Lecture Flashcards
Laswell’s definition of Politics
Describes the distribution of resources: What, When, and Where.
Laver’s definition of Politics
Community interactions create conflict and cooperation.
Johnston’s definition of politics
decision making that is binding to all citizens under control of the state, affecting relationships between those who implement laws and those who must abide by them.
Definition of Power(Politically)
Its distribution is determined by politics: What Where and how it can be used is dictated by politics.
Aristotles definition of politics
Politics is the art of living together well.
By reading the description of the following four political science articles identify which field of political science they belong to: political philosophy, Canadian politics, comparative politics, or international relations.
- ) An examination of the role of the United Nations in the war in Iraq.
- ) A study of nationalism in the right-wing political parties in Ireland, South Africa, and Japan.
- ) An exploration of the changes made to unemployment insurance by the Brian Mulroney Progressive Conservative government from 1984 to 1993.
- ) A study on the relationship between property and democracy in the writings of Aristotle, John Locke, and John Stuart Mill.
- ) International Relations
- ) Comparative Politics
- ) Canadian Politics
- ) Political Philosophy
Definition of Power
Most power in modern society is consensual because the citizens that inhabit the society consent to the power of leadership.
Definition of Nation
A group of people with common characteristics
Definition of State
A clearly defined territory, power, defined citizenship, institution.
Definition of Nation State
A state where only one Nation is present (rare in modern society)
Definition of Legitimacy
Makes people consent without the need for power or force
By reading the description of the following four political science articles identify which methodological approach to political science that they take: political philosophy, behaviouralism, institutionalism, or political economy. At the same time, try to identify which field of political science that these topics belong to.
- ) An exploration of the effect of opinions on gun control in voting for the Conservative Party in the 2004 and 2006 federal elections using opinion polls from the Canadian Election Study.
- ) A study of how the American and Mexican Senates have constrained the power of the President in those countries during the 20th century.
- ) An examination of how differing understandings of equality have affected the social assistance policies of Saskatchewan governments using the writings of Karl Marx and Edmund Burke.
- ) A study of how rising unemployment rates in Europe have affected trade liberalization efforts at the WTO since its creation in 1994.
- ) Behaviouralism
- ) Institutionalism
- ) Political Philosophy
- ) Political Economy
Definition of Justice
Political outcome that is seen as fair
5 Key Components of a liberal democracy?
Rights and Freedoms, Separation of Church and State, Constitutionalism, Rule of Law, and Representative and Responsible Government
Constitutionalism?
Written document that provides the public with a way to limit the power of the government.
Without
rule of law?
due process, not unlimited power.
Representative government Vs. Responsible?
Representative: You as a citizen gives up your power and chooses to delegate it to a representative.
Responsible: the executive of the government must maintain the confidence of the legislature(MP’s) If not it falls. Need to get 50+1% in confidence vote. No responsible gov in the United States.
Political Philosophy? Pg.33-34
Study of political Ideas
- Read literature written by political philosophers.
- Marx, Aristotle, Hobbs, Rousseau, etc.
Canon of political Philosophy?
A group of people from the past who have some interesting beliefs which may counter each other on what certain intrinsic pieces of politics are and how we should see them and/or follow them.
These certain thinkers were chosen because they were so original, ahead of the game in certain parts of politics.
By yourself, match each of these quotes from a great thinker with one of the ‘Great Questions of Political Philosophy’. Remember the four ‘Great Questions of Political Philosophy’ are as follows: What is human nature? Are the interests of the individual or the community more important? How much should government interfere in the economy and the private lives of citizens? What is the best form of government?
- ) “the Supreme Power cannot take from any man any part of his property without his own consent: for the preservation of property being the end of government, and that which for men enter into society” Chapter XI, Second Treatise of Government, John Locke, 1689.
- ) “‘Unless’ I said, ‘the philosophers rule as kings or those now called kings and chiefs genuinely and adequately philosophize, and political power and philosophy coincide in the same place…in no other city would there be public or private happiness”, Book V, The Republic, Plato, 360 B.C.
- ) “Each of us places his person and all his power in common under the supreme direction of the general will; and as one we receive each member as an indivisible part of the whole.” Chapter VI, On the Social Contract, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, 1762.
- ) “Hereby it is manifest that during the time men live without common power to keep them in awe, they are in that condition which is called war, and such a war as is of every man against every man.” Chapter XIII, Leviathan, Thomas Hobbes, 1651.
- interfere in economy and the private lives of citizens.
- The best form of government.
- Interests of the individual or the community.
- What is human Nature.
Ideology from Johnston(281)?
“a more or less consistent set of beliefs about the nature of the society in which individuals live and about the proper role of the state in establishing or maintaining that society.”
3 components of ideologies?
- Idealization(what is a good society)
- Diagnosis(critique of existing society)
- Prescription(the way to transform existing society in the good society)
Political Philosophy and Ideology
Ideologies are often associated with certain thinkers who form the canon of political theory.
Ideology is much simpler, accessible and less systematic.
Left Vs. Right =
Authoritarian vs. Libertarian
19th Century Classical Liberalism
- Individualism
- Constitutional Limits on the power of the state
- representative and responsible government
- Laissez-Faire and Minimal State
- Tolerance
20th century reform liberalism
-free market can create wealth inequalities
-Limited welfare state
-extension of rights and tolerance to all citizens
-remains suspicious of too much state intervention in the economy
-Individuals became more then rich white men
Ex: Pres Roosevelt and PM Mackenzie King
19th Century Toryism (conservatism)
- Support for traditional feudal institutions like the monarchy
- Hierarchal, organic community in which poverty and inequality are natural and just
- Rich have a responsibility to aid the poor through charity
20th century conservatism
- Defenders of free market
- fiscal responsibility
- small government and limited welfare
- suspicious of the expansions of group rights( women and ethnic minorities)and immigration
- Support traditional family and Christian religious values
19th Century Socialism
- Equality of condition
- Class inequality is an inherent structure of the market economy
- Abolition of private property and the end of capitalism
20th Century social democracy
- Reform not overthrow of capitalism
- Generous welfare states
- nationalization of key industries
- progressive taxation
In groups of five discuss the following situations. Are public institutions going too far in accommodating ethnic diversity in these cases? Or are public institutions not going far enough?
- ) In 1971, the Multicultural Policy of Canada was adopted by the federal government which recognized the multicultural heritage of Canada and provided financing for projects by organizations representing ethnic groups to promote this ideal.
- ) In 1982, the Government of Canada recognized Canada’s multicultural heritage in the Constitution and adopted the Charter of Rights and Freedoms whose Section 15 states that every individual “has the right to the equal protection and equal benefit of the law without discrimination and, in particular, without discrimination based on race, national or ethnic origin, colour, religion, sex, age or mental or physical disability.”
- ) In 1990, in reaction to the case of Baltej Singh Dhillon, the RCMP decided to allow Sikh mounties to wear turbans on duty. The Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities passed a motion condemning the move because it ‘ruined’ a Canadian symbol.
- ) Noticing that its workforce contained a higher percentage of white people than the Canadian population, the Government of Canada passed the Employment Equity Act in 1996. The Act requires federal government departments and agencies to measure the number visible minorities they employee and to set a “goal” to raise that number to the Canadian average. The Act has been criticized for not setting firm quotas of hiring visible minorities that government departments and agencies were forced to meet. On the other hand, the Act has been criticized as reverse discrimination.
- ) The kirpan is a ceremonial dagger that must be worn by Sikhs at all times. In 2001, Gurbaj Singh’s cloth-wrapped kirpan came loose from around his waist and fell to the ground at Ste-Catherine-Laboure elementary school in LaSalle, Quebec. He was order not to wear the kirpan any longer at school because the school direction thought that it posed a danger to other students. In 2006, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled that Sikh students can carry ceremonial daggers to class if the blade is locked in the sheaf and it is sewn to the inside of clothing.
- ) In January 2007, the small town of Hérouxville, Québec, which has no immigrants among its population, decided to pass a code of conduct in the case of any immigrants moving to the town. The code of conduct prohibited wearing a veil in public except for Halloween and banned the “stoning or burning women alive in public places, burning women with acid, infibulating women, or treating women as slaves.” The code also re-affirmed the town’s resident’s right to eat meat by stating that “Regardless of the shape of the animal or its hooves, regardless of the shape of the fish, be it covered by scales or a shell, we will enjoy eating its flesh if it is prepared properly and presented tastefully.” The code of conduct created an international news story and prompted the Québec government to appoint a commission on ‘reasonable accommodation’ of ethnic minorities.
- ) During federal by-elections in September 2007 in Québec, Canada’s chief electoral officer decided that voters with fully veiled faces would not be require to show their faces. In the event that a veiled voter does not wish to show their face, they either present two pieces of approved ID, at least one of which must state their address (but neither of which must contain a photo), or have another voter registered in the same district vouch for them. The Chief Electoral Officer argued that the Elections Act does not contain an absolute visual recognition requirement, noting that about 80,000 voters cast their ballots by mail in the last federal election. In reaction, the Conservative federal government has introduced a bill that would require all voters, including veiled Muslim women, to show their faces before they vote in federal elections. It is unclear, at this time, how mail-in ballots will be effect.
- ) Food, Song, and Dance accommodation. If you allow for newcomers to completely keep their homeland culture it can create “Ghettoization”
- ) Completely fair, “Human Rights complaints” are used by the victim who accuses the attacker. Some type of protection/recourse against discrimination for immigrants. Accommodating newcomers because of our idea of pushing Liberals idea of equality.
- ) Over reaction based on conservative ideals. Only reason for not allowing might be a practical reasons. Identity in Canada is based on multiculturalism, so identity is represented in allowing Mountie to wear it on parade.
- ) Goals are pushed hard and approximates Canadian average. Self identification= Can be tough because of internal feelings yet is most accurate means thus far. This law is justified by “historical injustice” and “systematic racism”. Lack of recognition of credentials from different places create its own issues.
- ) The public danger issue is apparent as carrying a dagger in school can not only be physically dangerous, but also can create fears in other students. Other dangers are present in school that could be seen as just as possibly weaponizable.
- ) Forms of racism, Xenaphobia, fear of the “other”.
- ) If producing two pieces of I.D then showing your face seems unneeded. Mail-In ballots do not require it so why should in house voter ballots.
How much should newcomers be accommodated and how much should they accommodate Canadian Society.
Political Cleavages
Political cleavages are national, ethnic, linguistic, and religious divisions that affect political allegiances and policies. Cleavages can be cumulative or cross-cut. Cumulative cleavages pit the same groups of people against one another on many issues, such as religion and class in Northern Ireland.
From Great Britain, Canada has adopted a _________-____ government and a constitutional monarchy
From Great Britain, Canada has adopted a parliamentary-style government and a constitutional monarchy
Constitutional monarchy= Monarch chooses the ______, which must maintain the parliament, if 50% confidence isn’t held, then a new executive must be found.
executive
The _________(GG) is appointed by Queen on advice of Prime Minister (PM) for a _____ year term.
The Governor General (GG) is appointed by Queen on advice of Prime Minister (PM) for a five year term
The GG dissolves Parliament on advice of the PM.
The GG invites the leader of the party with the most seats in an election to form a government and swears in its cabinet.
The GG dissolves Parliament to call an election on the advice of the ___
PM
PM does not call election
______ chooses a cabinet generally from those elected to the House of Commons.
____ swears cabinet ministers in
Prime Minister chooses a cabinet generally from those elected to the House of Commons.
GG
Cabinet Ministers are responsible to the _____ of _____ for a specific government department (Finance, National Defense, Foreign Affairs).
Cabinet Ministers are responsible to the House of Common for a specific government department (Finance, National Defense, Foreign Affairs).
Cabinet Ministers are not responsible to the _____, Cabinet and PM are responsible to the peoples _______.
Cabinet Ministers are not responsible to the people, Cabinet and PM are responsible to the peoples representatives.
_____ Seats in house of commons, and 1 speaker. Speaker only votes if there is a tie, and usually sides with ________.
338 Seats in house of commons, and 1 speaker. Speaker only votes if there is a tie, and usually sides with Government.
True or False= Cabinet Ministers can be shuffled out at any time by the PM
True
Caucus
Caucus is a group of MP’s that sit together in Parliament = NDP, Conservative, Liberal
Representative VS. Responsible
Representative is based on the
Responsible= The cabinet must maintain the “confidence” of the House of Commons or the government falls.
Generally, any vote involving the allocation of money and the Throne Speech are considered “____ of _____” .
Generally, any vote involving the allocation of money and the Throne Speech are considered “votes of confidence” and the PM can declare any vote a “vote of confidence” if they please.