2. 2
Everyday Life
Politics in everyday life is
dynamic…it is a topic you digest
every morning with your
breakfast
Daily papers
Radio
Television
3. 3
But what is politics?
Politics is “the resolution by
compromise and conciliation of
the inevitable conflicts in any
community”.
4. 4
Politics, Power, Authority
David Easton argues that
politics is concerned with the
“authoritative allocation of
values”.
i.e. politics necessarily entails
the concept of authority, an
accepted or legitimate form of
power.
5. 5
What else?
“Politics is not just a necessary
evil; it is a realistic good.
Political activity is a type of
moral activity; it is a free activity,
and it is inventive, flexible,
enjoyable and human”.
Bernard Crick, (1929 -), (author of
In Defence of Politics)
6. 6
What is democracy?
“A political system in which a
government is removable by the
people and that they should be
the ultimate decider of who
should govern…”
“Demos” – the people
“Kratos” – power, or to rule
7. 7
Ancient Greece
The “polis” or city state (300
years before the birth of Christ)
Freeborn citizens were politically
equal and all citizens voted
Judges were elected from
assemblies who together acted
as a court for a limited time and
were publicly accountable
8. 8
Ancient Greece
Greek democracy was based on
direct popular participation
Disadvantages: – over 50
percent of the population non-
citizens. These were slaves,
foreigners and women
9. 9
The Magna Carta
1215 King John puts his seal on
the Magna Carta
Petition of Right in 1628
(Monarch could not tax without
parliament’s consent)
Bill of Rights in1689 (Freedom
of speech, banning of cruel or
unusual punishment)
10. 10
Political Philosophers
Thomas Hobbes, (1588-1679)
“Leviathan” published in 1651
John Locke (1632-1704)
“Two Treaties of Government”
written in 1690
Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-
1778)
‘The Social Contract” (1762)
11. 11
End of the 19th Century
Most of the Western European
monarchies had adopted a
constitution
Power of the Monarchies is
limited
Parliamentary-style
representative legislatures give
the people more power
12. 12
Democracy in Everyday Life
Everyday Life: how far have our
democratic rights been eroded?
George Orwell, “1984”
Do Orwell’s predictions ring
true?
13. 13
Seminar Question
Is democracy an enemy of
individual liberty?
What are some of the
predictions George Orwell
made, and do you think any of
them have some truth today?
