The document discusses traditional approaches to political analysis, focusing on the normative and institutional methods. The normative approach assesses political actions against ethical principles, while the institutional approach emphasizes structures and rules within political systems. It critiques the traditional methods for being static and oversimplified, highlighting the importance of norms, values, and facts in political analysis.

1. APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF POLITICS
The Traditional Approaches
MOD2 UNIT1

2. Presentation Title 2
INTRODUCTION
Political problems have been
subjected to different kinds
of analysis from time to time.
Various explanatory methods
have been followed to
increase our understanding
of the politics.
Therefore, an approach
provides framework for
explanation and prediction.
According to Vandyke, approach
means to denote the criteria
employed in selecting the questions
to ask and the data to consider in
political enquiry.
Approach – a way of dealing with
something or a way of doing or
thinking about something.
(Merriam-Webster.com)
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3. Presentation Title 3
OBJECTIVES
Identify the Normative Approach to the Study of Politics
Identify the Institutional Approaches to the Study of
Politics
State the Features of the Classical Institutional Approach
Identify the Varieties of the Institutionalism or the
Institutional Approach
State the Criticism of the Traditional Approaches
By the end of the unit, you should be able to:

4. 4
TRADITIONAL APPROACHES
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NORMATIVE APPROACH

5. The Traditional Approaches 5
Gerry Stoker (1995)
Normative political approach is
concerned with the discovery and
application of moral notions in the
sphere of political relations and
practice as it deals with the
inquiry into the problems of man
and society
Leo Strauss (1969)
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“it is the attempt to know both the
nature of political things and the
right or the good political conduct
(through) critical and coherent
analysis”

6. 6
The subject matter of the normative
approach has principally remained the state
– its evolution, organization and purpose.
Consequently, the normative political
approach has been described as the least
scientific sub-discipline of political science.
The Traditional Approaches

7. The Traditional Approaches 7
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Normative discussions in the Philippines could
revolve around ethical governance and anti-
corruption efforts. Scholars and advocates might
emphasize the importance of transparency,
accountability, and good governance in the
country’s political institutions.

8. 8
TRADITIONAL APPROACHES
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INSTITUTIONAL APPROACH

9. The Traditional Approaches 9
Gerry Stoker (1995)
The institutional approach to the
study of the political process is
concerned with the rules,
procedures and formal organizations
of the political system and their
impact on political practice
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What this perspective has actually
led to and encouraged is the much
emphasis or premium place on
institutions at the expense of the
individuals.
The use of the institutional approach
has encouraged the practice where it
is institutions that fail and individuals
that occupy them, a reality that has
not encouraged individual
accountability.

10. The Traditional Approach 10
FEATURES OF THE CLASSICAL
INSTITUTIONAL APPROACH
descriptive-inductive
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formal-legal
historical-comparative political values

11. Hallmark- character, feature, particularity, spe
cific, trait, point, stamp
11
Features of the Classical Institutional Approach
The hallmark of descriptive-inductive is “hyperfactualism” or “reverence of facts”
(Easton,1971)
In other words, in carrying out political analysis, “the fact stood paramount”
(Landau, 1979, p. 133 cf. Stoker 1995)
The great virtue of institutions was that:
“They appeared as REAL. They were CONCRETE, they could be POINTED TO,
OBSERVED, TOUCHED. They could be EXAMINED for their operations. And what
could, be more logical, more natural, than to turn to the concreteness of institutions, the
facts of their existence, the character of their actions and the exercise of their power
(Landau, 1979: 181 cf. Stoker, 1995).
Descriptive - Inductive

12. 12
Features of the Classical Institutional Approach
Induction has been defined as “the process by which the scientist
forms a theory to explain the observed facts” (Kemeny; 1959:53).
It is the practice of inferring generalizations from past
occurrences which then shaped expectations for the future.
The approach is inductive because we draw interferences from
repeated actions.
Features of the Classical Institutional Approach
Descriptive - Inductive

13. 13
FORMAL-
LEGAL
Formal-Legal Inquiry involves
two phases. (Eckstein, 1972)
“One is the study of public law:
hence the term legal. The other
involves the study of formal
governmental organs: hence
formal. “ ( Cf. Stoker, 1995: 44)
Features of the Classical Institutional Approach
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14. Formal-Legal 14
A. The Study of
Public Law
i) The Concept Rule of Law
“those who entrusted with
administration of a country
should rule and exercise their
authority in accordance with the
established laws of the land; and
such established laws should b
regarded as supreme” (Dicey,
1885, cf. Fasuba, 1976)
Dicey described three meanings
to the idea. These are:
The study of public law is an
essential ingredient in the analysis
of constitution and formal
organizations (Stoker, 1995). It
deals with the following:
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15. 15
A. The Study of
Public Law
Absence of Arbitrary Power
the absolute supremacy or
predominance of regular law
as opposed to the influence
of arbitrary power, and
excludes the existence of
arbitrariness, of prerogative,
or even of wide discretionary
authority on the part of the
government.
This means before a person can be punished, his/her offense
must first be ascertained and proved by the ordinary court of the
land.
The Concept Rule of Law
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16. 16
A. The Study of
Public Law
Equality before the Law
equality before the law or the
equal subjection of all
classes to the ordinary law of
the land administered by the
ordinary law courts. No man
should be above the law.
However, in the modern system of governments some persons are totally
or partially immune from any offense they might commit. For example, in
the Philippines, a Senator or Member of the House of Representatives
shall, in all offenses punishable by not more than 6 years imprisonment,
be privileged from arrest while the Congress is in session.
The Concept Rule of Law
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17. 17
A. The Study of
Public Law
The Rights of Individuals
the rights of the individuals
actually give meaning to the
constitution. The constitution
cannot be regarded as the
source of rights of the
individuals but the
constitution itself is based on
the rights of the individual.
In other words, legal rights of individual citizen are inherent and not
acquired by guaranteed rights proclaimed in formal codes. Anybody who
tampered with the operation of those liberties will face remedies whether
they be officials or private citizens.
The Concept Rule of Law
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18. Formal-Legal 18
A. The Study of
Public Law
ii) Legal Protection Rights
Political rights enjoyed by the
people in a democratic
country/society and enshrined in
the constitution are usually
protected by certain legal
devices such as:
The Right to Fair Hearing (Audi
alteram Partem)
The Rule against Bias (Nemo
judex in Causa Sua)
The study of public law is an
essential ingredient in the analysis
of constitution and formal
organizations (Stoker, 1995). It
deals with the following:
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19. Formal-Legal 19
A. The Study of
Public Law
iii) Legal Remedies
A remedy is therefore a
compensation for the violation of
legal rights. Remedies reverse
wrong decisions and make
appropriate decisions to correct
legal injustices.
These remedies include:
a)The Order of Habeas Corpus
b)The Writ of Prohibitions
c)The Writ of Mandamus
d)The Writ of Injunctions
The study of public law is an
essential ingredient in the analysis
of constitution and formal
organizations (Stoker, 1995). It
deals with the following:
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20. 20
B. The Study of
Constitutional Structure
The formal-legal approach
covers the study of written
constitutional documents. It
specifies the types and
characteristics of
government, and the limits
of, as well as relationships
between, various institutions
and organs of government.
For example, in the 1987 Constitution, of the Philippines,
National Institutions such as the Office of the President, OVP,
Supreme Court of the Philippines, etc. were created.
A constitution shows the basic duties
of the country’s leaders and citizens. It
specifies the types and characteristics
of government, and the limits of, as
well as relationships between various
institutions and organs of government.
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21. 21
HISTORICAL-
COMPARATIVE
A key element of the
institutional approach is the
historical-comparative
method. Here, political analyst
seeks to develop testable
generalizations by examining
political phenomena across
different political systems or
historically within the same
political system.
Features of the Classical Institutional Approach
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22. 22
ARISTOTLE’S
CLASSIFICATORY
SCHEME
Features of the Classical Institutional Approach
Aristotle identified the social
character of rulers in the four
types with more than one
leader. Oligarchy is ruled by
the rich, an aristocracy by
the virtuous, democracy is
government by the poor.
RULE
BY
FORM ONE FEW MANY
GENUINE KINGSHIP ARISTOCRACY POLITY
PERVERTED TYRANNY OLIGARCHY DEMOCRACY

23. Presentation Title 23
HISTORICAL - COMPARATIVE
1. It enables us to make meaning of the diversity or
differences within the political systems,
2. it helps us to improve our classifications o political
processes and institutions,
3. and it gives us some potential for prediction
(Almond, G., Powell, B., Strom, K. & Dalton, R., 2007)
Comparative method has the ff. advantage

24. 24
POLITICAL
VALUES
Although, the institutional approach
talk so much about its ‘hyper-
factualism’ or ‘reverence for facts’,
it is a fact to say that, paramount in
the study of political institutions is
political value- that is, political
institutions have strong normative
characteristics which of course
underpins the discipline of Political
Science.
Features of the Classical Institutional Approach

25. Presentation Title 25
VARIETIES OF INSTITUTIONALISM
CONSTITUTIONAL STUDIES
Earlier works on constitutional
studies were devoted to issues
relating to the basic duties of the
country’s leaders and citizens, the
types and characteristics of
government, and the limits of, as well
as relationships between, various
institutions and organs of
government.
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Definitions invariably include such
phrases as the study of the institutional
arrangements for the provision of public
services or study of public
bureaucracies (cf. Stoker, 1995). It
concentrated attention on the authorities
engaged in public administration,
analyzed their history, structure, powers
and relationships, including enquiring
into how they worked and the degree of
effectiveness achieved

26. Public Administration 26
The conception of leaders as
rational actors and formal
organizations as instruments
generating purposeful,
coherent, consistent, and
efficient action had much in
common with the 1960’s view of
policy making as a strategic
activity and planning and social
engineering as a key process in
improving society and building
a welfare state.
Actors were assumed to:
•Know what they wanted
•Understand what it
takes to achieve their
objectives
•Have the authority,
power and resources
needed to achieve
desired results.

27. Presentation Title 27
Criticisms of the Traditional Approach
> The traditional approaches have been criticized as static and oversimplified
assumptions about today's reality of the political process.
> Weak methods, anti-theoretical, descriptive nature of its product, and underlying
prescriptive perspective based on an idealized conception of the virtues of liberal
democratic government.
> It has been argued that the traditional approach’s concern for ‘hyperfactualism’
meant that political scientists suffered from ‘theoretical malnutrition’ and in the process
neglected ‘the general framework within which these facts could acquire meaning
(Easton, 1971).
> This approach has also been accused of formalism or focusing on rules and
procedures to the neglect of the actual political behavior.

28. TRADITIONAL APPROACHES 28
SUMMARY
THANK YOU
The traditional approach is one of the central pillars of the
discipline of Political Science; indeed, it is foundational to it.
Norms, values and facts are the three inextricably enduring
phenomena that must be taken seriously and into context in
political analysis.

29. 29
SUMMARY
The traditional approach is one of the
central pillars of the discipline of
Political Science; indeed, it is
foundational to it.
Norms, values and facts are the three
inextricably enduring phenomena that
must be taken seriously and into
context in political analysis.
Normative approach often
involves assessing political
actions against ethical
principles, while the
institutionalism approach
focuses on the structures,
rules, and processes within
the country’s political
institutions. Both approaches
provide valuable insights into
the study of politics.
End of the presentation. Thank you for listening!