PS111 Test #1 Study

politics

the process by which groups of people make collective decisions.

why it’s important to study politics

Studying politics is crucial as it helps individuals understand governmental structures, political behavior, and the impact of political decisions on society. It fosters informed citizenship and encourages active participation in democratic processes.

descriptive claims (political description)

“what is” focuses on verifiable facts/data rather than value judgements ex: "The percentage of women in the Brazilian municipal legislatures increased by 5% over the last decade"

normative claims

“what ought to be” The percentage of women in the Brazilian municipal legislatures increased by 5% over the last decade ex: "The government should provide universal healthcare"

explanatory claims

“why is it that way” a statement that seeks to explain the causes, reasons, or mechanisms behind political events, behaviors, or structures, rather than just describing them or making a normative judgment about them. These claims often connect political phenomena to underlying factors like ideology, social identity, or institutional incentives.  ex: "As political corruption increases, ruling governments become more likely to verbally attack the judiciary"

rational-materialist explanation

We are all positioned in a material landscape (with certain resources under our control), everyone rationally pursues their best strategy in a competition for resources and power. Everyone is motivated by similar drives and even very different people (groups/countries) would act in similar ways if they were in similar positions in the material landscape

Institutional explanation

We are all positioned in human-made organizations and rules (electoral systems, laws, etc). Everyone rationally pursues their best strategy to acquire resources and power given the institutional rules of the political game. Anyone in your position would act the same.

Ideational Explanation

Everyone acts from a certain ideological and/or cultural point of view. The particular goals they choose, and the ways they think it appropriate to pursue them, depend on their beliefs, cultural practices, etc.

Psychological Explanation

Focus on how psychological factors (cognition, emotions, personality types) influence political behavior.

Quantitative Research Method

Collecting/analyzing numerical data (statistics). Good for finding patterns, bad at understanding context/complications

Qualitative Research

Focuses on fewer cases (or just one case) to go more in depth. Good for: building concrete pictures. Bad for: findings might be too specific, not generalizations

experiments

Isolates the effects of one factor, controlling for all other factors (uncovering cause and effect). Good for: individual political attitudes, cause and effect. Bad for: ethical concerns

Natural experiments

Use real-world events as the “treatment” that more or less randomly creates a treatment group and a control groups. Good for: addressing cause and effect. Bad for: they are very rare

Simulations

Like an experiment but avoids the logistical/ethical concerns by moving to made up context. Good for: develops explicit, logical theories. Bad for: it’s made up

Game Theory

math study of strategic decision making that explores how people would respond in certain explantations. ex: “tit for tat” game theory

Political ideology

Packages of conscious beliefs about how politics work and how,

normatively, politics should work.

Thomas Hobbes

Social contract: people will obey the “ruler” if they are doing whats best for the people. Without the government and people obeying it there will be violence. (Modern Liberalism)

John Locke

Critiques kings, says humans have natural rights (life, liberty, property), the government’s central role is protecting individual rights, limited gov, negative liberties (Classical liberalism)

Classical Liberalism

CLASSICAL LIBERALISM IS NOW MAINLY MODERN CONSERVATISM

Locke’s ideas + Adam Smith’s capitalism

Believes the government should promote rule of law, protect individual rights, have electoral democracy, solve basic problems (ex: crime). Otherwise it should stay out

Modern Liberalism

Influences: John Rawls (Veil of ignorance) FDR new deal, Rosseau

Believes in a more active government to bring equality of opportunity, social safety net

Focuses on positive liberties, education, support for miniorities, gov. action for big problems

Modern conservatism

This very similar to classical liberalism

Influences: classical liberalism, edmund burke

Focuses on negative liberties, limited government,

Terminology in other parts of world

elsewhere “conservative” parties might also

describe themselves as ”liberals” (in the classical liberal

sense)

socialism

system based on public or collective ownership of the means of production, aimed at reducing inequality by distributing wealth and resources according to societal needs rather than profit

Very similar beliefs to modern day liberalism but seek a more active government. Also similar communism except the free market still exists!!!

Believes in government removing inequalities and owning private markets, Universal healthcare, welfare policies, free childcare, etc.

communism

Founder: Karl Marx

Goal: Classless, stateless, moneyless society and social equality

Believes in public ownership of everything, no free market

Problems with corruption and authoritarianism (leftist)

Environmentalism

Believes in creating natural laws and that ecosystems have legal rights. Often supported by modern liberals, they want environmental preservation. Wants active government to pass laws to help.

Facism

Believes in authoritarian, ultranationalist rule. Focuses on creating an enemy. Wants national purity (ex: holocaust).

ex: Mussolini (rightest)