Lecture Notes: Normative vs Empirical, Regimes, Public Goods, and Political Theories

A comprehensive set of conceptual flashcards covering empirical vs. normative approaches, Aristotle’s regime typology, public goods theory (excludability and rivalry) with the fire protection case, key thinkers (Weber, Schmitt, Easton, Marx), and three major perspectives on politics (Elite theory, Pluralism, Tradeoffs) along with participation pathways, political efficacy, and social capital.

What is the difference between empirical and normative concepts in political science?

Empirical concepts concern what can be observed and measured (facts, data, patterns, regularities); normative concepts concern what ought to be (values, principles, goals).

What did Harold Lasswell define as politics?

'Who gets what, when, where, and how.'

In Aristotle's regime typology, what are the good and bad forms and the number of rulers for each?

One ruler: Monarchy (good) vs Tyranny (bad); Few rulers: Aristocracy (good) vs Oligarchy (bad); Many rulers: Polity (good) vs Democracy (bad).

Why did Aristotle use the term 'democracy' negatively, and how is it viewed today?

He used 'democracy' to describe rule of the many serving itself; today democracy is viewed positively, though founders often preferred the term 'republic'.

How does normative vs empirical analysis apply to measuring equality?

Political science asks value-laden questions (normative) and tests them with data (empirical). Equality measures (e.g., Gini) can shape conclusions about whether a society is more or less equal; the U.S. is relatively unequal by global Gini comparisons.

What are the two attributes used to classify goods in the public goods framework?

Excludability (can access be withheld?) and Rivalry (does one person’s use reduce others?).

How are the four categories of goods defined in terms of excludability and rivalry, with examples?

Private goods: high excludability & high rivalry (e.g., smartphone); Common goods: low excludability & high rivalry (e.g., radio spectrum congestion); Club goods: high excludability & low rivalry (e.g., copyrighted software); Public goods: low excludability & low rivalry (e.g., national defense, clean air).

What did the 19th-century private fire companies illustrate, and how were these problems addressed?

Fragmented coverage, perverse incentives, and widespread fires due to externalities; Cincinnati’s 1853 shift to a public fire department reduced externalities and created positive spillovers.

What is the fire protection case study an illustration of in public goods terms?

The classic public goods problem and the efficiency gains from public provision.

Which thinker defined government as the monopoly on the legitimate use of force?

Max Weber.

Which thinker argued that 'the sovereign decides the exception' and draws friend/enemy lines?

Carl Schmitt.

Who argued that government serves the interests of the ruling class?

Karl Marx.

What does C. Wright Mills' Power Elite suggest about democracy?

Democracy can be largely theatrical, with policy decided by a cohesive elite; elites often have overlapping family networks.

What is Pluralism (Robert Dahl) and its core claim?

Policy arises from competition among many organized interests; the state is a neutral arena; diverse participation and the right to association are core to democracy.

What is the Tradeoffs perspective in political science?

Policy results from a compromise between mass groups and elites; neither side always wins; mainstream political science tends to view the U.S. as pluralist.

What are participation pathways?

The routes citizens take to influence politics, including conventional (voting, contacting officials) and unconventional (protests, boycotts).

What is political efficacy and its two dimensions?

The belief that one can understand politics (internal efficacy) and that government responds to one’s actions (external efficacy); external efficacy has declined.

What is social capital (Robert Putnam) and why does it matter?

Networks, trust, and cooperation within a society; its decline is detrimental to politics.

How do Elite theory, Pluralism, and the Tradeoffs perspective differ, and how do they relate to participation pathways, political efficacy, and social capital?

Elite theory: politics is controlled by a small, interlocking elite; participation occurs via elite channels; external efficacy may be low; elites’ networks (often family ties) underpin influence. Pluralism: policy arises from competition among many organized interests; broad participation; higher efficacy; strong civil society (social capital). Tradeoffs: policy results from compromises between mass groups and elites; mixed participation and efficacy; the U.S. is often viewed as pluralist.