Political Science 1 - Introduction To Political Science - Power Point #1

51
Dr. Tabakian’s Political Science 1 US Government Spring 2013 Power Point Presentation #1

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Political Science 1 - Introduction To Political Science - Spring 2013 - Power Point Presentation #1 - © 2013 Tabakian, Inc.

Transcript of Political Science 1 - Introduction To Political Science - Power Point #1

Page 1: Political Science 1 - Introduction To Political Science - Power Point #1

Dr. Tabakian’s Political Science 1 US Government – Spring 2013

Power Point Presentation #1

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• Defining Political Science

• Theory Defined

• Rational Choice

• Elitism & Pluralism

• Spheres of Influence

• Manipulation

• Interdependency Theory

• Power Theory

• Transparency

COURSE LECTURE TOPICS

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WELCOME TO CLASS!

New semesters bring various

hiccups for everyone. This also goes

for your instructor. We are all

adjusting to new situations, course

schedule conflicts and other

adjustments. This course utilizes

various methods to deliver

information. Many of our materials

are media driven. You will find many

to be humorous, thought provoking ,

or even interesting. This first clip is

presented merely for fun. It is titled

“Welcome To School”.

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POLITICAL MESSAGE

All citizens are allowed to

author campaign rhetoric in

order to influence public policy.

Here is an example from

Campchaos.com. The purpose

may be solely comical without

any political purpose. However,

we must remember that all

individual actors are part of the

system. All actions influence

“The System”.

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WHAT IS POLITICAL SCIENCE? - 1

• Political science is a branch of the social sciences

• Just like Sociology

• Each branch is interested in individual and group behavior

• Fundamental difference is the foundational theory

• Sociologists are biased towards elitism

• Political scientists are biased towards pluralism

• Elite theory is still utilized in the political sciences

• In contrast with pluralism

• Political scientists examine influences of political behavior

• Result of competing interests

• End result of conflict and compromise

• Sociologists looks at individual behavior

• According to elite influence in general

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ROLE OF THEORY - 1

• Everyone uses theory

• Whether they know it or not

• Many of us devise our own theories

• Through childhood socializations

•Up to adulthood

• Disagreements over basic theories

• Foundation of social sciences

• Elitism / Pluralism / Rational Choice Theory also helps researches to classify certain variables. It may be thought of as a pair of sunglasses that helps us filter unwanted information.

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ROLE OF THEORY - 2

• Foundation of political science

• Pluralism / Rational Choice Theory

• Think of theory as a pair of sunglasses

• Filtering unwanted information

• Helps us “see” the truth

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EXAMPLE OF THEORY - REALISM

• Human nature is the predominant factor

• In a nation-state’s foreign policy

• These policies are focused upon self-interest

• The inherent motive for man is survival

• Applied policies are determined according to political determinations

• Considered to be a synonym for power politics

• Construed as pragmatic and wrought with simplicity

• Abrupt philosophy focused on the inherent evils of mankind

The following clip is from the movie “Failsafe”. Walter Matthau plays the role of National

Security Advisor who applies rational choice and realist theory to explain why striking at the

Soviet Union is necessary to survive.

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FAILSAFE

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RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY - 1

• What is the primary goal of the individual?

• The answer may be summed up in one word: Survival.

• The foundation for all action

• Individual parties make decisions based on rationality

• Assuming that individuals base all decisions on self-interest

• Requirements to make a rational choice

• Perfect information

• Balancing our emotions

• Rational choice in one sentence:

• “Decisions are based on self-interest…as we define our

self-interest to be.”

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RATIONAL CHOICE THEORY - 2

Who Is Acting Rationally In This Example?

We have a nun and a real-estate mogul. The nun gives up all

her worldly possessions and dedicates herself to helping

those in poverty. Her justification may be great rewards in the

afterlife. The real-estate mogul does not believe in an afterlife,

but does believe in making as much money as , spending it all

on an overly extravagant and abusive lifestyle. Who is acting

rationally? Both individuals are for they are fulfilling their self-

interest…as they define their self-interest to be.

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ELITISM

• Elitism does not promote elite rule

• The rules of a society obstruct social progress of masses

• Elites are needed due mass ignorance and apathy

• Elites have two main goals

• Preserve and enhance their positions of power

• Masses open to demagogues

• When the economy is doing poorly

• The country is fighting a war that it is losing

• Demagogues come from the far left or far right

• The Founding Fathers were against national referenda

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ELITISM SUMMARIZED - 1

1. Society is divided between the powerful few and the

majority weak.

2. Governing few are not typical of the governed masses.

Elites are not drawn mostly from the upper class

socioeconomic section of society.

3. Non-elites have to be given the opportunity to rise up to

elite positions. The masses have to believe that the

process is continuous or revolution may occur. Barriers

prevent finite elite positions from being overtaken by

unqualified individuals. This is a rat and cheese scenario.

Sufficient Cheese Sufficient Cheese Lack Of Cheese

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ELITISM SUMMARIZED - 2

1.Elites share a common belief on the basic values of the elite. Any change of public policy will be incrementally slow rather than revolutionary.

2.Elites may base their actions either on narrow, self-serving motives and risk undermining mass support, or they may initiate reforms, curb abuse, and undertake public-regarding programs to preserve the system.

3.Active elites are not typically influenced from apathetic masses. Elites influence masses more than the masses influence elites.

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ELITISM SUMMARIZED - 3

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ELITISM / INFORMATION FLOW - 1

• Information flows from opinion elites down to opinion

leaders who are looked to the public for information

• News is first “created” by opinion elites and then sent to

opinion leaders to help disseminate the information

• Those at the very top of the elite network decide what

information is deemed as necessary to offer society

• These elites may be news makers themselves or in charge

of large media corporations

• Opinion leaders may be thought of as journalists, news

anchors, expert pundits or even celebrities who possess

legitimacy among those in society.

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ELITISM – INFORMATION FLOW

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Governmental elites find it

necessary to manipulate the

masses if doing so serves a

vested interest. Here is a great

example of how a safety video

can serve as a tool for

manipulating the masses from

childhood. Who does the

monkey represent?

MANIPULATION EXAMPLE

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MIRROR MYTH – 1

• News media outlets “decide what will be decided”

• Bias is exhibited throughout the mainstream and nontraditional news sources

• The news media stress that they are nonbiased since they only reflect reality

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MIRROR MYTH – 2

• Their choice of news

subjects proves their bias

• All news is biased

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WHAT WE CALL THE NEWS - 1

Securing market share is vital,

for without it, the major media

would lose advertising

revenue. It is really our fault

that the major news networks

willfully focus on sex, violence

and various negative pieces.

Enjoy this video, “What We

Call The News.”

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PLURALISM & SPHERES – 1

• Pluralism insures that groups are restricted from single

handedly influencing public policy

• cross-cutting cleavages would form, as groups seek

compromise with others to build coalitions that would

succeed in affecting change

• Minorities are protected from an overwhelming majority

• Majority power-holders are essentially “checked”

• Cross-cutting cleavages balance against overwhelming forces

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PLURALISM & SPHERES – 2

• Pluralism insures that groups are restricted from single

handedly influencing public policy

• cross-cutting cleavages would form, as groups seek

compromise with others to build coalitions that would

succeed in affecting change

• Minorities are protected from an overwhelming majority

• Majority power-holders are essentially “checked”

• Cross-cutting cleavages balance against overwhelming forces

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PLURALISM & SPHERES – 3

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PROPAGANDA – CITIZEN BASED

“The War On Terror” sparked a

great deal of media distributed via

the Internet. Elites no longer

maintain total control over

distribution. These videos are

meant to produce an “Us” versus

“Them” mindset.

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PLURALISM SUMMARIZED – 1

1. Society is divided into numerous groups with all making

demands on government while none of the participants are

able to dominate all decision-making.

2. Citizens do not directly participate in decision-making, but

they are able to vote for leaders to make decisions through

a process of bargaining, accommodation, and compromise.

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PLURALISM SUMMARIZED – 2

3. Competition among leadership groups helps protect

individuals’ interests. Countervailing centers of power – for

example, competition among business leaders, labor

leaders and government leaders – can check one another

and keep each interest from abusing its power and

oppressing the individual. Each of these individual

“spheres of influence” allies themselves with other spheres

that possess similar goals. See “Spheres Of Influence”.

4. Individuals may not participate directly in decision-making,

but they can exert influence through active participation in

organized groups, political parties and elections.

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PLURALISM SUMMARIZED – 3

5. Leadership groups are open; new groups can form and gain

access to the political system.

6. Political influence in society is unequally distributed, but

power is widely dispersed. Access to decision making is

often determined by how much interest people have in a

particular decision. Because leadership is fluid and mobile,

power depends on one’s interest in public affairs, skills in

leadership, information about issues, knowledge of

democratic processes, and skill in organization and public

relations.

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PLURALISM SUMMARIZED – 4

7. Multiple leadership groups operate within society. Those

who exercise power in one kind of decision do not

necessarily exercise power in others. No single elite

dominates decision making in all issues.

8. Public policy does not necessarily reflect majority

preference, but is an equilibrium of interest interaction –

competing interest group influences are more or less

balanced, and the resulting policy is therefore a reasonable

approximation of society’s preferences.

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ELITISM VERSUS PLURALISM – 1

1. Elitism asserts that the most important division in society is

between elites and masses.

2. Elitism emphasizes the importance to leaders to maintain

their position of power – Pluralism emphasizes this devotion

to their group interests.

3. Elitism asserts that mass membership of organizations

rarely exercises influence on elite leadership. That these

organizations have no democratic processes and are

controlled by leaders who operate for their own self-interest.

Pluralists offer no evidence that the giant organizations

represent the interests of their individual members.

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ELITISM VERSUS PLURALISM – 2

4. Elitism takes into account of all power holders – private and

public. Pluralism focuses on governmental leaders and

those who interact directly with them.

5. Elitism emphasizes shared characteristics of leaders on top

of their interest in preserving the social diversity among

leaders, differences in backgrounds, ideologies, and

viewpoints. Pluralism also argues that decisions made by

leaders are a product of their role perception, institutional

constraints, interest group pressure, public opinion, etc.

Elitism focuses on leadership consensus – Pluralism

focuses on elite conflict.

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SPHERES OF INFLUENCE

• Competing spheres of influence

protect minority rights against

majority factions

• Alliances will form among once

competing spheres in order to

“check” another sphere or

individual elite base that acquires

too much power

• Individual spheres of influence are

always on the alert for one of their

peers assuming too much power.

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COMPETING SPHERES

• Competing Spheres of Influence

essentially check each other within

the political system

• This is essential for the protection

of minority rights especially as it

pertains to majority factions

• Elites are those who hold positions

of power in society

• Our Founding Fathers considered

the protection of minority rights as

those few individuals who retained

control over society

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TRANSITIONAL EFFECTS – 1

• Competition produces great returns for humanity

• The result has been America progressing from a

predominantly agricultural society to an industrial, nuclear,

and information based society

• Innovation has led to advancements that have greatly

influenced every aspect of society.

• Society has benefited from constant advancements in

energy harvesting, computers, communication, water

purification, medicine, etc.

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TRANSITIONAL EFFECTS – 2

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

Every significant discovery has in turn greatly influenced

societal norms of behavior Masses today view internet

communications as a vital necessity. It is nearly impossible to

operate in a complex society without easy access to the web.

The majority of masses did not have this belief fifteen years

ago. Only society determining that the internet allowed for

greater efficiency was it adopted as a societal norm. Those not

willing to adapt became obsolete.

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STABILIZATION

• Sudden instability is the greatest threat to humanity

• It threatens to cause irreparable harm to the individual

• Elimination of one’s sustenance throws the individual into a

state of war, because their survival is now threatened

• Nation-states consist of multiple spheres of interest in turn

consisting of individual units consisting of people

• Survival is the primary goal of man and nation-states

• The primary concern is that of stability

• This philosophy has prevented a major war for over 70 years

• Instability is the primary cause of all conflict

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SPHERES OF INFLUENCE

• Spheres consist of individuals

who share a common set of

interests and/or belief systems

• Individual participants are the

absolute micro-level

• Family, work, school, political

parties, religion, etc.

• The individual member serves as

the conduit between spheres

• Various social interactions

influence individual behavior

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ELITE STAGES

• Elites are the true minority

• True for all societies

• Elites possess large capacities of power

• The example shows maximum education

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PLURALISM ALLIANCES

• Alliances will form among once

competing spheres in order to

“check” another sphere or

individual elite base that acquires

too much power

• Certain situations may also call for

spheres realize they share a

common agenda with one or more

of their respective peers

Individual

Interdependent Spheres

Government Business

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POLITICAL MESSAGE

Those activists who work with

both major parties are either

much more liberal or

conservative than the average

typical voter. Democratic

activists are more liberal and

Republican activists are more

conservative.

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POWER THEORY – 1

• To exert power one must first possess adequate reserves

• This is defined simply as “capacity of power”

• Achieving higher positions is dependent on various factors

that may include: education; wealth; profession; charisma

and other talents either developed or engrained from birth

• This “capacity of power” is not determined according to a

single resource, ability or possession

• It is a combination of different variables that serve to make

up the individual

• This is just like a battery consisting of energy resources

drawn upon when it comes time to draw power in order to

achieve a set objective.

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POWER THEORY – 2

• To exert power one must first possess adequate reserves

• This is defined simply as “capacity of power”

• Achieving higher positions is dependent on various factors

that may include: education; wealth; profession; charisma

and other talents either developed or engrained from birth

• This “capacity of power” is not determined according to a

single resource, ability or possession

• It is a combination of different variables that serve to make

up the individual

• This is just like a battery consisting of energy resources

drawn upon when it comes time to draw power in order to

achieve a set objective.

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POWER THEORY – 3

Like a battery powering a

flashlight so does one’s

individual “capacity of power”

serve to assist one in achieving a

set goal or in this case

influencing or affecting political

behavior to maintain, expand or

protect one’s standing in order

to survive in society.

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POWER THEORY – 4

Power equals resources (capacity of power) times compliance

squared, divided by force. Every accounting of power theory is

taken into consideration in the construction of this formula. We

have explored the contention that the pursuit of self-interest

encourages man to engage in political behavior. This serves as

the foundation for rational choice theory, which in turn has led us

to power theory. One may argue that the pursuit of power

maintains the never ending cycle of political: conflict; compromise;

alliances; and wars.

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POWER THEORY – 5

Many have countered this argument with a direct assault on the

statement that “there is no morality in politics”. These critics are

both right and wrong. It is true that morality has no direct

correlation with political science if the pursuit of self-interests and

power resources maintains utmost priority. On the other hand

they may be correct if one party sells their pursuit as a moral

cause in order to achieve their agenda. For example, one may

argue that good may come from conflict even if it leads to the

destruction of a nation-state and the slaughtering of thousands or

millions of people if the seed of democracy is planted and

nurtured to maturity.

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TRANSPARENCY – 1

America has grown from the days of a colony to major power,

superpower, and hegemon, to its present empire status. American

power is felt throughout the international community. Playing

poker requires one to adopt what is commonly known as a “poker

face”. Players will hide their true emotions, even faking their true

intentions to catch other players off guard. Some have even taken

to wearing sunglasses. The exact opposite tactic that the United

States has adopted is “Transparency”. This involves disclosing all

routes the nation-state will undertake with regards to all forms of

public policy pertaining to its political, economic and military

strategies.

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TRANSPARENCY – 2

Alexander Hamilton initiated this

policy as the chief financial

philosopher of the United States

even if he did not coin the term.

Hamilton is regarded as the chief

architect of our economic policy,

which in turn was developed in order

to win the confidence of domestic

US business and financial elites as

well as gaining the confidence of

international business.

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TRANSPARENCY EXAMPLE – 1

America possesses the most

technologically advanced

military hardware. This video

demonstrates one of the first

deployable force fields for

light armored vehicles

(LAVs). Welcome to the 21st

Century.

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TRANSPARENCY EXAMPLE – 2

America is not the only nation

that utilizes Transparency. This

video shows the Israeli Defense

Force demonstrating a new type

of gun that can shoot around

corners. A brief interview with the

inventor of this amazing weapon

follows the demonstration.

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TRANSPARENCY EXAMPLE – 3

Some forms of transparency are

both political and military in

nature. The military sponsored

the development of the Massive

Ordinance Aerial Burst (MOAB). It

is commonly referred to as “The

Mother Of All Bombs”. It is the

largest conventional bomb in our

arsenal. There is a psychological

component to this bomb. A

mushroom cloud forms following

successful detonation. It looks

somewhat like a nuclear device

being detonated.

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TRANSPARENCY EXAMPLE – 4

Javelin is a fire-and-forget missile

with lock-on before launch and

automatic self-guidance. The

system takes a top-attack flight

profile against armored vehicles

(attacking the top armor which is

generally thinner) but can also

take a direct-attack mode for use

against buildings or fortifications.

This missile also has the ability to

engage helicopters. Javelin is

supplied by Raytheon/Lockheed

Martin's JAVELIN Joint Venture.