What is Politics? Flashcards
What is the fundamental question of politics?
Who gets what, why, and how in society
According to Aristotle, what is the nature of humans in relation to politics?
Man is a political animal
What is power in the context of politics?
The ability to get others to do what you want
What was a primary way of exercising power in early history?
Brute force
In modern societies, what sources does power typically come from?
- Laws
- Institutions
- Social contracts
What is social order?
How societies organize themselves and maintain stability
What does the phrase ‘bellum omnium contra omnes’ refer to?
The war of all against all
What do the private sphere and public sphere represent?
- Private sphere: Personal life
- Public sphere: Government and collective decision-making
What does the term ‘polis’ refer to?
The city-state in ancient Greece
Who were the primary participants in governance in the Greek polis?
Free Greek male citizens
How did Genghis Khan justify his power?
Might makes right
What was the basis for authority under the Divine Right of Kings?
Authority comes from God
What is the modern political thought regarding the source of power?
Power comes from the people
What is the concept of the social contract?
Authority is derived from the consent of the governed
What is legitimacy in governance?
The acceptance of a leader or government’s rule as right and just
What determines legitimacy in democratic societies?
- Laws
- Institutions
- Public participation
What might legitimacy be based on in authoritarian regimes?
- Ideology
- Tradition
- Economic performance
What is authority?
Power that is recognized as legitimate
How is stability in a government achieved?
Authority must come from a broadly accepted source
What is the ongoing effort of politics?
To create and maintain a just and functional society
Fill in the blank: Politics is about distributing resources, maintaining order, and determining _______.
legitimacy
True or False: Modern political systems base authority solely on brute force.
False
