Study Notes on Understanding Politics and Political Science
GEED 020 - PHILIPPINE POLITICS, GOVERNANCE, and Citizenship
Prepared by: Prof. Therese Marie A. Oliver
College of Political Science and Public Administration
Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Lesson 1: UNDERSTANDING POLITICS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE
Learning Objectives:
Upon completion of this lesson, students will be able to:
Define Political Science and Politics and its key concepts.
Internalize the importance of studying Political Science.
Discuss the various approaches and fields within Political Science.
Introduction
Origin of Key Terms
Politics:
Originates from the Latin word "Politicus", which comes from the Greek "politikos" referring to citizens and their relationship with the state.
Pertains to state administration, public life, and originates from the term "polites" (citizen) and "polis" (city-state).
This concept was first formalized in Aristotle's work, Politiká, which discusses governance and the affairs of the city.
Science:
Derives from the Latin word „scientia“, meaning "knowledge".
Related to the verb "scire", which means "to know".
Refers to a systematic body of knowledge pertaining to a specific area of inquiry.
Basic Concepts of Politics
Definitions of Politics
Aristotle: Defined politics as the study of the affairs of the city-state (polis), positing that "men by nature are political animals."
Bernard Crick: Describes politics as a struggle for power among groups aiming to control the state.
Harold Lasswell: Characterized it as the study of "who gets what, when, and how."
Andrew Heywood: Defined it as an activity involving interactions characterized by conflict and cooperation to resolve disagreements through binding solutions.
Michael Sodaro: Offered the view of politics as a process for conflict resolution, with communities pursuing collective goals through government action.
Ernesto Maceda: Defined politics as compromise, emphasizing it as the art of achieving specific ends.
Former Senate President Jovito Salonga: Echoed Aristotle's view, stating that politics should also involve rejecting actions harmful to society.
Key Concepts in Politics
Power
Definition: The ability or right to execute authority over others.
Originates from the Latin verb "potere", meaning "to be able."
Authority: The right to command, be heard, and be obeyed, perceived as legitimate by citizens.
Types of Power:
Implicit Power: Involves subtle influence where one party acts to accommodate another's wishes without direct command (e.g., A wants B to do something and B complies voluntarily).
Manifest Power: Observable actions taken directly to influence another party (e.g., A actively makes B do what A desires).
Overall Definition of Power: The capacity to cause others to act in accordance with one's desires, using a range of methods from influence to coercion.
Importance of Studying Political Science
Key Reasons:
Personal Impact: Every individual is part of the government; personal life events are documented as part of state records from birth to death.
Rights and Duties: Studying political science clarifies citizens' rights and responsibilities and elucidates the structure and function of various government branches.
Cultural Awareness: Provides insights into the state's functions, law, diplomacy, public finance, etc., widening cultural understanding.
Professional Preparation: Essential for those intending to enter fields such as law, foreign service, public administration, business, education, and journalism, all of which intertwine with government affairs.
Politics: An Art or a Science
Politics as a Science
Provides foundational knowledge regarding state organization and underlying principles.
Exhibits an organized body of knowledge grounded in factual data and universal truths.
Politics as an Art
Involves unique skills that contribute to effective administration, often guided by individual instinct or acquired through experience.
Relationship of Political Science with Other Disciplines
Historical Context
Political science draws from historical knowledge to formulate concepts and theories, involving references to past and present dynamics.
Economic Influence
Economic conditions impact the state and vice versa, highlighting a reciprocal relationship whereby political scientists often employ economic perspectives in analyses of State affairs.
Geographic Factors
Geographical elements, such as territory, are critical for understanding the state; geopolitics gives insight into political structure influenced by geographical conditions, such as the emergence of democracy.
Sociological and Anthropological Insights
Political scientists, sociologists, and anthropologists analyze the foundations of social control and authority, studying how race and culture affect societal structures and behavior patterns.
Psychological Aspects
Political scientists collaborate with psychologists to explore the mental and emotional processes that motivate individual behaviors that relate to politics.
Philosophical Foundations
The concepts and ideologies of historical philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, and Locke provide vital knowledge for political scientists and are significant within academic philosophy.
Application of Statistics and Logic
Statistical methods are used for quantitatively assessing social phenomena, while logical reasoning aids in analyzing political arguments and narratives.
Jurisprudential Considerations
Jurisprudence engages with existing legal systems' analysis and the ethical, historical, sociological, and psychological foundations of law, which is crucial for political theorists.
Political Science as a Distinct Discipline
Historically, political science was intertwined with moral philosophy and theology until its formal separation.
In 1856, Columbia College established a dedicated Chair of History and Political Science, marking a significant academic shift initiated by Professor Francis Lieber.
Political science's claim for independence as a discipline rests on the necessity for specialization and the unique significance of the state.
Functions of Political Science
Principle Discovery: To uncover principles that should guide public affairs.
Government Operations Study: To analyze how governments function, identifying successful practices and critiquing inefficiencies to recommend improvements.
Lesson 1 Exercises
(Refer to your Module)
Prepared by: Prof. Therese Marie A. Oliver
CPSPA Faculty Member
Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Conclusion
Acknowledgments
Image and content credits to rightful owners.
Note: For classroom presentation in the 1st Semester 2025. No copyright intended.