Chapter 1: Politics: Setting the Stage

Chapter 1: Politics: Setting the Stage

Introduction

  • The chapter introduces fundamental concepts of politics and political science, setting the stage for understanding the intersection of power and choice in political action.

  • Notable works by W. Phillips Shively and David Schultz, published by The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc. in 2022.

Sample Questions

  • Questions that provoke thought and discussion:

    • How could Hitler come to power through democratic elections?

    • Was it right to drop two atomic bombs on Japan?

    • Why were southern blacks denied the right to vote and forced into segregated schools decades after the Civil War?

    • Should the world protect the Amazon and other rainforests, or should they be opened for economic development?

    • Why did Russia attack Ukraine?

    • Should same-sex couples have the same rights?

    • Why do Norway, Sweden, and Finland offer free education, healthcare, and elderly care to all citizens while the US does not?

What is Power?

  • Definition: The ability of one person to cause another to do what the first wishes, by whatever means.

  • Key aspects:

    • One person causing others to do what that person wants.

    • Power consists of a wide variety of tools that help one person affect the actions of another.

Defining Characteristics of Politics

  • Politics involves making common decisions for groups:

    • Decisions are made by some members of the group exercising power over others.

    • Phrase: “The use of power to reach collective choices.”

What is Political Action?

  • Definition: A rational pursuit to determine the best common solution to a common problem, or at least a reasonable common solution.

  • Characteristics of politics:

    • Consists of public choice.

    • A process through which some people are dominated by others; inherently involves the use of power.

Viewing Politics

  • Major themes:

    • Power and choice are the two major themes through which we organize our views of politics.

    • These themes are foundational to the title of the textbook.

What is Authority?

  • Definition: The mechanism that allows for the concentration of power.

  • Relation to legitimacy: Authority is closely related to legitimacy as it defines whether the power is seen as appropriate.

  • Key insight: Just because a person or institution has power does not mean its use is legitimate.

What is a Government?

  • Definition: A government consists of a group of people with ultimate authority within a defined territory.

  • Unique Characteristics:

    • Government's power involves authority without potential limits to the range of activities over which it may exercise authority.

Legitimacy

  • Importance of legitimacy: It is crucial for large segments of the population to believe both that the government has authority and that it should have that authority.

  • Nature of legitimacy: It is a matter of degree; not all individuals in a state will always agree on the legitimacy of the government or its actions.

Sources of Legitimacy

  • Factors contributing to legitimacy include:

    • Habit: Normalized behaviors and traditions.

    • Historical, Religious, or Ethnic Identity: Connections based on shared heritage or beliefs.

    • Procedures: Established processes that are perceived as fair and just.

    • Results: For instance, a government providing higher living standards contributes to its legitimacy.

Case Study: 2000 US Elections

  • Key questions of interest:

    • Q1: What was the total number of votes secured by Republican and Democratic candidates?

    • Q2: How was the election determined?

    • Q3: What occurred in Florida during the election?

    • Q4: Why did Al Gore concede the election?

    • Discussion on what kind of legitimacy these events demonstrate.

The State

  • Definition: A state refers to a country with organized authority over its borders, security, economy, and welfare of its citizens, among others.

  • Scope of Political Science: The discipline focuses intensely on the state but also considers international organizations, such as the EU or UN, and non-state actors like terrorist groups.

Political Science

  • Definition: The study and analysis of politics through multiple methodologies.

  • Types of Political Science:

    • Interpretive Political Science: Focuses on historical and philosophical contexts, often qualitative, and seeks non-numerical insight from individual cases.

    • Behavioral Political Science: Emphasizes broad patterns through quantitative analysis, distilling complex details into basic numbers.

What is Theory?

  • Definition: A theory is a statement linking specific instances to broader principles.

  • Types of Theories:

    • Empirical Theories: Describe how things operate in the observable world and provide causal relationships of the form “X causes Y.”

    • Normative Theories: Involve judgments about what ought to be, addressing questions like, “What should X be or do?”

Major Subfields of Political Science

  • Various branches include:

    • American Politics

    • Political Behavior

    • Political Institutions

    • Public Law

    • Public Policy

    • State & Local Politics

    • Comparative Politics

    • International Politics/Relations

    • Political Theory

    • Women & Politics

    • Race, Ethnicity, & Politics

    • Political Sociology

    • Other related areas.

Why Political Science?

  • Political science investigates "the use of power" and "collective choices," demonstrating its broad scope and relevance.

  • The field evokes an appreciation for the humanity intertwined with politics, making it an engaging and vital area of study.