IPOL concepts chap 1-2 Flashcards
Chap 1 : What is Politics
Authority
= “legitimate power”
* traditional authority
* charismatic authority
* legal-rational authority
Chap1 : What is politics
Power
the ability to achieve a desired outcome, the power to do something
–> 3 faces of power
* agenda-setting power
* decision-making power
* soft power = power to influence
Chap 1 : what is politics
constructivism
an approach to analysis based on the belief that there are not objective social or political reality independent of our understanding of it
chap 1 : what is politics
Postmodernism
describes the shift away from societies structures by industrialization and class solidarity to increasingly fragmented and pluralistic informations societies
chap 1 : what is politics
Behaviouralism
- belief that social theories should be constructed only on the basis of observable behaviour, providing quantifiable data for research
- seeks to explain how individuals and groups actually behave in political settings, rather than relying on abstract theories
chap 1 : what is politics
Institutionalism
theory in social sciences that emphasizes the role of institutions (government organisations) in shaping human behavior, political outcomes, and societal development
- institutions are not just passive frameworks but actively influence decision-making, guide social interactions.
- applied in economics, political science, and sociology to explain how institutions shape both individual actions and broader social processes
!! Critique: focuses too much on structure and too little on actors, no room for change
chap 2 : Political ideas and ideologies
Rationalism
Belief that the world can be understood and explained through the exercise of human reason, based on assumptions about its rational structure
chap2 : Political ideas and ideologies
LIBERALISM
// John Lock
a meta-ideology
* individualism
* freedom
* reason
* equality
* toleration
* consent
* constitutionalism (limited government, checks and balances)
Political ideology emphasizing the protection of civil liberties and democratic governance.
Individuals have inherent rights that must be safeguarded from arbitrary authority, be it from the state or other forms of power.
Roots of liberalism lie in the Enlightenment, with thinkers like John Locke, who argued for the protection of life, liberty, and property, and Montesquieu, who advocated for the separation of powers in government to prevent tyranny.
- Classical liberalism (18th and 19th) emphasized limited government intervention, free markets, and the protection of private property. It stressed that individuals should be free to pursue their own interests, with the state’s role being to protect this freedom through laws and a framework of justice.
- Over time, liberalism evolved to address the challenges posed by industrialization and economic inequality, leading to the rise of social liberalism in the late 19th and 20th centuries.
- Social liberals : more active state role in ensuring equal opportunities and social welfare, arguing that true freedom requires not only the absence of coercion but also the presence of social and economic conditions that allow individuals to flourish.
- In modern politics : liberalism advocates for human rights, democracy, rule of law, and pluralism.
It balances the protection of individual freedoms with the need for collective responsibility, often supporting policies that combine personal liberty with social justice.
chap 2 : Political ideas and ideologies
Economic liberalism
belief that the market is self-regulating mechanism tending naturally to deliver general prosperity and opportunities for all
chap 2 : Political ideas and ideologies
CONSERVATISM
// Edmund Burke (18th)
uk political theorist
often seen as the father of anglo-american conservative tradition
- tradition
- pragmatism
- authority
- hierarchy
- property
- organicism
- A political ideology that emphasizes the value of tradition, social stability, and continuity over radical change.
- Rooted in a desire to preserve established institutions and customs, conservatism seeks to maintain order and prevent the disruption of society through rapid or revolutionary transformations.
- It advocates for a cautious and gradual approach to change, favoring reforms that evolve from existing structures rather than imposing entirely new systems.
- skeptical of abstract theories or ideologies that promise utopian outcomes. long-standing traditions and institutions have intrinsic value because they have evolved over time to serve the common good. Conservatives believe these structures provide stability, moral guidance, and continuity, which are essential for a functioning society.
cultural realm : preserving national identity, traditional values + moral order rooted in religion or a shared ethical framework. defense of tradition, stability, and gradual progress.
chap 2 : Political ideas and ideologies
Economic conservatism
- supports free-market principles
- for limited government intervention in the economy.
- emphasizes the importance of private property, personal responsibility, and social hierarchy.
- Many conservatives argue that inequality is a natural outcome of individual differences in talent, effort, and ability, and that government should focus on creating conditions for individuals to succeed rather than redistributing wealth
chap 2 : Political ideas and ideologies
SOCIALISM
Socialism is a political and economic ideology that advocates for collective or governmental ownership and control over the means of production, distribution, and exchange, with the aim of reducing economic inequality and ensuring the equitable distribution of wealth. Rooted in the ideas of thinkers like Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels, socialism emerged in the 19th century as a critique of capitalism, which socialists argue leads to the exploitation of workers and concentrates wealth in the hands of a small elite.
Socialism emphasizes social justice, equality, and solidarity, seeking to create a society where resources and opportunities are shared more fairly. This contrasts with capitalism’s focus on private ownership and market-driven economies. Under socialism, the state often plays a central role in planning and managing economic activities to meet the needs of all citizens, rather than allowing market forces to dictate outcomes.
However, socialism exists in various forms, ranging from democratic socialism to more authoritarian versions. Democratic socialism advocates for political democracy alongside a regulated economy with a strong welfare state, as seen in some Scandinavian countries.
In contrast, Marxist socialism, or communism, seeks the eventual abolition of private property and class distinctions, with the state controlling all aspects of economic life.
chap 2 : Political ideas and ideologies
Fascism
Authoritarian political ideology characterized by dictatorial power, extreme nationalism, and the suppression of opposition.
- emerged in early 20th (Mussolini, Hitler)
- centralized, autocratic government led by a single leader
- supremacy of the nation or race above individual rights
- rejection of democratic values
- anti-capitalism
- anti-liberalism
- anti-individualism
- anti-communism
- against pluralism, civil liberties
- targets minorities, blaming them for societal problems.
- use of propaganda and violence to maintain control, silencing opposition through censorship, imprisonment, or elimination.
- Militarism, promoting aggressive expansionism and glorifying war as a means to achieve national greatness.
- cult of personality
- ultimate goal : create a totalitarian state where the nation’s identity is defined by strict hierarchy, loyalty, obedience to the ruling power.
chap 2 : Political ideas and ideologies
Anarchism
// Bakunin
// Proudhon
A political philosophy and movement that advocates for the abolition of all forms of hierarchical authority and state power, aiming to establish a society based on voluntary cooperation, mutual aid, and self-governance.
- 19th
- state-less society
- belief that power structures are inherently oppressive and limit human freedom.
- people are capable of organizing themselves without the need for coercive institutions.
- autonomy (right to individuals to govern themselves)
- equality
- direct democracy (people make decisions directly)
Though often associated with chaos or violence in popular culture, anarchism seeks a highly organized society built on non-hierarchical cooperation. Its proponents believe that, freed from domination and exploitation, people can create communities where mutual respect and solidarity thrive.
chap 2 : Political ideas and ideologies
Feminism
// Mary Wollstonecraft 18th
A social, political, philosophical movement advocating for gender equality, particularly focusing on women’s rights and the dismantling of patriarchal structures that perpetuate gender-based discrimination and oppression
- challenge the inequalities that have historically placed women in subordinate roles, both in public and private spheres.
- women should have the same rights, opportunities, and respect as men
- ensure that women have access to the same resources, freedoms, and choices as their male counterparts.
1 wave feminism –> ideas, legal rights suffrage
2 wave feminism –> social and cultural inequalities (family, work life)
WLM = women liberation movement
