MIDTERM Flashcards
(93 cards)
Define ‘Politics’
encompass human interactions aimed at making preserving and amending social rules. it is the “art of gov” or “what concerns the state”
2 facets of politics?
- members of poli comms have diff interests and values (the larger the comm, more likely to have diff interests/values)
- scarcity requires the distribution of material and non-material sources (money, rules for basic stnadard of living, scarcity means politics are somewhat necessary when taking traditional approach)
alternative visions of politics in terms of if conflict is inherent
- marxists argue that once capitalism is replaced, societies wont need politics or the state
- more optimistic visions focus on consensus and the sacred links between humans
Power and politics
power - ability to get others to do what they otherwise would not
other ways to exercise it
Webers types of authority
charismatic - now and in traditional societies. rulers didn’t have to use coercion bc charisma gained them legitimacy
traditional - royalty, commonwealth. conveyed by tradition, power passed on through tradition
legal rational- rules, constitutions ppl look to in terms of legitimacy. gives ruler ability to have power without coercion, just look to what is in writing
how do we study politics
normative - asks what ought to be. think about big picture and why we are asking these questions. shooting ideas around. example: “do states have moral obligation to accept refugees.”
empirical analysis - asks what is. what is going on in real world. “which factors are most important in determining the outcome of refugees hearings in canada?”
subfields of poli sci
political philosophy - asking what should be. classic and critical
comparative- traditional way. health care is common. compare across time to come up with arguments that hold true in some way or another. take objective and apply to big pic and vice versa
international relations - began after WW2. Interest in country to country relations. things that go on at global level
politics in global age
approach politics from domestic perspective while acknowledging interdependence when relevant
is it a science
depends on def of science
challenges
- humans are unpredictable and change minds
social science because it studies human interactions
what is political science
systematic study of politics - making of decisions that relate to the governing of a poli comm
3 faces of power
first face - ability to affect decisions. bargaining and negotiating among diff political actors
second face - ability to ensure that issues are not raised. control of the political agenda
third face - ability to affect the dominant ideas of society. assumes decisions will reflect the interests of the dominant groups bc of their ability to shape the ideas of the poli comm
fundamentalism
revival of strict religious beliefs seeking to promote the fundamental principles of the faith, including belief that sacred scriptures are the word of God and should be strictly followed
authority and legitimacy
authority - right to exercise power
legitimacy- acceptance by members of a political comm that those in position of authority have right to govern
common good and individualistic perspective
common good - what is good for entire poli comm
Individualist perspective: assume that human beings act primarily in accordance with their own interests
political ideology
provide ppl with necessary reference points for making sense of the world around them
frames the problem we want to correct and the projects we want to pursue
classic ideologies
liberalism, socialism, conservatism
liberalism origin
first political doctrine during a rising middle class challenging absolutist power and feudal privilege. prior to liberalism absoluteist rule (1 person exercised power without means of transferring it). people were born into certain type of society and that could not be changed. was argued against creating individualism
economic component took shape in early 19th century around the time industrial capitalism became dominant. extolled virtues of free market and protection of private property. private property was only thing liberalism can control
advocated rule of law
reform liberalism
‘modern’ came after WW2. promoting minimum gov intervention to help people meet basic needs. still respecting private property though. modern adaptation to how world evolved
gov regualtion
classical liberalism
accentuate individualism. (basically just reject reforms idea of minimum gov interference)
emphasizes limited gov and a free market
favour laissez-faire economic system where privately owned businesses, workers and consumers freely interact in marketplace without gov interference
liberalism
based on idea that we should have freedom to pursue what we want and not obliged to keep up with standards and norms
reason, individualism, freedoms, tolerance, rule of law, consent, equality
trudeu is not classic liberalist
neo-liberalism
based on strong belief in the free marketplace and opposition to gov intervention in the economy
why do political ideologies matter
A political ideology largely concerns itself with how to allocate power and to what ends it should be used.
modern liberalism
supports government regulation on private industry, opposes corporate monopolies, and supports labor rights
