Introduction toPolitical Science

Politics from “polis” - city; sovereign stateScience from “scire” - to know; study

Political Science is the study of state and government.

It is the understanding of the state i.e. principles and ideals underlying its organization and activities.

It is the study of a body politic, the association of people into a political community.

It studies relations of men and groups, men and groups to the state, and state to other states.

What is Political Science?

Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government, and politics.

Aristotle defined it as the study of the state.

It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior.

from Wikipedia

Political Science is the social science concerned chiefly with the description and analysis of political and governmental institutions and processes.

(Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary cited in Costales et al 2010)

Political Science is the study of politics. How do we study Political Science?- Studying political behavior (behavioralist approach)

- Studying political structure and functions (structural-functional approach)

- Studying political phenomena (phenomenological approach)

- Studying political ideas (philosophical approach)

- Studying political documents

- Studying political futures

Lawson, 1989

According to Harold Lasswell, politics is “who gets what, when, and how” and that political science is the study of “the shaping and sharing of power.”

Power is the ability to have others do something, whether they like it or not. It often connotes sanctions for those who will not abide.

Politics and Power

Legitimate power or "Positional power", it is the power of an individual because of the relative position and duties of the holder of the position within an organization.

Referent power is the power or ability of individuals to attract others and build loyalty. It's based on the charisma and interpersonal skills of the power holder. A person may be admired because of specific personal trait, and this admiration creates the opportunity for interpersonal influence.

Expert power is an individual's power deriving from the skills or expertise of the person and the organization's needs for those skills and expertise.

Kinds of Power

Reward power depends on the ability of the power wielder to confer valued material rewards.

Coercive power is the application of negative influences. It includes the ability to demote or to withhold other rewards.

Informational power Informational power is based on the potential use of informational resources.

Authority is the legitimate use of power. (Weber)

It is the right to exercise the power and influence of a particular position that comes with that position.

Weber’s 3 types of Legitimate Authority- Charismatic authority - political order is maintained

by the force of a leader’s personality.

- Traditional authority - political order is maintained by the constant reference to customs, traditions and conventions.

- Rational legal authority - political order is maintained by a regard of legality in the eyes of the population.

Authority

Legitimacy is the mass feeling that the governmental authority is rightful and should be obeyed.

Political legitimacy means having widespread approval for the way one exercises political power.

Legitimacy

Sources of Legitimacy Legitimacy by results: providing the basic needs of the

people such as security, welfare and respect for human rights.

Legitimacy by habit: people through time become accustomed to obeying the laws of the government.

Legitimacy by historical, religious or ethnic identity: legitimacy may come from various historical, religious or ethnic sources.

Legitimacy by fear: fearing undesired alternative can enhance the government’s legitimacy.

Legitimacy by procedures: procedures can also promote and provide legitimacy.

Name people in the Philippines who are powerful. Name the kinds of power they have. Be sure to have examples for each of the kinds of powers.

Does the government of Pres. PNoy have authority? Support your answer.

In the context of ruling a government or state: Is it possible to have political power without authority, and vice-versa? Is it possible to have political power without legitimacy, and vice-versa? Cite real-life examples or situations that these may happen.

Points to Ponder

To summarize: Political Science is the study of how power is

achieved (or gained), shared and used in the realm of state (or local) governance and global relations. (RRL)

Political Theory- entire body of doctrines relating to origin, form, behavior, and purposes of a state

Public Law- covers constitutional law, administrative law, and international law

Public Administration- methods and techniques used in actual management of state affairs by the 3 branches of government

(de Leon and de Leon)

What is the scope of Political Science?

To discover the principles that should be adhered to in public affairs and to study the operations of the government.

Its findings can be used in seeking resolutions to immediate situations.

To be able to deal with social and economic problems and other matters of public and private concerns.

Functions and Importance

Education for citizenship

Essential part of liberal education

Knowledge and understanding of government

Necessity of the Study

State – a community of persons more or less numerous permanently occupying a definite portion of territory, having a government of its own to which the great body of inhabitants renders obedience, and and enjoying freedom from external control

Concept of State and Government

1. People – mass of population living within the state

2. Territory – fixed portion of the surface of the earth inhabited by the people of the state

3. Government – agency through which the will of the state is formulated, expressed and carried out

4. Sovereignty – the supreme power of the state to command and enforce obedience

Elements of the State

1. Divine Right Theory – holds that the state is of divine creation and the ruler is ordained by God to govern the people

2. Necessity or force theory – maintains that states must have been created through force

3. Paternalistic theory – attributes the origin of states to the enlargement of the family

4. Social Contract theory – asserts that the early states must have been formed by deliberate and voluntary compact among people to form a government of their own

Origin of the State

legal/political concept

free from external control

one state may consist of one or more nations

ethnic concept

may or may not be free from external control

one nation may be made up of several states

State vs. Nation

State principal

abstraction

cannot exist without the government

cannot be changed so long as the elements are present

Government agent

externalize the will of the state

can exist without a state

can be changed

State vs. Government

1. As to the number of the persons exercising sovereign power:

a. Monarchy – the supreme and final authority is in the hands of a single person. It is further classified into: absolute monarchy and limited monarchy.

b. Aristocracy – the political power is exercised by the few priviledged class

c. Democracy – the political power is exercised by the majority of people. It is futher classified into two: direct or pure democracy and indirect or representative democracy

Forms of Government

2. As to the nature of tenure of the officials

Hereditary – power and authority is passed on to one who is a relative by consanguinity

Elective or Popular – leader is chosen by an electoral process

3. As to extent of powers exercised by the central or national government

a. Unitary Government – the control of national and local affairs is exercised by the central or national government

b. Federal Government – the powers of government are divided between two sets of organs, one for national affairs and the other for local affairs

4. As to the relationship between the executive and the legislative branches of government

a. Parliamentary – the state confers upon the legislature the power to terminate the tenure of office of the real executive

b. Presidential – the state makes the executive constituionally independent of the legislative