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Introduction to Political Thought

Objective : is to understand the arguments and position of the

central texts of the political tradition.

Strategies : Lecture/Discussion/Recitation

Evaluation : Quiz (next meeting)

1. What is Politics?

The word politics comes from the Greek word (politika), modeled onAristotle's book on governing and governments entitled "affairs of thecity"

= usually describes as the processes by which people andinstitutions exercise and resist power.

= generally is the art or science of running governmental or stateaffairs, including behavior within civil governments. It consists of "socialrelations involving authority or power" and to the methods and tacticsused to formulate and apply policy.

2. Why is there a need to study Politics?

When you study Politics, you will be taught not what to think, but how to

think:

how to gather relevant information and marshal arguments in a logicaland clear fashion,

how to deepen your understanding of a range of political phenomena,and

how to form independent judgements about some of the majorcontroversies of our age.

In addition, you will develop a range of general, interpersonal skills:

communication and presentation skills IT skills

information-gathering skills

Project-planning skills.

team-working skills

3. What is Political Science?

= Aristotle simply defined it as the study of the state.

= the study of political organizations and institutions, especiallygovernments.

= is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state,government, and politics. It deals extensively with the theory and practice ofpolitics, and the analysis ofpolitical systems and political behaviour.

Social Science it refers to the academic disciplines concerned with society and
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human behavior.

- is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to anthropology,archaeology, criminology, economics, education, history, linguistics,

communication studies, political science, international relations,sociology, geography, and psychology, and includes elements of otherfields as well, such as law and social work.

- uses methods and techniques that relate to the kinds of inquiriessought: primary sources such as historical documents and officialrecords, secondary sources such as scholarly journal articles, surveyresearch, statistical analysis, case studies, experimental research andmodel building.

Political Systems it is a complete set of institutions, interest groups, therelationships between those institutions and the political norms and rules(constitution, electionlaw) that govern their functions and political behaviour.

Interest groups - (such as political parties, trade unions, lobby groups).

These are the varied definitions of Political Science as it originallyemphasized by the Greek term polis for city-state and scire means to

know:

1) It is the science that studies the political power and authority of the state andgovernment.

2) It is the systematic study of the institution, organization, processes and laws of thegovernment.

3) It is the study of politics that may influence the government structures andprocesses in a given society.

4) It is how the branches of government perform the various political tasks such as thedelivery of basic services.

5) It is the exercise of sovereign political right of the state and government to carry itstask for the improvement of quality of life in the society

Political science is commonly divided into three distinct sub-disciplineswhich together constitute the field:

1. Political Philosophy - the study ofpolitics, liberty, justice, property, rights, law,and the enforcement of a legal code by authority.

2. Comparative Politics - is a field and a method used in political science,characterized by an empirical approach based on the comparative method.

- It focuses on "the how but does not specify the whatof the analysis.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguisticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communication_studieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_sciencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_workhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sample_surveyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistical_analysishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Case_studieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interest_grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interest_grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_partyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobby_grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propertyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rightshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authorityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative_politicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_sciencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empiricismhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthropologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archaeologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Educationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Linguisticshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communication_studieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_sciencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_relationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sociologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychologyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_workhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sample_surveyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statistical_analysishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Case_studieshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interest_grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interest_grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_partyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trade_unionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lobby_grouphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_philosophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propertyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rightshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_codehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Authorityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparative_politicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_sciencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empiricism


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3. International Relations - occasionally referred to as international studies.

- Deals with the interaction between nation-states as well asintergovernmental and transnationalorganizations.

THE IMPORTANCE OF POLITICAL SCIENCE1. Political science is important because politics is important.

The study of political science suggests that the world of politics is complexand cannot be reorganized by simple ideological schemes withoutunintended consequences.

Many political scientists study how governments use politics. But politicalscientists also study politics in other contexts, such as:

how politics affects the economy

how ordinary people think and act in relation to politics, and

how politics influences organizations outside of

government.

The study of Political Science in very useful and valuable. Its knowledge isessential and useful to both the ruler and the ruled.

Generally, the importance of political science is the application of politicalpowers and authority in the realm of government structures. The ordinarycitizens may know and learn about their political rights and privileges from agiven form of government including the political structure and processes ofthe state.

(1) Imparting Knowledge of the State:

The primary aim of the study of Political Science is to inculcate knowledge ofthe State, its origin, nature, structure and functions. Knowledge about theState is of great significance to modern man.

(2) Imparting Knowledge of government and administration:

The administrators, political leaders and diplomats, who conduct the affairsof the State, also require sound knowledge of Political Science in order toperform their functions with efficiency.

An administrator who has no knowledge of Political Science is bound to be; afailure.

(3) Imparting Knowledge about the world:

In order to know what is happening in the world around us at least anelementary knowledge of political science is necessary. In the modern agean individual cannot lead an isolated life. Each country has to maintainrelations with other countries of the world.

(4) Creation of democratic values:
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The study of Political Science has assumed special importance in moderntimes in all democratic countries. The success of democracy depends uponthe political consciousness of its people.

(5) Creation of good citizenship:

It makes citizens conscious of national, objectives and goals.

(6) Lesson of co-operation and toleration:

Society cannot prosper without cooperation. Man should learn how to co-operate and adjust himself with his fellow-beings.

People of all walks of life should co-operate for the better development ofthe country. Toleration is also necessary in society.

These are the important dimensions to study political science that need to beconstantly in touch to mold the citizens in achieving quality of life to oursociety.

4 Areas of Concentration in Political Theory (Major Thinker and

Major Work)

a. Classical Political Thought(basically the Greek and Roman politicalthinkers and experiences)

a) Plato (Republic)

b) Aristotle (Politics and Nicomachean Ethics)

b. Modern Political Thought

a) Niccolo Machiavelli ( The Prince and the Discourses)

b) Thomas Hobbes (Leviathan Book 1 & 2)

c) John Locke (The Second Treatise on Government)

d) Jean Jacque Rousseau (The Social Contract)

c. American Political Thought

a) Wright Mills ( The Power of Elite)

b) Walter Lippmann (The Public Philosophy)

c) Robert Dahl ( A Preface to Democratic Theory)

d. Post-Modern Political Thought

a) Richard Bernstein (The Restructuring of Social and Political

Theory)


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b) Michael Shapiro (Language and Politics)

Niccol Machiavelli

- Italian historian

- Statesman- Political philosopher

Interest - Politics and Ethics

Birth-

May 3, 1469

Place ofBirth-

Florence, Italy

Knownfor

Writing The Prince, a book which described cunning andoccasionally unscrupulous methods by which rulers could acquirepower.

Creating realistic theories of political science.

Milestones (1498-1512) Served as secretary of the ten-man council that

conducted the diplomatic negotiations and supervised the militaryoperations of the republic.

(1503-1506) Reorganized the military defense of the republic ofFlorence.(Florentine militia)

(1512) When the Medici, a Florentine family, regained power inFlorence and the republic was dissolved; he was deprived of officeand briefly imprisoned for alleged conspiracy against them.

(1513) Hewas released and retired to the Florentine countrysideto write; began his most famous work, The Prince, which waspublished in 1532.

(1521) Completed On the Art of War

(1524) Published his comic play Mandragola

(1525) Completed History of Florence

(1527) He died in Florence in June 21.

The Discourses were published posthumously with papal privilege in 1531.

The Discourses on Livy is often described as Machiavellis book on

republics, but this is not entirely accurate. He does focus on republics,

ancient and modern, but he also discusses monarchies or princedoms.

His mode of analysis is Realist and Historical.


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Machiavelli view Discourses as the core of this science, as well as the heart

of his political creed.

In Discourse on Livy, Machiavelli is concern with explaining the structure of

the republic and the benefits of one.

Discourses on Livy had Three (3) books.

Book 1Discussed about the things that happened inside of Rome as a result ofPublic Counsel.

He complains that the Italian Renaissance has stimulated a desire toimitate the ancients in art, law, and medicine, but that no one thinks ofimitating ancient kingdoms or republics. He traces this to an improper

reading of history that suggests that imitation of ancient political virtue isimpossible.

Book II

Machiavelli discussed warfare in detail.

He explains why some people are enamoured with the past and unsatisfiedwith their own time.

Book III

He discusses the proper leadership of the republic.

He suggests that only a single person is capable of establishing republic or

fixing a city that has become corrupt.

For this reason a proper republic according to Machiavelli needs one person

to create it and many to lead it, once it has been established. However, if a

republic is established in a corrupt city, it is better for it to be in a form of a

monarchy than democracy. He believes that the apparent solution to the

problem is to let the bad men gain glory through actions that have a good

outcome, if not a good motive.

Best type of state in Machiavellis opinion is a republic that has a mixed

constitution.

The Book Discourses on Livy was dedicated Machiavellis two (2) friends.

Zanobi Boundelmonti and Cosimo Rucellai, Both also appeared in Art of War.

The Prince (1532; translated 1640)

Machiavelli view The Prince as a special instance of his political science.

The Prince is at once the most famous and infamous work in the canon of

political thought. Concern on how to obtained and maintain power. Instead of

considering questions of justice and the ideal state, Machiavelli proposed to

advise a new prince on how to successfully maintain power. Machiavelli

spends a great deal of time giving practical advice on how a prince should behave
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and how the prince should role. Machiavelli describes the method by which a

prince can acquire and maintain political power. In his view, a prince should

be concerned only with power and be bound only by rules that would lead to

success in political actions. Given the realities of human nature and politics,

it is sometimes necessary for a prince to do evil, including acts of violence,

deceit, and cruelty, in order to survive. For Machiavelli, the capacity for such

acts is not an aberration of the political art, but an essential part of a rulers

skill set. Such stark realism and the hard break with the Classical-Christian

tradition has led many to denounce Machiavelli as an immoralist, an

advisor to tyrants, and a teacher of evil.

Machiavelli argues that the medieval notion of the ruler as being the

embodiment of the virtues is unrealistic and dangerous; the ideal ruler is the

one who does whats necessary, who does whats successful rather than

whats morally praiseworthy.

Did YouKnow

Machiavelli dedicated The Prince to the Medici (Italian banking andpolitical family that ruled Florence for almost three centuries) rulersin the hope that they would allow him back into public life.

Critics have judged Machiavelli harshly because his political theoriesadvocated the use of unsavory means to secure desirable ends.

Quotation:

As a prince must be able to act just like a beast, he should learn from the foxand the lion; because the lion does not defend himself against traps, and thefox does not defend himself against wolves. So one has to be a fox in orderto recognize traps, and a lion to frighten off wolves.

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