability to direct or the behaviour of others or the course of events e.g. I have power over my dog.
definition of Political Science
study that tries to establish who.how, and why power is used :)
What are the 5 areas of Political Science?
- Comparative 2. International Relations 3. Political Theory 4. Publicl Law 5. Public Administration
Comparative Politics
Compares systems in order to test theories e.g. liberalism vs. communism
International Relations
Focuses on economics, diplomacy and politics at the global level - started after WWI - popular area of study
Public Administration
Focuses on the development of policy as well as leadership within government
Public Law
Focuses on the relations between the state and the individual through the legal system
Political Theory
Focuses on the theories of how countries are run e.g. liberals, marxists
Evolution of Political Theory
Politics is one of the oldest academic studies it has changed over time Started in Greece
Much more evolution in the 1700s
Ancient Greeks
Creation of a good society
Balance between power with justice and order
There has to be resaon for power
Greeks provide 4 sub-disciplines of political studies
- Domestic politics (Herodotus) 2. political philosophy (Plato) 3. Comparative politics (Aristotle) 4. International politics (Thucydides)
Pre-modern thinkers
Thomas Aquinas Machiavelli (Florence) Thomas Hobbes (England) John Locke (England)
Thomas Aquinas
“Just war”
3 Factors of a Just War
- Must be a good purpose and not for wealth or power 2. must be waged by a proper authority such as a state 3. Peace must be a central motive
Where was Machiavelli from?
Florence
What is Machiavelli’s book
The Prince” about?
The book discussed morality and the pursuit of power
It suggests it is OK to use decipt and violence to get power
“the end justifies the means”
What did Thomas Hobbes believe?
He wrote Leviathan
He believed in central authority over the masses, so the king can take what he wants from his subjects
He wrote about the English Civil War
What did John Locke believe
Locke was the “Father of Liberalism”
He believed all men were created equal. Central authority must be given to the masses (unlike Hobbes who thought the king should have authority)
Locke was also English like Hobbes.
