This document defines and discusses several key political concepts including power, government, democracy, and different ideologies like conservatism, liberalism, and socialism. Power is defined as one actor's ability to influence another to act in a way they otherwise would not. Government can refer to the process of governing, a condition of ordered rule, the people who govern, or the mode of governance. Democracy has both a procedural meaning of free and fair elections, and a substantive meaning of enacting the people's will. Ideologies are belief systems that guide political thought and action.

1. Some Basic Concepts in Politics

2. Overview: Key Political Concepts
 Power
 Government
 Democracy
 Ideology
 Conservatism
 Liberalism
 Socialism

3. What is power?
 Power is a term of influence.
Influence terms are difficult to define:
 power, influence, authority,
coercion, persuasion, control, etc.
Power is the ability of one actor (A) to
make another (B) do something s/he
(B) would not otherwise do.

4. Types of Power
1. Manifest
 Based on any observable action
that results in (B) doing what (A)
wants.
2. Implicit
 More tacit than observable.
 Generally contextual and indirect.

5. “Measuring” Power
1. The amount of change in the
position of the actor influenced.
2. The costs of compliance.
3. The amount of difference in the
probability (or frequency) of
compliance.
4. Differences in the scope of the
responses.
5. The number of respondents.

6. What is government?
4 Meanings of “Government”:
 The process of governing.
 A condition of ordered rule.
 The people who govern.
 The mode of governance.

7. What is democracy?
Democracy has two basic meanings:
 Procedural meaning:
 “Free and fair elections”
 Substantive meaning:
 a system of government whereby the
people’s will is effected into the program
of government

8. What is ideology?
 Value or belief system accepted
as fact or truth by some (large)
group
 Mixture of factual and moral
beliefs
 Somewhat simplified, yet
organized and logical

9. Example 1: Conservatism
 Rooted in the belief that man is imperfect
and unperfectable.
 Strong emphasis on the preservation of
traditions and institutions.
 Considers freedom in the positive sense
 Places high value on stability, order, and
conformity.
 Views society as preceding the individual.

10. Example 2: Liberalism
 Based on the fundamental belief in
individual freedom.
 Highly individualistic in orientation.
 Emphasizes equality of opportunity.
 Social contract.
 High regard for pluralism and diversity
(complementarity rather than conflict)

11. Example 3: Socialism
 Rooted in the belief that man is
conditioned by social forces.
 Maintains that the natural relationship
between people is cooperation.
 Places high regard for social equality.
 Strong focus on what man can become.