LECTURE (Aug 5)

There are 5 Definitions of Politics, what are they? ( CICCE)

1. Classical Politics

2. Institutional Politics

3. Conflict Politics

4. Cooperation Politics

5. Everday Politics

Explain Classical Definition (aristotle)

• “Man is by nature a political animal”- Aristotle

  • In his view, living in a community or polis isn’t just a choice — it’s built into what it means to be human.

• We have the capacity to promote the common good

• Man enters society, as politics is the highest form of reasoning

Explain Institutional View

• Governance and structure and Management of society

• Politics as governance

Explain Conflict and Power Perspective

• Who gets what, when, where, and how? (Governance)

  • Harold Lasswell Definition

• A conflict and power perspective — Lasswell’s definition centers on the competition over scarce resources, benefits, and power, where different individuals, groups, and institutions have competing interests. 

• Politics as a struggle for power

Explain Consensus and Cooperation View

• compromise

• cooperation

• diplomacy and treaties

Explain Everyday Life View Politics

• Politics is everwhere

• Power relations and power dynamics (e.g in domestic homes there is politics between family members)

• Feminism “ the personal is political” there is polistics both in the private domain and public sphere

SIX Core elements of Politics ( PAD-RCP)

1. Power - influence

   1. influence, who has the ability to change/influence others or their situation

2. Authority - legitimacy

   1. legitimate power: the right to influence

   2. who’s power is recognized as legitimate

3. Decision-Making - collective choices

   1. how are collective actions made?

4. Resources - benefits and burdens

   1. burdens and benefits: how are they distributed in society

5. Conflict and Negotiation

   1. compromise and dialogue

6. Participation

   1. society is made up of people, which must contribue through participation

How do we study Politics?

political analysis

FOUR Characteristics of Political Analysis (EA-IN)

1. Empirical

2. Analytical

3. Interdisciplinary

4. Normative and Descriptive

Empirical

• systematically investigating political phenomena

• evidence based insights- observable

Analytical

• Causal explanations

• looks at patterns and relationships

Interdisciplinary

informed by other disciplines

crossroads of sciences ( economics, theology etc)

Normative and Desriptive

• Normative political analysis focuses on what ought to be—judging politics based on values, ethics, or ideals.

• Descriptive political analysis focuses on what is(describing)—observing and explaining political realities without value judgments.