UNIT 1: Defining Politics

Question 1

Heywood Power

Answer 1

1. The ability to achieve a desired outcome.
2. Considered relational
3. Power to and power over

Question 2

Definitions of politics (Heywood)

Answer 2

1. Politics as the art of government
2. Politics as that which concerns the state
3. Politics as public affairs
4. Politics as compromise and consensus
5. Politics as power
6. politics as conflict resolution

Question 3

Approaches to Politics

Answer 3

1. The philosophical tradition
2. the empirical tradition
3. Behaviouralism
4. Rational choice theory
5. Institutionalism and new institutionalism

Question 4

Critical approaches

Answer 4

1. post colonialsim
2. marxism
3. feminism
4. constructivism
5. post stucturalism
   - additional notes
   - align w interests of marginalized
   - associated with philosophical tradition

Question 5

concept

Answer 5

General idea about something

Question 6

Max Weber definition of concept

Answer 6

1. “ideal types”
2. concepts we use are constructed by singling out certain basic or central feautures wile downgrading or ignoring others

Question 7

Model (Heywood)

Answer 7

analytical tools, devices through which meaning can be imposed on what would otherwise be a bewildering and disorganized collection of facts

Question 8

David Easton

Answer 8

• associated with systems analysis
• characterised political system as mechanism of inputs and outputs
• inputs meaning demands from populace
• outputs as decisions and government actions
• political parties and interest groups are gatekeepers (regulate input and perception)
• political system tends towards long-term equilibrium

Question 9

Theory defined by Heywood

Answer 9

proposition offering a systematic explanation of a body of empirical data

Question 10

Robert Dahl Definition of power

Answer 10

Influence over the actions of others
A has power over B to the extent that he can get B to do something that B would not otherwise do

Question 11

Max Weber definition of power

Answer 11

“power is the probability that one actor within a social relationship will be in a position to carry out his will despite resistance”
- relational

Question 12

Bernard Crick Definition of Politics

Answer 12

“the activity by which differing interests within a given unit of rule are concilliated by giving them a share in power in proportion to their importance to the welfare and survival of the whole economy”
and
“solution to the problem of order which chooses conciliation rather than violence or coercion”
- British, moderate socialist

Question 13

Heywood definition of politics

Answer 13

“the activity through which people make, preserve and amend the general rules under which they live”

Question 14

Definition of Behaviouralism Heywood

Answer 14

The belief that social theories should be constructed only on the bass of observable behaviour, providing quantifiable data for research

Question 15

Robert Dahl definition of Politics

Answer 15

“any persistent pattern of human relationship that involves a significant exchange of power, rule or authority is a political system”

Question 16

Max Weber Definition of politics

Answer 16

The enforcement of order carried out in a given territory by the threat of force

Question 17

Rational choice theory

Answer 17

• Associated with classic liberalism and animalism
• humans are rational animals who make decisions to serve the individual rather than the collective