2. Those who control the political system make
decisions that govern your everyday lives
Will they take us to war in a foreign land? Who
might have to fight in that war?
Will they alter the tax code to favor certain citizens
and corporations? Who will have to pay in taxes
what others avoid paying?
Will they set up government programs whose costs
escalate far beyond what anyone had foreseen?
Who then will have to pay these costs?
Not knowing the system is dangerous; the ignorant
get manipulated in the political system
3. According to Aristotle, politics is “the
master science”
Almost everything happens in a political
context
Politics determines “who gets what, when
and how” – Harold Lasswell
Political decisions set up government
structures and determine how the economic
system operates
4. Such as:-
Watch the video on e-learning
History
Human Geography
Economics
Sociology
Anthropology
Psychology
5. Political science focuses on power; A gets B to do
what A wants
Political power is not truly measurable and finite
Power is earned, not seized
Power is not identical to politics, but it is a key
ingredient
Power enables the carrying out of policies and
decisions
6. Some possible explanations:
◦ Biological – asserts that it’s in human nature to form social
groups with “dominance hierarchies,” e.g., governments;
but humans often do not obey authority
◦ Psychological – shows how humans behave in various
situations, asserts that the behaviors are innate; however,
there tend to be some who violate norms
◦ Cultural – argues that much human behavior is learned,
derived from our culture
◦ Rational – people form governments because it is a rational
thing to do; we need institutions to help us survive
◦ Irrational – this view argues that people are emotional,
moved by myths and stereotypes
◦ Composite – elements of all these explanations have some
truth
7. Legitimacy – Mass feeling that the government’s
rule is rightful and should be obeyed
Sovereignty – A national government’s being boss
on its own turf, the last word in law in that country
Authority – A political leader’s ability to command
respect and exercise power, relying on a sense of
obligation based on legitimate power of office
We will return once more
to these concepts in depth
8. Internal i.e.U.S. Politics – focuses on institutions and
processes, such as parties, elections, public opinion, and
executive and legislative behavior
Comparative Politics – examines politics within other nations
to establish generalizations about democracy, stability, and
policy
International Relations – studies politics among nations,
including conflict, diplomacy, international law
Political Theory – attempts to define the good polity
Constitutional Law – studies the applications and evolution of
the Constitution within the legal and political system
Public Policy – analyzes the relationships of economics and
politics to develop effective programs
9. In the natural sciences, a clear process is at work
Data is collected according to a well-defined and
well- tested methodology, either by observation or
experiment
The data is quantified and manipulated statistically
to test hypotheses (speculations)
With enough hypotheses tested, generalizations
(theories) can be developed about related
phenomena
10. Political Science can be empirical like natural
science
Good scholarly work should be:
◦ Reasoned – Clear, logical reasoning required;
assumptions have to be explicit
◦ Balanced – Need to acknowledge there are several
possible viewpoints on the topic
◦ Supported with Evidence – Data required for good
scholarship; qualitative as well as quantitative
data may be needed, as many aspects of politics
aren’t readily quantifiable
◦ Theoretical – Scholarship requires a theoretical
framework that relates several factors to explain
a broad array of phenomena
11. Legitimacy
Devine right to rule (the king).
The legal right to govern.
How do we test legitimacy?
Q:- How many police you need?
A:- Few = high level of legitimacy.
Alot = low level of legitimacy.
12. 1. Existing for a longtime. (long term
constitution).
2. Governing well economic growth, jobs,
justice, etc.
3. Structure of government (people fairly
represented and have a say in choosing
officials.
4. National symbols.
13. The national control over countries
territory.
Disputes often are over sovereignty.
Example:- Palestine, Iraq & Kuwait.
Legitimacy & Sovereignty are connected
A decline in legitimacy
May bring
A decline in sovereignty
14. Is the psychological ability of
leaders to get others to obey them.
Most people obey what they
perceive as legitimate authority
most of the time.
15. Legitimacy
means respect for a government.
Sovereignty
means respect for a country.
Authority
means respect for a leader.
16. None is automatic, all must be earned.
Where you find one, you find the others.
Where one erodes, so usually the others.
17. Love power Skeptical of power
Seek popularity Seek accuracy
Practical thinking Abstract thinking
Hold firm views Reach tentative
conclusions
Offer single causes Offer many causes
See short term payoff See long term
consequences
Plan for next election Plan for next publication
Respond to groups Seek good of whole
Seek name recognition Seek professional
prestige
18. Professional political scientists set aside personal
views in their research; alter their views if evidence
suggest
Political science training induces objective,
complex analysis, in contrast to popular politics
where fixed views and oversimplification are the
norm
Political science contributes to good government
by informing policy officials of problems; political
science may offer good solutions and public policy
choices
