Political science midterm
micro level
individuals (me, you, Trump, Biden, any voter)
middle range level
groups of individuals (groups of protestors, interest groups, political parties, fraternity)
macro level
nation-states, groups of nation-states
politics
the authoritative allocation of scarce resources and values that result from a struggle among competing actors
authoritative
government or entity with decision making authority
allocation
to give out, distribute
scarce
not plentiful, limited
resources
minerals, sea floor and fish, human resources, financial, strategic
values
power, wealth, well-being, skill, enlightenment, respect, deference, affection
power
actor a’s ability to get actor b to do that which actor b normally would not do DUE to threat of FORCE for noncompliance, the PERCEPTION of a threat of force or the USE of force for noncompliance
influence
actor a’s ability to get actor b to THINK about doing that which actor b normally would not do (there is NO threat and NO use of force) conditions B’s behavior
hard power
military power, force and use of forces
soft power
a type of attraction to another actor due to its values, products, ethos; one wants to work with that one
smart power
a combination of soft and hard power
sharp power
manipulation of other power by using technology to sabotage
zero sum game/fallacy of power
winner takes all/not true, it can be in proportions
wealth=power (fallacy)
in reality, wealth is an asset that helps to “purchase” power but cannot sustain it
knowledge=power (fallacy)
knowledge is an asset but cannot sustain power alone
unipolar power
one power dominant (Currently United States)
bipolar power
two powers equal (US and USSR during Cold War)
multipolar
more than two powers (WW1 and WW2 led to world wars due to alliances being unstable)
authority
rests in an institution, not a person. a person is delegated authority (person only has authority while occupying that institutional position)
traditional authority
divine right of kings, god talked to kings
charismatic authority
due to military prowess (napoleon)
legal-rational authority
due to elections, appointment according to laws, arrived at using reason rather than emotion or blind allegiance
nation
PEOPLE who share common history, experience, often but not always language, religion, values, and traditions
state
territory that is recognized by U.N., monopoly on the means of force, possession of sovereignty
nation-state
people have a state
the state has the ability to:
make laws, change laws, enforce laws
Plato said…
state is a reflection of the individuals who make it up; good state=if good people run it
Aristotle said…
people are by nature political and social animals
Plato and Aristotle said…
the state is natural and organic, evolves from nature
family
biological urge
village
social urge
city-state
ethical or moral urge
Who wrote “The Republic”
Plato
Who wrote “The Politics
Aristotle
the social contract (John Locke)
John Locke- humans are by nature neither good nor bad but rational-have reason so they agree to contract that is minimalist