PS 100 Midterm

What is the definition of politics?

Politics is the process by which groups of people make collective decisions, resolve conflicts, and allocate power and resources within a society.

What is the definition of political science?

 Political science is the systematic, academic study of politics, governments, institutions, political behavior, and power relations using scientific methods of inquiry.

What is the relationship between political science and politics?

Politics is the practice of power and decision-making, while political science is the discipline that analyzes, explains, and interprets those practices

What is Max Weber’s definition of the state?

 Weber defines the state as the political organization that claims the monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory.

How does Weber understand the relationship between the state and politics?

 Politics is the struggle for power, and the state is the institution that holds ultimate authority by controlling legitimate violence.

What are the three sources of legitimacy for a state that Weber describes?

• Traditional authority (based on customs and traditions)
  
  

• Charismatic authority (based on a leader’s personal appeal)
  
  

Legal-rational authority (based on formal rules and laws)

What are the main approaches of political science?

Institutional approach, Behavioral approach, Structural-functionalism, Rational choice, Normative approach

What does each approach of political science entail?

Institutional: Focuses on constitutions, governments, and organizations.
Behavioral: Studies individual and group behavior scientifically.

Structural-functional: Examines how political systems fulfill societal needs.

Rational choice: Uses economic models to analyze decision-making.

Normative: Evaluates how politics should be, based on values.

How do the different approaches of political science relate to each other?

 They complement each other: some emphasize values (normative), others behavior (behavioral), institutions (institutional), or decision-making (rational choice).

What are the seven steps of scientific inquiry?

1. Identify a question/problem
   
   

2. Review existing literature
   
   

3. Formulate a hypothesis
   
   

4. Research design
   
   

5. Collect data
   
   

6. Analyze data
   
   

7. Draw conclusions and refine theory

What happens at each step of scientific inquiry?

• Define the problem → clarify what to study
  
  

• Literature review → learn what’s known
  
  

• Hypothesis → propose explanation
  
  

• Design → plan how to test
  
  

• Collect data → gather evidence
  
  

• Analyze → test hypothesis
  
  

• Conclusion → interpret and refine theory

What is positivism?

The belief that social sciences should use the same methods as natural sciences, emphasizing observable facts and empirical data.

What is behavioralism?

 An approach in political science emphasizing the study of actual political behavior of individuals and groups through scientific methods.

Which are the four main sub-disciplines of political science?

Political theory, Comparative politics, International relations, American (or domestic) politics

 Which of the three main tasks of political science does each sub-discipline perform?

Political theory: Normative task (what politics should be)

Comparative politics: Empirical task (understanding real systems)

International relations: Empirical/theoretical (relations among states)

American politics: Empirical task (specific to U.S. politics)

Describe the “myths” of science that Hill articulates.

Science is always objective and value-free (myth—values often influence inquiry).

Science is about discovering absolute truths (myth—it’s tentative and revisable).

Scientists are neutral observers (myth—bias and context shape research).

Plato

Philosopher-king, justice as harmony. The Republic. Rule by philosopher-kings. Skeptic of democracy

Aristotle:

Politics as natural, mixed constitutions. Politics. Mixed polity. Noble lie

Machiavelli

Realism, ends justify means. The Prince. Strong, pragmatic ruler. Skeptic of democracy

Hobbes

Social contract for security, absolute sovereign. Leviathan. Absolute monarchy. Skeptic of democracy. Order over rights.

Locke

Natural rights, limited government, consent. Two Treatises of Government. Liberal constitutional government. Supporter of democracy. Rights and consent.

Rousseau

General will, direct democracy. The Social Contract. Direct democracy. Supporter of democracy. Rights and consent.

Montesquieu

Separation of powers.  The Spirit of the Laws. Balanced, separated powers. constitutional design

Mill

Liberty, harm principle, democracy. On Liberty. Liberal representative democracy. Supporter of democracy. rights and consent

Marx

Class struggle, materialism, communism. The Communist Manifesto, Das Kapital. Stateless, classless communism. Skeptic of democracy. liberal rightsas “bourgeios”

Social contract theorists: Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau.

Similarities: Government arises from consent.

Differences: Hobbes → absolute sovereign; Locke → limited government; Rousseau → general will/direct democracy.

 Political ideology

 A coherent set of ideas and beliefs about politics, society, and the role of government.

Direct vs. representative democracy

Direct: Citizens decide directly on laws.

Representative: Citizens elect officials to decide on their behalf.

Liberal democracy

A representative democracy that guarantees individual rights, rule of law, and limited government.

Classic liberalism

Emphasis on individual rights, private property, limited government, free markets.

Historic ideas of democratic governance vs. classic liberalism:

Democratic governance emphasizes popular sovereignty and majority rule.

Classic liberalism emphasizes individual rights and limiting majority power.

Features of U.S. liberal democracy

Constitution, separation of powers, federalism, checks and balances, protection of rights.

Modern American Liberals

Support social welfare, government regulation of economy, equality, civil rights.

Modern American Conservatives

Emphasize free markets, limited government, traditional values, individual responsibility.

Key differences

Liberals favor equality and regulation; Conservatives favor free enterprise and tradition.

Relation to classic liberalism

Both value liberty, but modern liberals stress positive liberty (capacity to act), conservatives stress negative liberty (freedom from interference).

 Nationalism & liberal democracy

National identity helped unify states, enabling democratic governance.

Capitalism & liberal democracy

Capitalism fostered middle classes that demanded political rights.

 Four types of representation:

Descriptive (mirroring constituents)
Substantive (acting for interests)
Symbolic (representing identity/values)
Formal (institutional authorization).

Trustee, delante, descriptive, moral

Baker’s three models of democracy

Party competition (citizens choose between parties).
Populist (direct expression of people’s will).
Technocratic (experts making decisions).

elite, republican, representative?

Marxism

Core ideas:

Class struggle between bourgeoisie and proletariat.
Historical materialism (economic base shapes society).
Revolution inevitable.

4. Means of production: Tools, resources, and technology used to produce goods.

5. Role in class identification:

Feudalism: lords vs. serfs.
Capitalism: bourgeoisie (owners) vs. proletariat (workers).

6. Dictatorship of the proletariat: Transitional state where workers control government to abolish class differences.

7. Communism phase: Classless, stateless society with shared ownership of production.

8. Fate of government/state: State “withers away.”

9. Contributions of Lenin, Stalin, Mao:

Lenin: Vanguard party, revolution in less-developed countries.
Stalin: Centralized authoritarian socialism, rapid industrialization.
Mao: Peasant-based revolution, adapted Marxism to agrarian societies.

10. Marx vs. Soviet Communism: Marx envisioned stateless communism; Soviet Union created authoritarian one-party state.

11. Marxist critiques: Capitalism exploits labor; democracy under capitalism favors elites, not true equality.

Social Democracy

 Main features:

Egalitarianism (reducing inequality)
Welfare state (healthcare, education, pensions)
Mixed economy with state ownership of key industries.

2. Equality in social democracy: Equality of opportunity and outcome.

3. Economic rights: Right to work, housing, healthcare, education.

4. Comparison:

Liberal democracy → individual rights, free markets.
Marxism → abolition of capitalism.
Social democracy → reform capitalism through regulation and welfare.

Authoritarianism and Populism

Authoritarianism: Regime where power is concentrated, political freedoms restricted, but not total control of society.

2. Dictatorship: Rule by one person or small group without accountability.

3. Totalitarian regime: Seeks to control all aspects of public and private life.

4. Differences:

Authoritarianism = limited pluralism, no true democracy.
Dictatorship = specific leader controls state.
Totalitarianism = ideology-driven, all-encompassing control.

5. Fascism: Far-right ideology emphasizing nationalism, hierarchy, and authoritarian rule. It is a form of authoritarianism.

6. Caramani’s models of representation:

Party competition: Parties compete for votes to represent citizens.
Populist: Leaders claim to directly embody the people’s will.
Technocratic: Experts make decisions based on knowledge, not popular will.

7. Critiques of party competition model:

Populists: Parties are corrupt and fail to represent the people.
Technocrats: Parties are uninformed, decisions should be made by experts.

Understanding Political Science

Politics: Collective decision-making, power, conflict resolution.
Political science: Systematic, scientific study of politics.
Relation: Politics = practice; Political science = study.
Weber’s state: Monopoly of legitimate violence.
Weber’s legitimacy types: Traditional, Charismatic, Legal-rational.
Approaches: Institutional, Behavioral, Structural-functional, Rational choice, Normative.
Scientific inquiry (7 steps): Question → Literature → Hypothesis → Design → Data → Analysis → Conclusion.
Positivism: Social sciences = natural sciences (facts, data).
Behavioralism: Focus on observable political behavior.
Sub-disciplines: Political theory, Comparative politics, International relations, American politics.
Tasks: Theory (normative), Comparative & IR (empirical/theoretical), American (empirical).
Hill’s myths of science: Always objective, absolute truth, neutral scientists.

Democracy

Ideology: Belief system about politics.
Direct vs. Representative democracy: Direct = citizens decide; Representative = elect officials.
Liberal democracy: Rights, rule of law, representative gov.
Classic liberalism: Rights, private property, limited gov.
U.S. liberal democracy: Constitution, checks & balances, rights.
Modern Liberals: Welfare, equality, regulation.
Modern Conservatives: Free markets, tradition, limited gov.
Differences: Equality vs. tradition/free markets.
Representation (4 types): Descriptive, Substantive, Symbolic, Formal.
Democracy models (Baker): Party competition, Populist, Technocratic.

Social Democracy

Features: Egalitarianism, welfare state, mixed economy.
Equality: Opportunity + outcome.
Economic rights: Work, housing, healthcare, education.
Comparison:
Liberal democracy = rights, free markets.
Marxism = abolish capitalism.
Social democracy = reform capitalism.

Authoritarianism & Populism

Authoritarianism: Centralized power, limited freedoms.
Dictatorship: Rule by one/few without accountability.
Totalitarianism: Total control, ideology-driven.
Fascism: Extreme nationalism + authoritarianism.
Caramani’s models:
Party competition → parties represent citizens.
Populist → direct will of people.
Technocratic → experts rule.
Critiques: Populists → parties corrupt; Technocrats → parties uninformed.