Introduction, what is politics ?

Question 1

What is political science ?

Answer 1

The rational and systematic study of political activities and institutions. Politics affects people live, sometimes in ways we aren’t aware of -> Try to have a thorough understanding of it

Question 2

Which new channel is the most accurate and impartial in its political coverage ?

Answer 2

CNN,BBC, Al Jazeera, RT, etc.

Question 3

Two main aspects of politics

Answer 3

• The making of common decisions for a group of people
• The exercise of power by some people over others

Question 4

Groups ?

Answer 4

Groups make decisions about what to do and what rules its member must follow. The structure and processes of decision-making is part of politics
Ex: workplaces, corporations, universities, families, clubs churches, etc.

Question 5

Politics refer to the decision-making in one particular group:

Answer 5

the unit of nation state

Question 6

What is nation state ?

Answer 6

A large group of people in some territory subject too the rule of an organised government

Question 7

Why does political science focus on this particular group ?

Question 8

What is power ?

Answer 8

The ability of one person cause another to do what the first wishes, by whatever means
or
the ability to bring about a state of affairs (where a state of affairs is any arrangement for how things are in the world”

Question 9

Example of power

Answer 9

• A parliament passing law
• A dictator deciding to invade another country

Question 10

Types of power (4 types)

Answer 10

• Forces
• Coercion
• Manipulation
• Persuasion

Question 11

1. Forces (types of power)

Answer 11

directly causing a state of affairs through physical action

Question 12

2. Coercion (types of power)

Answer 12

using threat of punishment to bring about behaviour

Question 13

3. Manipulation (types of power)

Answer 13

interfering with the way a person makes decisions

Question 14

4. Persuasion (types of power)

Answer 14

changing beliefs through rational process

Question 15

Three faces of power

Answer 15

Controlling ideas and opinions in a way that determines what people will decide.
For example: if people vote for X but their decision was caused by A getting them to want X, then A has power over them.

Question 16

(who has power?)
- Who makes the decisions that determine what happens?
- Who decides what things are decided? Who sets the agenda from which matters are considered and decisions are made?
- Who influences (or controls) the decision-making of those in 1 and 2?

Answer 16

• The power to decide between A and B.
• The power to determine that the choice is
  between only A and B (and not C).
  -The power to determine how whoever makes the
  choice between A and B, makes it.

Question 17

Government claims a special types of power

Answer 17

authority

Question 18

What is authority ?

Answer 18

The legitimate exercise of power - the use of power as it should be used
Governments claim authority over their people as a whole, they have (or claim they have) the right to exercise power in different ways

Question 19

what authority does ?

Answer 19

what laws and policies government applies to people

Question 20

who exercise authority ?

Answer 20

the various parts of the state, such as legislature, executive and judiciary

Question 21

how it does it ?

Answer 21

the processes of making decisions

Question 22

what makes the state’s authority legitimate ? (several sources of legitimacy according to Shively)

Answer 22

• By results
• By habit
• By identity
• By procedures

Question 23

Legitimate by results

Answer 23

government provides peaces and security, protection against external threats, a well-ordered society, etc.

Question 24

Legitimate by habit

Answer 24

government is in power long enough, over many generations

Question 25

Legitimate by identity

Answer 25

government leaders share the religious or cultural characteristic of the people. This especially occurs with new rimes after revolution or secession

Question 26

Legitimate by procedures

Answer 26

following fair procedures such as democratic elections