Politics, Governance & Ideologies Lecture

Vocabulary cards covering key concepts, definitions, ideologies, and power dynamics from the lecture on politics, governance, government, ideologies, and power.

Politics

The science and activity of making, preserving, and amending the general rules by which people live, involving power, conflict, and cooperation.

Governance

The exercise of authoritative direction or control over a political unit or organization, including policy implementation and monitoring.

Government

The institution and group of people that make, enforce, and apply political decisions on behalf of the state.

Political Ideology

A goal-oriented set of political ideas that mobilises people for or against a particular configuration of a political community.

Harold Lasswell’s Definition of Politics

"Who gets what, when, how"—a focus on distribution of resources and decision-making.

David Easton’s Definition of Politics

"The authoritative allocation of values for a society."

Vladimir Lenin’s View of Politics

The most concentrated expression of economics.

Otto von Bismarck’s View of Politics

The capacity to choose, at each moment in changing situations, the least harmful or most useful course.

Bernard Crick’s View of Politics

A distinctive form of rule where people resolve differences through institutionalised procedures.

Adrian Leftwich’s View of Politics

All the activities of cooperation, negotiation, and conflict within and between societies.

Political Conflict

Disagreements arising from rival opinions, wants, needs, or interests over societal rules.

Political Cooperation

The recognition that achieving or maintaining preferred rules requires working with others.

Conservatism

Ideology emphasising tradition, gradual change, and preservation of what is judged best from the past (Edmund Burke).

Liberalism

Ideology favouring individual freedom, consent, majority rule, and willingness to use limited government to improve society (roots in John Locke, J.S. Mill).

Marxism

Karl Marx & Friedrich Engels’ social, political, and economic theory critiquing capitalism and envisioning a classless society based on common ownership.

Alienation (Marxism)

Worker’s estrangement from products, production, fellow workers, and human potential under capitalism.

Class Struggle

Conflict between bourgeoisie (owners) and proletariat (workers) over control of the means of production.

Historical Materialism

Marxist idea that material economic conditions drive social and political change through stages such as feudalism → capitalism → socialism → communism.

Revolution (Marxist)

Violent overthrow of capitalist structures by the proletariat leading toward socialism and ultimately communism.

Anarchism

Political philosophy rejecting unjust authority and seeking society based on voluntary cooperation and mutual aid without a coercive state.

Libertarianism

Ideology prioritising individual liberty, minimal government limited to protecting safety and enforcing fair contracts, and free markets.

Communism

Vision of a stateless, classless, moneyless society with collectively owned property and distribution according to need.

Power

Capability to control or influence behaviour and direct the outcome of events.

Influence

Ability to cause change in others without direct force; a subtle form of power.

Authority

Legitimate power or right to give orders and make decisions.

Legitimacy

Public acceptance of a government’s right to exercise power, producing compliance without coercion.

Sovereignty

Supreme, ultimate political authority within a territory, not subject to higher power.

One-Dimensional View of Power

Focus on observable decision-making behaviour in situations with overt conflict (issue method).

Two-Dimensional View of Power

Power expressed by setting or limiting the agenda and preventing certain issues from being discussed.

Three-Dimensional View of Power

Power that shapes desires and beliefs so the powerless behave as the powerful wish without coercion (Lukes’ domination).

Reward Power

Influence derived from the ability to grant benefits such as promotions, pay raises, or praise.

Coercive Power

Power based on compulsion or threat, forcing compliance against one’s will.

Legitimate Power (Type)

Influence stemming from formal positions of authority that create a sense of obligation in subordinates.

Informational Power

Control over valuable information that can change how others think and act.

Individual (Personal) Power

Ability to influence based on personal traits, self-efficacy, and cooperative attitude rather than formal authority.

Expert Power

Influence gained from possessing specialised knowledge or skills trusted by others.

Referent Power

Influence arising from admiration, likability, or identification with a charismatic role model.

Separation of Powers

Division of governmental authority among legislature, executive, judiciary, and other bodies to limit concentration of power.

Importance of Studying Politics

Enables awareness of rights, clarifies beliefs, informs national affairs, and prepares citizens for participatory adult life.