Intro to Comp. Politics

Key Philosophers in Politics

John Locke

• Private property and contracts are fundamental for individual freedom and prosperity.

• Advocated these principles in "Two Treatises of Government."

Jean Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778)

• **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.

Karl Marx (1818-1883)

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

Max Weber (1864-1920)

• 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.

Research Methodologies in Political Science

• 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.

Theoretical Perspectives 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.

Introduction to Political Organization

• 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.

Power and Authority in Society

• 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.

Conclusion

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