INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS PDF FINAL1

Introduction to Politics

• Quizzes: 28.10 at 13:00, 19.11 at 17:00

• Research Paper: Due after 15.11 on how immigration influences the rise of far-right parties in Europe; examining reactions from other parties, changes in migration flows, specific country perspectives, and underlying ideologies like nationalism.

• Exam: Comprises 3 analytical questions.

Definition of Politics

• Politics as:

  • Work of government

  • Management of public affairs

  • Art of compromises

  • Process of making collective decisions that are binding on certain groups.

• (Un)Avoidability of Politics:

  • Politics is a social phenomenon, rooted in the assumption of limited resources.

Understanding Power

• Bertrand Russell: Defines power as the ability to produce desirable outcomes.

• Robert Dahl: Describes power as A's ability to compel B to act against their will.

• Faces of Power (Steven Lukes):

  • Power to influence decisions

  • Power to set agendas

  • Power to influence minds and attitudes

Concept of State

• Key Characteristics:

  • Organizational understanding involving territory, population, and sovereignty.

  • A system of public administration with a monopoly on legitimate violence.

• Functional Understanding:

  • Basic functions include the provision of public goods, which are accessible to all regardless of individual contribution.

  • Distinction between public and private goods.

  • Failed State: Lacks the ability to provide basic safety.

Emergence of State

• Theories of State Formation:

  • Conflict Theory: The state manages and resolves conflicts.

  • Marxist Theory: The state serves as an instrument of class dominance.

  • Power Theory: Emerges from dominance over a defined territory.

  • Evolutionary Theory: Develops from family and clan evolution.

  • Functionalist Theory: Addressing organizational challenges.

  • Hobbes: The state arises from a social contract.

Political System and Regime

• Political System: Includes all institutions involved in decision-making.

• Political Regime: Describes Relations among elements of the political system.

• Democracy vs Totalitarianism:

  • Democracy/Polyarchy: Power rests with elected officials, who are chosen through fair elections, with extensive freedoms.

  • Totalitarianism: Single-party control enforced through repression and ideology.

• Authoritarianism: Limited accountability and political freedoms.

Change of Political Regimes

• Changes rely on public support and legitimacy, derived either from legality or consent of the governed.

Source of Legitimacy

• Max Weber's Types:

  • Tradition

  • Charisma

  • Rationality

• Fritz Scharpf: Input and output legitimacy.

Forms of Regime Change

• Evolution: Gradual changes in institutions.

• Revolution: Rapid, significant institutional shifts.

• Coup d’etat: Quick changes without alterations in values.

Models of Democracy

• Classic Democracy: Universal participation; all vote on decisions directly.

• Elite Democracy: Decisions made by an elite group with occasional public votes.

• Pluralist Democracy: Multiple interest groups participate to influence decisions.

• Deliberative Democracy: Focus on discussions leading to consensus-based decisions.

The Evolution of Democracy

• Notable waves of democratization occurred during specific periods leading to hybrid regimes and democratic backsliding.

Writing a Research Paper

• Types of Research: Includes descriptive, correlation, causal, theory-generating, and policy evaluation.

• Scientific Method Steps: Identify research problems, define questions, gather data, verify hypotheses, and conclude.

Inequality and Stratification

• Social Stratification: Caste systems, Marxist analysis on class struggle, Weber's socioeconomic differentiation, and functionalist views.

• Social Mobility: Movement within a stratification system, including upward and downward mobility.

Political Culture

• Definition: A set of values and attitudes towards politics.

• Formation Agents: Family, schools, and mass media as crucial socialization sources.

• Types of Political Culture: Parochial, passive, and active citizen engagement.

Social Capital and Postmaterialism

• Social Capital: Importance of networks and trust for societal cooperation.

• Postmaterialism: Shift in values focuses on quality of life and democratic engagement.

Political Ideologies

• Definitions and Notions: From the emergence to evolution through significant historical contexts, encompassing various ideologies such as liberalism, conservatism, socialism, fascism, feminism, and populism.

Political Parties

• Types of Political Groups: From communal to institutional groups.

• Functions: Include interest articulation, governing, and voter education.

• Cleavage Theory: Describes societal divisions influencing party formations.

Electoral Systems

• Definition: Methods to convert votes into mandates.

• Types: Majoritarian (e.g., first-past-the-post), proportional, and mixed systems.

Voter Behavior

• Schools of Thought: Sociological approach, social-psychological approach, and rational choice theory explain how various factors influence voter decisions.

Legislature Functions

• Core Roles: Include law adoption, representation, oversight of the executive, and legitimization of regimes.

• Structure Variations: Single and bicameral legislatures with different selection processes.

The Role of Executive

• Definition: Responsible for implementing legislative decisions. Models include prime ministerial and cabinet governance, each with pros and cons.

Coalition Theories

• Concepts: Office-seeking and policy-seeking theories explaining coalition dynamics.

Centralization vs Decentralization

• Governance Models: Discusses advantages and disadvantages of centralized versus decentralized governance structures.

Examining Local and Bureaucratic Governments

• Local Government: Reflects local interests; functioning tied to central government definitions.

• Bureaucracy's Role: Administrative structure of governance, influenced by and influencing power dynamics.

Nation and Nationalism

• Nations as Cultural Communities: Influenced by shared identities and experiences, with various interpretations of nationalism promoting different agendas.

Political Participation

• Forms of Participation: Conventional (e.g., voting) versus unconventional actions; trends indicate rising non-electoral participation.

• Results of Participation: Impact on political efficacy and societal change.