Intro to political science (Craig Lang) - Poli 105 - Exam 1

University of South Carolina

What is the main message of the chicago statement?

Especially in schools, we need to have complete freedom of speech, since disagreement is good and we should have the freedom to discuss our contesting beliefs. By engaging in healthy arguments, we make each other think and grow.

What is the main message of the cornel west and robert george video?

You can have incredibly different views from someone and still engage in meaningful and transformative dialogue if you do a few main things: go in open minded, be humble and know you could be wrong, have humility, not just tolerate but consider the other side might be true, be your own critic. Remember love is not reducible to politics, and friendship is not reducible to agreement.

What was the main idea of goodins pages 1-14?

Political science is a blend of empirical insights and values (mix of science and philosophy); it is a growing profession that is constantly changing as it becomes a full fledged discipline; political science should not be and is not as simple as either-or, and often good versus evil is not good for the profession; we must be interdisciplinary and work together; 3 successful poli sci revolutions so far; poli sci has become fragmented, but the profession is still clear

What perfect of americans trusted their government to do what is right in 2024

22

what percent of americans trust one another in 2024

34

what percent of republicans had a very unfavorable view of democrats in 2024

62%

What percent of democrats had a very unfavorable view of republicans in 2024

54

What was the last time trust was over 30%

2007

What factors have made us less trusting in one another

everything is too political, too much toxicity in poli discourse, low tolerance, and limited/biased info

3 things we know to be true about humans (dr george)

we are fallible, there are reasonable ppl of goodwill that disagree w us, and we hold some incorrect beliefs

What does zero-sum competition mean

Politics has become too consuming and too important, and for what?

Steps to take as individuals and a community to make politics less toxic

volunteer, read international news sources, be intentional in fostering relationships with people you may disagree with, have humility

What factors make up politics?

Factions/elites, interests, power, and organization and operation of institutions

How can we define factions?

Groups within societies that emerge based around varying interests that usually revolve around issues; goal is to turn interests into policies, protect interests of group

How do factions achieve their goals?

Lobbying, voting, mobilization and expression of views, grouping together as political parties

How do we define elites?

Someone with significantly disproportionate power to the majority of society, whether that is bc of money, political power, etc., in a regular and sustaining pattern

Can factions exist in all government systems?

No, rlly only in democracies

Can elites exist in all government systems?

Yes

Examples of some things interests may revolve around

tax policy, healthcare, education, criminal justice, foreign policies

How do we define power in the public domain?

how individuals with power create laws, implement laws, force laws, and use institutions to do so; how institutions are organized and operated

Political science is about explaining relationships between different ______ in the ______ _______

actors; public domain

The _____ were one fo th first societies to study politics in an organzied way

Greeks

During what century did political science become its own field of study

19th

Four subfields of political science

political theory, american government, comparative politics, international relations

What is political theory

Addressing normative questions about politics and society by asking big questions, usually moral ones; which is a more moral system of gov’t, what is justice, why does conflict occur, etc.

What is american government as a field of study

focusing on one of the three branches of american gov, elections, interest groups, unions, etc.

What is comparative politics?

comparing diff countries/institutions/values around the world and examining the various systems of gov’t and their economic systems to understand how they work (example: comparing a government with a presidential system vs one with a parliamentary system); hard not to have biases!

What is international relations?

Study of diplomatic history and current events to understand relationships and interactions between states and territories, the international system and order, etc. — causes of conflict, international law and organization, global economy

How are comparative politics and international relations different?

comparative politics compares the individual systems within states while international relations is focused on how they interact

Takeaways from the declaration of independence

One of the catalysts for revolutions all over the world in the 18th and 19th century; declared the causes impelling them to separate from great britain, full of enlightenment ideas, claiming natural rights of life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness, governments should derive powers from the consent of the governed and if not we have to do something about it

From miller reading — what is political philosophy concerned with? (ch. 1 and 2)

investigating the nature, causes, and effects of good and bad gov’t and asking what form of gov’t is best

From miller reading — Why does gov’t matter? (ch. 1 and 2)

profoundly affects quality of ppls lives, including freedom, security, prosperity, and fear of violence/oppression

From miller reading — is government pre determined? (ch. 1 and 2)

No! politics is relatively independent of deeper economic/social forces; humans have meaningful political choices to make

From miller reading — what is political fatalism? (ch. 1 and 2)

Belief that political outcomes are largely determined by forces beyond our control, so there is little meaningful choice in how society is governed.

From miller reading — What did marx believe determined political development (ch. 1 and 2)

primarily material/economic conditions — how people produce goods, technology, and economic system

From miller reading — Why does political philosphy matter? (ch. 1 and 2)

challenges assumptions and changes how societies think ab politics

From miller reading — relationship btwn ideas and poltical change? (ch. 1 and 2)

ideas can inspire major political change, but you cannot predict in advance which ones will have an impact

From miller reading — what is distinctive about the philosophical approach to politics? (ch. 1 and 2)

question assumptions and concepts that seem obvious, asking what we actually mean

From miller reading — what is political authority? (ch. 1 and 2)

combination of people accepting government as legit and government’s ability to compel compliance, including through sanctions

From miller reading — Why do people generally obey laws? (ch. 1 and 2)

people usually believe government has legit authority, not just bc they’re afraid of punishment

From miller reading — Why does hobbes think political authority is necessary? (ch. 1 and 2)

Without a common authority capable of enforcing rules, trust and cooperation break down, creating fear, insecurity, and conflict.

From Miller reading — What is hobbes’ state of nature argument? (ch. 1 and 2)

People become insecure when political authority breaks down because they cannot trust others to cooperate or refrain from harming them, producing a climate of fear and competition.

From Miller reading — Does miller agree that humans are naturally selfish and violent? (ch. 1 and 2)

No — he suggests hobbes’ deeper point is that the breakdown of authority itself creates fear and erodes trust, even if hobbes view of human nature is overly pessimistic

From Miller reading — What is the fundamental benefit of political authority? (ch. 1 and 2)

Security, trust, cooperation, and collective benefits that are difficult to produce without enforceable rules

From Miller reading — How would communities theoretically replace some functions of the states? (ch. 1 and 2)

small, close-knit communities can promote trust, cooperation, and self-policing bc ppl know one another and hace incentives to maintain relationships

From Miller reading — why isn’t communitarianism enough? (ch. 1 and 2)

Modern societies are large and mobile, making close-knit community enforcement insufficient; disagreements/violations require larger legal system

From Miller reading — How do libertarians or anarchists imagine replacing the state? (ch. 1 and 2)

Individuals could contract privately for services that governments currently provide, such as protection

From Miller reading — Why can’t markets completely replace political authority (libertarian/market alternative)? (ch. 1 and 2)

Conflicts btwn private agencies and the problem of free riding/voluntary contribution to public goods ultimately create a need for some sort of authority that can still enforce rules

From Miller reading — Does Miller believe communities or markets can completely replace poli authority? (ch. 1 and 2)

No! Both alternatives run into problems

From Miller reading — What is the “problem of political obligation?” (ch. 1 and 2)

Explaining why individuals are personally obligated to obey the laws of their government, beyond simply obeying because they fear punishment

From Miller reading — What are two arguments for why people are obligated to obey government? (ch. 1 and 2)

consent - we agree to be governed; fairness/fair play - if we benefit from a system in which others follow the rules, we have an obligation to participate as well

From Miller reading — is political obligation absolute? (ch. 1 and 2)

no - political obligation can be overridden by rights and moral considerations

From Miller reading — what is civil disobedience? (ch. 1 and 2)

illegal but nonviolent political action intended to pressure government to change unjust or oppressive policies

From Miller reading — how can civil disobedience be justified and citizens simultaneously have a political obligation to obey the law? (ch. 1 and 2)

Political obligation is not absolute; an unjust law or policy can create circumstances where other moral rights/obligations outweigh the duty to obey

From Miller reading — why does democracy appear preferable to monarchy or aristocracy as a form of government? (ch. 3)

Democracy assumes that no person or group is naturally superior to others and gives citizens a role in political authority, helping ensure that their interests are represented.

From Miller reading — what is the central tension between democratic ideals and democracy in practice? (ch. 3)

Democracy is supposed to involve rule by the people, but in modern democracies ordinary citizens usually have a limited direct role, with elected representatives making most political decisions.

From Miller reading — why might representative democracy be preferable to direct democracy in large societies? (ch. 3)

Millions of people cannot realistically participate directly in every political decision, so representatives make governing more manageable.

From Miller reading — what is the argument for an “elective aristocracy”? (ch. 3)

Citizens do not necessarily need to make every political decision themselves; they can instead choose people they believe are competent to make decisions on their behalf.

From Miller reading — what is the problem with assuming elected representatives are better political decision-makers than ordinary citizens? (ch. 3)

Political decisions require factual knowledge, knowledge of who will be affected, and moral judgment, and politicians do not necessarily possess more expertise or better judgment than citizens on every issue.

From Miller reading — what is democracy's “decisive advantage” over other forms of government? (ch. 3)

Broad participation allows people from different backgrounds and with different interests to contribute to political decision-making.

From Miller reading — why does Miller argue that political decisions cannot be reduced to simply counting preferences? (ch. 3)

The strength of preferences matters too; a minority may care far more intensely about an issue than the majority.

From Miller reading — why can organized minorities have disproportionate political influence? (ch. 3)

Political influence depends not only on numbers but also on how strongly people care, how organized they are, and the resources they possess.

From Miller reading — what problem does majority rule create for minorities? (ch. 3)

A majority can repeatedly impose its preferences on a minority, potentially violating the political equality that democracy is supposed to protect.

From Miller reading — what are the two circumstances in which majority rule can especially threaten political equality? (ch. 3)

When the majority is much less affected by a decision than the minority, and when a group repeatedly finds itself in the minority.

From Miller reading — how can democratic systems protect minorities from majority rule? (ch. 3)

They can constitutionally limit majority power or create separate constituencies/institutions for different decisions, although neither solution eliminates every minority problem.

From Miller reading — why are public discussions important to democracy? (ch. 3)

Democratic decision-making should involve people listening to opposing views and potentially changing their opinions based on new information, reasoning, or respect for others rather than simply voting according to predetermined preferences.

From Miller reading — why does Miller argue that democracy is not an “all or nothing” system? (ch. 3)

Democracy is an ongoing struggle over how much citizens should participate, how decisions should be made, and how majority rule can coexist with minority rights and individual freedom.

From Miller reading — why might citizens have low levels of political knowledge and interest in modern democracies? (ch. 3)

Modern democratic systems give citizens relatively little incentive to develop extensive political knowledge because individuals generally make only occasional choices, such as voting for a party.

From Miller reading — what concern does Rousseau raise about representative democracy? (ch. 3)

Handing political authority entirely to elected representatives can undermine active citizenship, so democracy should encourage meaningful citizen participation rather than reducing citizens to occasional voters.

What is the state of nature?

A hypothetical condition in which people live without a political authority/government

What central question does political theory ask about the state of nature?

Whether human beings would live in relative harmony or experience conflict without government

What is the social contract?

An agreement in which individuals give up some autonomy/liberty in exchange for benefits provided by political authority, such as peace, security, justice, and laws.

What does the social contract help explain?

Why individuals accept limitations on their autonomy in exchange for the benefits and protections of government.

What is the difference between the state and the government?

The government is the particular institution/administration currently exercising political authority, while the state is the broader enduring political entity and its institutions/interests.

What does the state represent that goes beyond a particular government?

Universal interests of citizens, such as equality and civil liberties, that transcend any particular administration or political party.

What role does democracy play in the relationship between citizens and the state?

It allows citizens to exert control over the state and participate in political decision-making.

What does “demokratia” mean?

Demos = people; kratos = power/rule → rule by the people.

Where and when did democracy first develop in the ancient Greek world?

In the Greek city-states, particularly Athens, beginning around 508–322 BCE.

What were the three major characteristics of ancient Greek democracy?

Direct/participatory, limited, and institutional.

What did direct democracy mean in ancient Greece?

Citizens were expected to participate directly in governing rather than primarily choosing representatives to govern for them.

Who was excluded from citizenship in ancient Greek democracy?

Participation was limited; the citizen body consisted specifically of eligible men rather than the entire population.

Why was citizenship highly valued in ancient Greek democracy?

Political participation and service to the city-state were viewed as major civic responsibilities.

What was the role of the citizen assembly?

Citizens gathered to deliberate and decide major political issues such as taxation and foreign policy.

Why was open dialogue/free speech important to Greek democracy?

Democratic decision-making depended on citizens openly discussing and deliberating over political issues.

What was the role of the council in Greek democracy?

It helped set the agenda and execute policies emerging from the larger assembly.

How were members of the Greek council selected?

Through lottery, rather than primarily through elections.

What were two important features of Greek democratic institutions?

Term limits and selection by lottery

What was plato’s major criticism of democracy?

Democracy could give political power to people who were ignorant or insufficiently educated, allowing uninformed opinion to dominate.

What was Aristotle's major criticism of democracy?

Democracy could produce a tyranny of the majority, in which the majority governs according to its own collective interests rather than the common good.

What major problem do Plato and Aristotle identify with democracy?

Both question whether ordinary citizens can make good political decisions, while Aristotle particularly emphasizes the danger of majority rule harming minorities.

What did the Roman concept of res publica mean?

“Property of the people” — reflecting the idea that political affairs belonged to the public.

How did Roman democracy differ from Greek democracy?

Greek democracy emphasized direct participation, while the Roman republican model emphasized indirect/representative government.

What major principle did Roman government contribute to democratic thought?

The importance of law and government operating within legal limits.

What were the Twelve Tables?

An early Roman codification of laws that made laws written and publicly available.

What was significant about the Roman republican system?

It developed institutions involving executive, legislative, and judicial functions and emphasized the rule of law.

Why were elections important in the Roman republican model?

Citizens selected representatives rather than being expected to participate directly in every governmental decision.

Why is the Roman republican model particularly relevant to the United States?

The American political system borrowed heavily from Roman ideas of republican government, representation, and law.

What major principle of democratic government appears in the Declaration of Independence?

Government derives its legitimate powers from the consent of the governed.

What Enlightenment/social-contract principle is reflected in the Declaration of Independence?

Governments are created to protect people's rights, and legitimate government depends on the consent of those governed.

What natural rights are identified in the Declaration of Independence?

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.