Intro to Comp. Politics

Key Philosophers in Politics

Private property and contracts are fundamental for individual freedom and prosperity.
Advocated these principles in "Two Treatises of Government."

**Inalienable Rights: ** Citizens' rights cannot be taken away by the government.
Influenced the development of civil rights through his work The Social Contract.
Key Principle: "Man is born free."
- Suggests that essential human nature allows for free development.
- This principle challenges empirical evidence contrary to freedom.
Social Contract Concept:
- Not viewed as a historical event, but as a set of principles guiding social order.
- Includes political, familial, educational, business, and recreational agreements.
- Symbolized through societal structures like traffic lights, representing social agreements for communal safety.
State of Nature vs Social Contract:
- Social agreement defines societal nature and citizen rights.
- Opposite of the state of nature where anarchy reigns.

Not detailed in this section, references suggest further studies in chapters 3 and 4 are suggested.

Explored bureaucracy and forms of authority in Economy and Society.
Sociology: Defined as the science of interpretive understanding of social behavior.
Types of Social Action:
- Instrumentally rational
- Value rational
- Effectual
- Traditional
Legitimate Order: Defined as either convention or law.
- Convention: Validity guaranteed by social reaction against deviation.
- Law: Enforced by the probability of coercion from authority.
Types of Legitimate Domination:
- Rational-Legal Authority: Based on laws and regulations (e.g., modern democracies).
- Traditional Authority: Rooted in long-standing beliefs and customs (e.g., monarchies).
- Charismatic Authority: Based on individual personality and qualities.

Qualitative Methods:
- Narrowly focused, deep investigations, often inductive.
- Criticized for lack of generalizability and rigorous definitions.
Quantitative Methods:
- Advocated for broader case analysis and statistical analysis.
- Often employed deductive reasoning.
Debate between Qualitative and Quantitative:
- The necessity of both methods recognized, leading to mixed-method approaches.
- Real-world changes signal the need for theory adaptation in political science.

Rational Choice Theory:
- Assumes humans act rationally in their interests, often associated with quantitative methods.
Critics of Rational Choice:
- Argue it oversimplifies human behavior, ignoring historical and cultural complexities.

Consensus Model:
- Individuals agree on common rules for security.
- Leads to democratic governance.
Coercion Model:
- Power imposed by rulers for domination.
- Results in authoritarian governance.

Weber's Definition of Power:
- The ability to enforce one's will despite resistance.
Legitimate Authority:
- Power deemed just and appropriate by society.
Types of Legitimate Authority:
- Traditional: Based on customs and inheritance.
- Rational-Legal: Based on legal frameworks and rules.
- Charismatic: Derived from an individual's personal qualities.
Routinization of Charisma:
- Transformation of charismatic authority into traditional or rational-legal authority enhances stability.

The study of political organization, power, and authority continues to evolve with methodologies reflecting the complexities of social dynamics and governance.