POLITICSAND

SOCIETY

-Political system is the institution that meets the society’s needs for protection from external enemies, resolution of group differences, and the definition and internal order, pursuit of societal goals.

-Political system of a country should be design to give people a strong voice in determining what their government should do. Voting for political leaders is an important way to express their will. Young people have the greatest stake in political elections.

-The central concern of political institution on policy is power. The ability to control other people’s behavior and carry out one’s will despite resistance.

LEGITIMATE POWERIs power exercised by

leaders that is generally approved or accepted as appropriate by members of a group or a society.

COERCION

• Is a power based on the threat or use of force, and is therefore considered illegitimate by the people who are forced to act against their will.

• Illegitimate use of power such as obstruction of justice or demanding bribe from someone seeking personal favors is regarded as improper use of authority.

• Power can be used illegitimately by people who are not officials, for example, gangsters extort “protection money” from store owners, and robbers, steal from banks.

• When most citizens believe that a leader’s authority is legitimate, the exercise of power will be legitimate.

STATESTATE

• group or groups of people, permanently occupying a definite territory

• State is composed of numerous societies united by a common sense of right and mutual participation of its members. (Cicero, an eminent Roman orator and writer.)

• State as a union of families and villages having for its end a perfect and self-sufficing life. (Aristotle)

• “a relatively large group of people inhabiting a more or less definite area of land, possessing sovereignty, and living under government that is generally obeyed at home and recognized school”. (Professor S.A. Johnson)

• State is the dominant political institution in modern societies. (Lehman, 1988)

• State is the sole source of legitimate physical force. (Weber, 1918-1946)

• It is the only institution that can impose taxes, declare war and imprison the violators.

VARIETY OF FUNCTIONS OF AN VARIETY OF FUNCTIONS OF AN STATESTATE

• the enactment of law (legislative order)

• the protection of personal safety and public order (police)

• the protection of violated rights (Administration of Justice)

• the protection of violated rights (Administration of Justice)

• the cultivation of hygienic, educational, social welfare, and other cultural interest (Various branches of Administration)

• the armed protection against outside attack (military administration)

FOUR ELEMENTS OF STATEFOUR ELEMENTS OF STATE

• people• territory• government• sovereignty

GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT• Exists in all human groups and

societies.• Organization through which the state

expresses and enforces its will.• Exists for the benefit of the governed.

It is important for the protection of the inhabitants, the administration of justice and the promotion of the physical, economic, social and cultural well-being of the people.

• Preservation of the state from internal and external danger is one of the primary functions of the government.

• Needless to say, without an organized structure form of government, a feeling of fear and insecurity, and political anxiety will prevail and therefore, progress and development will not be realized.

THREE MAJOR FORMS OF THREE MAJOR FORMS OF GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

• autocracy

• totalitarian

• democracy

AUTOCRACYAUTOCRACY• Ultimate power is held by a single

person. • An autocrat may gain position

through heredity (an absolute monarch) or by the rule of force (dictator). Among the most recognizable autocratic ruler in the world today is Mummar Gaddafi (Libya)

• Autocrats rely on their ability to control the military and police systems of their countries and to maintain the unquestioning loyalty of large number of their subjects.

• Criticism of the government and the autocrat is usually prohibited.

• The government censors the media and sometimes uses terror to strife public dissent.

TOTALITARIANTOTALITARIAN

• Form of government involving state control and regulation of major institution in the society.

• Form of government involving state control and regulation of major institution in the society.

• State is represented by a small ruling clique of physical force and terror to maintain social order.

• Exerts over a nation and makes little distinction between public and private concern.

• Seeks to control family life as well as economic and political institutions.

SIX ELEMENTS OF

TOTALITARIAN RULE

[Friedrich and Brzenzinski (1965)]

• A single political power. Totalitarian government led by a dictator or by ruling clique. The one political party is the only legal party in the state.

• Control of the Economy. Totalitarian states exercise control over all portion of the economy. The state may set goals for economic production, established prices and supplies for goods and dissolve private ownership of either industry or farm.

• Control of Media. Totalitarian states control television, radio, newspaper, magazines. They deny a public forum to dissenting opinions so that no party position is communicated to the people.

• Control of Weapons. Totalitarian states monopolize the use of weapon denying the individual right to own arms.

• Ideology. Totalitarian states use an elaborate ideology to explain every aspect of social life. Social; goals and values are described in – simple terms and distortions are often made about the state enemies.

• Terror. Totalitarian states rely on terror to maintain social control, secret police, torture and punishment without trial are common.

(Nazi Germany is a major example of totalitarian rule.)

DEMOCRACYDEMOCRACY• Derived from the Greek roots

demos, which means people and kratia, which means rule. Democracy then is rule by people.

• Form of government in which there are periodic opportunities for the people being governed to retain or replace governing officials

• A country is democratic when a large part of the population is able to “influence major decisions by choosing among contenders” for political office.

• Periodic Elections Position

President, senators, representative, governors, mayors and other elected officials.

THE PHILIPPINE POLITICAL THE PHILIPPINE POLITICAL SYSTEMSYSTEM

• Political behavior is the participation of individuals in politics why and how they vote, what political opinions they hold, why they belong to political parties and support political movements.

Political Behavior of FilipinosPolitical Behavior of Filipinos

• There is evidence that people do not expose themselves to both sides of the propaganda. If one belongs to LAKAS ( a party) he is more likely listen to LKAS speeches read LAKAS literature and associate with friends and party.

• Economic interest is a strong determinant of party identification. Other factors such as nationalism, religion and morality play a minor role. A network of kinship and “utang na loob” relationship affects the voting patterns.

• More men that women vote because more women believe that politics is a man’s affair. Many older people than younger participate in politics.

• Voting for the same party, without examining the issues involved and the capacity of the candidates seem to be the preponderant pattern.

• Educational and occupational factors affect voting behavior. Candidates identify themselves with masses during campaigns. “Erap para sa Mahirap”.

• Upper and middle classes exhibit more rational political involvement than lower class.

• The family exerts strong influence on the voting behavior of the individual. Persons vote for the same party and candidates as their parents or grandparents.

Since Philippine politics is democratic in nature, the powers exercised by the officials come from the people and the officials are responsible to the people.

Elected officials are expected to exercise their power of their respective offices to serve people they represent.

The existence of Nepotism and the practice of Graft and Corruption became the background of Filipino because of strong influence of the family.

Kinship ties and loyalties are important in exerting pressures on government officials to consider family or private interest above public welfare.

• Most government legislator comes from the elite or upper class and growing middle class too. There is a tendency towards marriages between families with economic power and with political influence resulting in the perpetuation of political dynasties.

Elected leaders usually serve that interest group which has enough power in the community.

Parties or candidates usually acquire campaign funds, editorial support, the assumption that is elected; they would serve the wishes and objectives of those who have extended their assistance.

THE PROBLEM OF CORRUPTION IN THE PROBLEM OF CORRUPTION IN THE PHILIPPINESTHE PHILIPPINES

• Corruption diverts money from the poor and acts as the major barrier to economic development in poor nations.

• It has been estimated that corruption causes a yearly loss of P2 billion funds: scholarships, hospitals, irrigation systems, roads and bridges.

WHAT IS CORRUPTION?WHAT IS CORRUPTION?• The common idea is that a

government official or employees is “corrupted” when he or she accepts “grease money” or a gift from a private person in consideration for a decision or actions that would promote the interest of the bribe giver.

THREE ACTIVITIES OF THREE ACTIVITIES OF CORRUPTIONCORRUPTION

• Bribery: The giving of money or gift to promote the interest of the bribe giver.

• Extortion: When the official or employee demands a bribe, gift or favor to carry out public duty.

• Nepotism: The appointment of unqualified relatives, friends and associates to government positions regardless of the effect of their appointment on the public welfare.

SOCIOLOGICAL SOCIOLOGICAL STUDIES GIVE THE STUDIES GIVE THE OTHER CAUSES OF OTHER CAUSES OF

CORRUPTION:CORRUPTION:

• The weakness of religion and ethical teachings.

• lack of education• absence of stiff sensitive

measure• the structure of government• The state and society –

corruption in the bureaucracy affects the state of the entire society.

ECONOMIC INSTUTIONSECONOMIC INSTUTIONS• Concerned with the

production, distribution and consumption of goods and services to satisfy the basic needs of man. Basically, their primary purpose is to provide people with material benefits and comforts.

• Interested in resources that are scarce in relation to human wants. Various resources are combined to produce economic goods, which in turn to satisfy human wants.

• Concerned with human behavior, with the choices ones make and the consequence of these choices for himself and other people.

INDUSTRIAL SOCIETIESINDUSTRIAL SOCIETIES• Defined as a society that relies

chiefly on mechanization for the production of its economic goods and services”.

• Industrial revolution proceeded, societies relied on new inventions and technology and facilitated agricultural and industrial production and on new sources of energy.

CAPITALISMCAPITALISM• Factors of production are land,

labor and capital.

• Economic system in which the means of production are largely in private hands and the main incentive for economic activity is the accumulation of profits.

Laissez-faireLaissez-faire (“let them do”) (“let them do”)

•- People could compete freely with minimal government intervention in the economy.

Contemporary capitalismContemporary capitalism

• - The tolerance of monopolistic practices.

• - A monopoly exists in a market when it is controlled by a single business firm.

• - Domination of an industry allows the firms o effectively control a commodity so that I can dictate pricing, standards of quality and availability.

• - Buyers have little choice but to yield to the firm’s decision, there is no other place to purchase the product or service clearly.

SOCIALISMSOCIALISM• has its roots in he writings of

Karl Marx and Friedrich Engles a European radicals disturbed b he exploitation of the working class.

• In their view of Capitalism, it pays workers less than the value of goods produced.

• Socialist economic system represents an attempt to eliminate such economic exploitation.

• Under socialism, the means of production and distribution of goods and services in a society are collectively rather than privately owned.

• The fundamental objective of this economic system is to meet peoples needs rather than to maximize profits.

• The reject Laissez-faire. Instead they believe that basic economic decisions should be made b the government, which acts as the representative of the people. Government ownership of all major industries.

COMMUNISMCOMMUNISM• All property is communally

owned and no social distinctions are made on the people’s ability to produce.

Reported by: Mr. Fernan D.C. Ventura