Lecture II Flashcards
What is a social contract?
Agreement to be governed by a set of rules under an organization of power
Social contract assuming people are bad
- No society without social contract
- Subject cannot change Gov, Gov is result of sov, sov does anything to preserve peace
Commonwealth
- Everyone cedes some individual rights in exchange of others
- Defense and rule of law
SOVEREIGNTY
How to avoid slavery in social contract?
Laws: expression of General will and preserve liberties
What is distinguished in a social contract?
Difference between sovereign (population) and government (enacts law)
Social contract according to Rousseau
Can’t be too large, people who “lose” have to understand the reason
Social contract according to Rawls
Justice key element, principles of justice under veil of ignorance
- Individual has equal rights to the liberties of others
- Social/economic inequalities have to be solved
- Offices/positions must be open to everyone
What is the veil of ignorance?
Method to determine morality of something
What is constitutionalism?
Limitations of power of government
What is a constitution
Norms creating, structuring and limiting powers
EVERYONE subject to them (rulers as well)
John Locke’s theory
- Humans are bad by nature but capable of altruism
- State to protect property
- Right to revolution (if property isn’t respected)
Charles-Louis Secondat theory
- Distinction of gov. branches’ functions
- System of checks and balances
James Madison (US constitution)
- Inclusion of civil rights in constitution
- Vertical and horizontal limitation of national government
FEDERALISM
Concept of order without sovereignty
- Order comes from different individual’s self interest, leads to common outcome
- “Virtuous” individuals (think of common good) may cause harm
Example of order without sovereignty
- Mandeville (virtue prevents capital circulation)
- Smith (invisible hand)
Primordialism (identity)
Identity fruit of first socialization, not exchangeable
Interactionism (identity)
Identity defined by difference, definition and distance
FRONTIERS
Instrumentalist (identity)
Identities created by political entrepreneurs
Rational choice (identity)
Identity used (proved) for personal interest
What is a national identity
Primoridialist and instrumentalist views
Difference between community and society
- Community: emotions, tradition
- Society: made, people feel bad not belonging
Ernest Geller on nationalism
- National identity to overcome ancient hierarchies (tribes)
- More egalitarian, mass communication
IMAGINED COMMUNITIES
How can emerging modern states use nationalism?
- Fighting over lords and communities
- Economic/social transformations, legitimacy of state control
- Impose social order
Ethnic-cultural visión of nation
Historical population, people free to leave community
Contractarian vision of nation
Individuals value the state more than their other groups DAILY PLEBISCITE (Renan)
Shortcomings of emerging modern state
- Specialization
- Centralization
- Institutionalization
Specialization (modern state shortcoming)
Lack of public force, admin, army
Centralization (shortcoming)
Existence of centralized and hierarchical social order
Institutionalization (shortcoming)
Transitions have to run smoothly, public authority functions shouldn’t be attached to 1 person
Competitors of emerging state
- Lower lords
- The Church
- Guilds, corporations, etc
Tilly’s state formation
State formation as protection fueled by war and technology
Marx’s state formation
Shift in the balance of FACTORS OF PRODUCION (economic)
Ensuring economic/technological progress
Weber’s definition of state
Human community, MONOPOLY OF PHYSICAL FORCE present (held by state)
Aspects of diversity within nation-state?
- Regional identities
- Cultural linguistic groups
- Migration
Consequence of globalization on diversity
Groups more self-conscious
Solution to diversity
Federalism or decentralization
Decision-making/participation of subunits, protect minorities
Consociationalism
High tensions between groups can’t be physically separated
Example of Consociationalism
Lebanon
President: Maconite Christian
Prime Minister: Sunni Muslim
P. National Assembly: Shi’a Muslim
Multiculturalism
Philosophical tradition on how to deal with minorities
