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INTRODUCTION TO
POLITICAL SCIENCE___________________
I. What is Politics?
From the Greek word, polis (city-state) and
politikos (of, for, or relating to the citizen)
Activities that relate to influencing the actions
and policies of a government or getting and
keeping power in a government
The art or science concerned with guiding or
influencing governmental policy
Politics = Decision-making
Process of making decisions applying to all
members of a group
Study or practice of the distribution of power
and resources within a given community, as well
as the interrelationships between communities
Community - a social unit who share something in
common, such as norms, historical heritage,
values, identity, and often a sense of place that
is situated in a given geographical area
Other definitions of Politics
At its most basic level, politics is the study of
who gets what, when, how.
A means through which individual and group
interests compete to shape governments impact
on societys problems and goals
Are we always going to be happy with the
decisions that are made? If not, how will we react?
The way we react is called politics
In essence, politics is an activity whereby an
individual or group seeks power by mobilizing
support for their particular point of view.
Political Scientist
Someone who studies government, political
processes and political issues in a scientific way,
often within the context of an academic institution
As a science, the study of politics strives to be
systematic,
objective,
and
impartial.
Randomness and subjectivity are avoided, while
personal biases and partisan views are kept out of
the process.
Political Analyst
Reviews statistical data pertaining to election
results, polls and opinions and attempts to make
predictions about upcoming political events and
trends
They work for political parties or organizations
while others are employed by academic institutions
or media companies
In some instances, they attempt to influence the
people while others are non-partisan and
concentrate on interpreting events rather than
trying to foster change
A. Traditional View
1. Political Science is a study of state.
From the word politics, which itself derives
from the Greek word polis, meaning a
city-state
To the Greeks the city was the state and the
subject that deals with the city-state and its
problems was designated as politics.
Later on Socrates, Plato and Aristotle
continued to conduct the scientific study of the
various problems concerning the state and the
government
Aristotle, the Father of Politics in the West,
called Political Science as the most
authoritative art and most truly the master
art
Why?
- Politics envelopes everything
- The reason is that the happiness of the
individual is the same as that of the
state (Politics VII.2), the end of
individuals and of the states is the same
(Politics VII.15)
However, Manu is considered to be the first
political thinker in the Indian subcontinent
and his first book Manusmriti is regarded as
the first book of law in this part of the world.
Later on, it was Chanakya (Kautilya) who
formulated Indian political thinking and gave
it concrete form in the shape of a book
named Arthasastra, well-known book of
ancient Indian politics
Political Science begins and ends with the
state. (J. W. Garner)
State - an entity possessing a permanent
population, a defined territory, a
government commanding obedience, the
capacity to deal with other States (from the
STUDYING POLITICS___________________
1. Positivism
Based on the precise methods and can support a
research with statistical and objective data;
factual knowledge based on observation
2. Interpretivism
Reality is constructed through the meaning
created by individuals; actions are result of
meanings
3. Behavioralism
Examines the behaviors and actions of individuals
and groups in different social settings and
explain this behavior as it relates to the political
system
4. Institutionalism
Approach to the study of politics that focuses on
formal institutions of government; institutions
mirror society
6. Structuralism
Human culture must be understood in terms of
their relationship to a larger, overarching system
or structure (law, media, power structure,
language, etc.).
*Hegemony
Control or domination of one person, state or
organization
THE
STATE______________________________
I. State
a political association that establishes sovereign
jurisdiction within defined territorial borders, and
exercises authority through a set of permanent
institutions
a. Population
No limit for the number of citizens in a state
Ancient Greece: ideal state should consist of
5,040 (Plato) or 10,000 (Aristotle)
The population must be sufficient to provide
a governing body and number of persons to
be governed and of course sufficient to
support a state organization.
b. Territory
A modern state cannot exist without a territory.
No limit on the size of the state (Russia vs.
Vatican City)
Implications on natural resources and defense
c. Government
The political organization through which the
collective will of the people is formulated,
expressed and executed.
It is the duty of the government to protect the
sovereignty and integrity of the state, maintain
law and order, protect citizens from external
aggression, solve the dispute among citizen and
work for the all-round development of the
people.
c.1. Forms of Government
As per number of persons exercising sovereign
powers
- Autocracy
Monarchy (absolute vs. limited)
decisions made by one person without
consult of anyone but himself
a government having absolute power
over its citizens; absolute authority;
leader determines all policies and gives
orders
Example: North Korea, dictatorship
government, absolute monarchies
Aristocracy
Democracy
Direct or pure
Indirect, representative or republican
democracy
As to the extent powers exercised by the central
or national government
- Unitary the control of national and local
affairs is exercised by the central or national
government
- Federal powers of the government is
divided into two sets of organs the national
and the local
As to the relationship between the executive and
the legislative branches of government
- Parliamentary one which the state confers
upon the legislature
- Presidential one which the state makes the
executive constitutionally independent of the
legislature; separation of powers
* Parliamentary Democracy
- When the Executive (Prime Minister) is
dependent on the support of the legislature
(Parliament), by giving a vote of confidence
- Branches of government are not clearly
separate from one another.
By mode of succession
- Hereditary
Ex. European monarchies, Arab states
Monarchies of the World- Currently
there are 29 monarchs reigning over 44
countries (QEII is Head of State for 16
countries)
- Succession by Constitutional Prescription Next leader already specified by law, ex.
U.S.
- Succession by Election - Next person is
chosen by party vote (a leadership
convention) or general election (ex.
Philippines)
- Succession by Force
Example: Hitlers Germany, Mussolinis
Italy, coup detat
Coup detat - sudden, violent overthrow
of an existing government by a small
group. The chief prerequisite for a coup
is control of all or part of the armed
forces, the police, and other military
elements
c.2. Branches of Government
Executive - The power to make laws and frame
public policy (MAKES LAWS)
Legislative - The power to create, enforce and
administer laws (SIGNS LAWS)
Judicial - The power to interpret laws, to
determine their meaning, and to settle disputes
d. Sovereignty
Supremacy of the state; self-governing state
It is sovereignty that differentiates the state from
all other social organization, since state is
supreme in internal and external matters.
Internal sovereignty means that the state has
control over the people and its territory. External
sovereignty means that the state is free from the
control of other states (capacity to act
independent and autonomously as a state).
Federalism
It is a form of government where sovereignty is
constitutionally shared between a central
governing authority and constituent political units
called states or regions.
It will break the country into autonomous regions
with a national government focused only on
interests with nationwide bearing: foreign policy
and defense for example.
The autonomous regions or states will have
primary responsibility over developing their
industries,
public
safety,
education,
transportation, recreation, and culture.
These states will have more power over their
finances, development plans, and laws exclusive
to their jurisdiction
*Federal Presidential Bicameral, 11 regions proposed for PH
POLITICAL
DYNASTIES__________________________
What is a political dynasty?
A political dynasty is a family that has
successfully retained political power through
maintaining control over at least one elective
position over successive generations
Two types
- Fat - relatives occupying multiple elective
positions simultaneously
- Thin - relatives occupying the same elective
position over time or an individual
succeeding to an elective position previously
occupied by a relative
Regulating vs Eliminating PD
Eliminating - ban all political dynasties
Regulating - allow good ones, disqualify bad
ones (I think)
Anti-PD in S. America
Costa Rica 1949 Constitution explicitly bans the
relatives of former presidents and vicepresidents from running for the two highest
positions in the government. Moreover, the same
constitution prohibits the relatives within the
second degree of consanguinity or affinity of the
incumbent president and vice-president from
running for a seat in parliament.
Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala - similar
to the prohibitions of dynasties in Costa Rica,
focus on the presidency, vice presidency, and
congressional seats
Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay - extend prohibitions
of dynasties to local government officials
CORRUPTION________________________
Graft - authority, position, power
Corruption - public funds
Typology
Political - results in gaining political power
Economic - results in making profits
Bribery - giving of some form of benefit to
unduly influence some action or decision on the
part of the recipient or beneficiary
Collusion - lead to the subversion of the flow of
information within an economic, societal or
political unit
Embezzlement and theft - taking or conversion of
money, property or other valuables for personal
benefit
DISPUTES___________________________
A. Irredentism
Irredentism (irredento = unredeemed) - any
political or popular movement intended to
reclaim and reoccupy a lost or unredeemed
area
B. Geo-political Hotspots
There are well over 150 territorial disputes in
the entire world
1. Crimea
The Black Sea peninsula with its predominantly
ethnic Russian population became part of
Ukraine in 1954, when both Russia and Ukraine
were part of the Soviet Union.
The recent military occupation by Russian forces
and subsequent referendum to join Russia has
been condemned by many world leaders as
illegitimate. The West has imposed sanctions.
By contrast, Cuba, Belarus, Zimbabwe,
Venezuela, and Syria have recognized Russias
control over the area. China abstained from
voting on a UN Security Council draft resolution
that would have condemned the referendum as
illegal.
2. Jammu and Kashmir (India vs. Pakistan)
5. Palestine
*The U.S.
Washington proclaims its commitment to a rulesbased international order, at least to the degree
the U.S. gains thereby
Americas most important interest is navigational
freedom, but U.S. maritime rights remain largely
protected in peacetime despite Beijings maritime
activities. In wartime naval power, not paper
guarantees, are the ultimate guarantor - Forbes
Magazine, Aug. 2016
TERRORISM__________________________
A. What is Terrorism?
Root: from the Latin terrere, which means
frighten or tremble
The word terrorism was coined during the French
Revolutions Reign of Terror (1793-1794)
Studies have found more than 200 definitions of
terrorism
Stephen Sloan: the definition of terrorism has
evolved over time, but its political, religious, and
ideological goals have practically never
changed
TERRORISM
The use of violence to create fear (i.e. terror,
psychic fear) for [1] political, [2] religious, or [3]
ideological reasons
Terrorist acts are both mala prohibita acts and
mala in se acts
Mala prohibita acts are crimes that are made
illegal by legislation; mala in se acts are crimes
that are immoral or wrong in themselves
6. Government
the system by which a state or community is
controlled
the group of people who control and make
decisions for a country, state, etc.
7. Federalism
refers to the mixed or compound mode of
government, combining a general government
(the central or 'federal' government) with
regional governments (provincial, state, Land,
cantonal,
territorial
or
other
sub-unit
governments) in a single political system
a form of government in which there is a division
of powers between two levels of government of
equal status
the distribution of power in an organization (as a
government) between a central authority and the
constituent units
8. Democracy
a form of government in which people choose
leaders by voting
an organization or situation in which everyone is
treated equally and has equal rights government
by the people; especially : rule of the majority
a government in which the supreme power is
vested in the people and exercised by them
directly or indirectly through a system of
representation usually involving periodically held
free elections
9. Oligarchy
a form of power structure in which power
effectively rests with a small number of people
government or control by a small group of
people
government by the few
10. Interpretivism
Interpretivism is a school of thought in
contemporary jurisprudence and the philosophy
of law. The main claims of interpretivism are that
- Law is not a set of given data, conventions or
physical facts, but what lawyers aim to
construct or obtain in their practice. This
marks
a
first
difference
between
interpretivism and legal positivism. But the
refusal that law be a set of given entities
opposes interpretivism to natural law too.
- There is no separation between law and
morality, although there are differences. This
is not in accordance with the main claim of
legal positivism.
- Law is not immanent in nature nor do legal
values and principles exist independently
and outside of the legal practice itself. This is
the opposite of the main claim of natural law
theory.
AQ 2.2_____________________________
1. Legitimacy
In political science, legitimacy is the right and
acceptance of an authority, usually a governing
law or a rgime. Whereas "authority" denotes a
specific position in an established government,
the term "legitimacy" denotes a system of
government wherein "government" denotes
"sphere of influence". An authority viewed as
legitimate often has the right and justification to
exercise power. Political legitimacy is considered
a basic condition for governing, without which a
government will suffer legislative deadlock(s)
and collapse. In political systems where this is not
the case, unpopular rgimes survive because
they are considered legitimate by a small,
influential lite.
2. Political Dynasties
A political family or political dynasty is a family
in which several members are involved in politics,
particularly electoral politics. Members may be
related by blood or marriage; often several
generations or multiple siblings may be involved.
3. Senate Bill 2649
Senate Bill 2649, also known as The Anti-Political
Dynasty Act, is an act which prohibits the
establishment of political dynasties.
Filed by Senator Miriam Defensor Santiago
SB 2649 says that no spouse or person related
within the second civil degree of consanguinity or
affinity to an incumbent elective official seeking
reelection shall be allowed to hold or run for any
elective office in the same province in the same
election.
4. House Bill 3587
House Bill 3587 or the Act Prohibiting the
Establishment of Political Dynasties seeks to
prohibit relatives up to the second degree of
consanguinity to hold or run for both national
and local office in "successive, simultaneous, or
overlapping terms."