Political Science Exam

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)

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