POLS 200: The Idea of Politics - Definitions, Concepts, and Methods

Flashcards covering definitions, core concepts, theoretical perspectives, research methods, and key thinkers from Dr. Emmanuel E. Obuah's POLS 200 introductory lecture notes.

According to the Department of Political Science at Northwestern University, how is political science defined?

Political science is the study of politics and power from domestic, international, and comparative perspectives. It entails understanding political ideas, ideologies, institutions, policies, processes, and behavior, as well as groups, classes, government, diplomacy, law, strategy, and war.

How does Encyclopedia Britannica define political science, and what feature distinguishes it from other social sciences?

Encyclopedia Britannica defines political science as the systematic study of governance by the application of empirical and generally scientific methods of analysis. It is distinguished from other social sciences by its focus on power.

How is power defined in political science according to the lecture notes?

Power is defined as the ability of one political actor to get another actor to do what it wants—at the international, national, and local levels.

How do interpretivists differ from behavioralists in political science?

Interpretivists deal with historical and philosophical aspects of politics, whereas behavioralists look for broad patterns across cases using statistical analysis of numerical information.

What two core aspects are involved in politics according to Slide 5?

Politics involves the search for a common choice and the use of power to achieve the ends.

How did Thomas Hobbes define power?

Thomas Hobbes defined power as the general capacity to attain goals in society.

How did Harold Lasswell (1936) define politics?

Harold Lasswell defined politics as involving the power to decide and determine "who gets what, when, and how".

How did David Easton (1965) define politics?

David Easton defined politics as the authoritative allocation of values for a society—the process by which social goals and standards are set, these standards being binding upon members of society.

How did Hans Morgenthau describe politics at any level?

Hans Morgenthau stated that politics, at whatever level, is the struggle for power.

What are the four types of power listed in the notes?

Relational (Covert, Overt), Structural, Soft, and Sharp.

What is the difference between public choice and dominant choice?

Public choice is the cooperative aspect of decision making involving the power of persuasion, whereas dominant choice is a choice made by the dominant group using the power of coercion or election.

What is authority, and how is government defined in relation to authority?

Authority is given to a person or group by agreement among those involved that they have the right to control certain decisions and that their decisions should be complied with. Government is a group of people with ultimate authority within a territory.

What is legitimacy, and what are its four sources listed in the notes?

Legitimacy is the right and acceptance of an authority, usually a governing law or a regime. Its four sources are: by results, by habits, by historical, religious or ethnic identity, and by procedures.

What is the difference between empirical theory and normative theory?

Empirical theory describes how things work in the observed world and is explanatory (why things happen as they do). Normative theory involves making judgments about the world, addressing what X should be or do by applying general principles.

What is Game Theory models as a research method in political science?

Game theory models form a framework to study strategic interactions and decision-making among political actors in areas such as conflict, international relations, voting behavior, and bargaining.

How is Ethnography defined as a research method in political science?

Ethnography is a qualitative method used to study and understand people, culture, and social groups by immersing the researcher in their natural environment to observe and interact with them through participation, interviews, and examination of cultural artifacts.

What is the Comparative method in political science research?

The comparative method is a systematic method of studying political phenomena by analyzing the similarities and differences between political systems, processes, institutions, structures, or outcomes across several cases, regions, or periods.

How is an Authoritarian regime defined in the concepts section?

An authoritarian regime is a system in which power depends not on popular legitimacy but on the coercive force of the political authorities.

What is political culture?

Political culture consists of the attitudes, beliefs, emotions, and values of a society that relate to the political system and to political issues.

What is transactional politics?

Transactional politics is a political approach focused on short-term, mutually beneficial exchanges of resources, favors, or votes, often characterized by a business-like manner, lacking in long-term strategic vision, and focusing on individual self-interest over shared values or institutional integrity.

What is political economy?

Political economy is the study of the interaction between the state and the economy—how the state and political processes affect the economy and how the organization of the economy affects political processes.

What is a critical juncture, and what are the specific examples mentioned in the text?

A critical juncture is an important historical moment when political actors make critical choices that shape institutions and future outcomes. Examples include 1989 (end of Cold War), September 11, 2001 (shift from development gap to terrorism, security, and force), 2008 (global financial and economic crisis), and 2014 (annexation of Crimea by Russia).

What does the term "Level of Analysis" mean in political science?

Level of Analysis is an organizational scheme for thinking about comparative politics, ranging from individuals, institutions, entities, regions, and countries to the global level.