Slide 1 WestCal Political Science 5 Western Political Thought 2016

57
West Coast American Leadership Academy Political Science 5 – Western Political Thought Spring 2016 / Fall 2016 – Power Point 1

Transcript of Slide 1 WestCal Political Science 5 Western Political Thought 2016

Page 1: Slide 1 WestCal Political Science 5 Western Political Thought 2016

West Coast American Leadership Academy

Political Science 5 – Western Political Thought

Spring 2016 / Fall 2016 – Power Point 1

Page 2: Slide 1 WestCal Political Science 5 Western Political Thought 2016

1. American Persona

2. Defining Political Science

3. Role Of Theory, Rational Choice, Realism

4. Elitism & Pluralism

5. Transitional Effects & Stabilization

6. Spheres Of Influence

7. Power Theory & Transparency Theory

8. Classical & Modern Political Thought

9. Organic Roots Of America

10.Elite Inspiration For Our Government.

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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What Is Political Science?

1. Political science is a branch of the social sciences.• Just like Sociology.

2. Each branch is interested in individual and group behavior.• Fundamental difference is the foundational theory.

3. Sociologists are biased towards elitism.

4. Political scientists are biased towards pluralism.• Elite theory is still utilized in contrast with pluralism.

5. Political scientists examine influences of political behavior.• Result of competing interests.

• End result of conflict and compromise.

6. Sociologists look 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.

2. Many of us devise our own theories.• Through childhood socializations up to adulthood.

3. Foundation of political science.

• Pluralism / Rational Choice Theory.

4. Think of theory as a pair of sunglasses.

• Filtering unwanted information.

• Helps us “see” the truth.

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Rational Choice Theory (1)

1. What Is The Primary Goal Of The Individual?

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

• Survival is the foundation for all action.

• Individual parties make decisions based on rationality.

• It Assumes individuals base all decisions on self-interest.

2. Requirements To Make A Rational Choice:

• Perfect information

• Balancing our emotions

3. 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)

• It was Sept. 26, 1983, Colonel

Stanislav Petrov was monitoring the

Soviet Union’s early warning satellites

at Serpukhov-15.

• Then the alarms went off. On the panel

in front him was a red pulsating button.

One word flashed: "Start." This was a

false alarm.

• The false alarm came during one of the

most tense periods of the Cold War.

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Rational Choice Theory (3)

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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Example Of Theory: Realism

1. 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.

2. Considered to be a synonym for power politics.• Construed as pragmatic and wrought with simplicity.

• Abrupt philosophy focused on the inherent evils of mankind.

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Realism

This 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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America Stands Strong

This is a speech about

American strength by Ronald

Reagan, 40th President of

the United States.

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Elitism

1. Elitism does not promote elite rule.

2. The rules of a society obstruct social progress of masses.

3. Elites are needed due mass ignorance and apathy.

4. Elites have two main goals:• Preserve and enhance their positions of power.

5. Masses are open to demagogues:• When the economy is doing poorly.

• The country is fighting a war that it is losing.

6. Demagogues come from the far left or far right.

7. 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)

4. Elites share a common belief on the basic values of the

elite. Any change of public policy will be incrementally slow

rather than revolutionary.

5. 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.

6. 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)

1. Information flows from opinion elites down to opinion

leaders who are looked to the public for information.

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

opinion leaders to help disseminate the information.

3. Those at the very top of the elite network decide what

information is deemed as necessary to offer society.

4. These elites may be news makers themselves or in charge

of large media corporations.

5. 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 (2)

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Mirror Myth

1. News media outlets “decide

what will be decided.”

2. Bias is exhibited throughout the

mainstream and nontraditional

news sources.

3. The news media stress that

they are nonbiased since they

only reflect reality.

4. Their choice of news subjects

proves their bias.

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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)

1. Pluralism insures that groups are restricted from single

handedly influencing public policy.

2. Cross-cutting cleavages would form, as groups seek

compromise with others to build coalitions that would

succeed in affecting change.

3. Minorities are protected from an overwhelming majority.

4. Majority power-holders are essentially “checked.”• Cross-cutting cleavages balance against overwhelming forces.

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Pluralism & Spheres (2)

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Citizen Based Propaganda

“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

1. Competing spheres of influence

protect minority rights against

majority factions.

2. Alliances will form among once

competing spheres in order to

“check” another sphere or

individual elite base that acquires

too much power.

3. Individual spheres of influence are

always on the alert for one of their

peers assuming too much power.

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Competing Spheres

1. Competing Spheres of Influence

essentially check each other

within the political system.

2. This is essential for the protection

of minority rights especially as it

pertains to majority factions.

3. Elites are those who hold

positions of power in society.

4. 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

1. Competition produces great returns for humanity.

2. The result has been America progressing from a

predominantly agricultural society to an industrial, nuclear,

and information based society.

3. Innovation has led to advancements that have greatly

influenced every aspect of society.

4. 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

1. Sudden instability is the greatest threat to humanity.

• It threatens to cause irreparable harm to the individual.

2. Elimination of one’s sustenance throws the individual into a

state of war, because their survival is now threatened.

3. Nation-states consist of multiple spheres of interest in turn

consisting of individual units consisting of people.

4. 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

1. Spheres consist of individuals

who share a common set of

interests and/or belief systems.

2. 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

1. Elites are the true minority.

• This is true for all societies.

2. Elites possess large capacities of power.

3. The example shows maximum education.

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Pluralism Alliances

1. Alliances will form among once

competing spheres in order to

“check” another sphere or

individual elite base that acquires

too much power.

2. 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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Power Theory – 1

1. To exert power one must first possess adequate reserves• This is defined simply as “capacity of power.”

2. Achieving higher positions is dependent on various factors

that may include: education; wealth; profession; charisma

and other talents either developed or engrained from birth.

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

single resource, ability or possession.

4. It is a combination of different variables that serve to make

up the individual.

5. 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

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 – 3

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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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

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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THE LAYERS

FARMERSGREAT MASS OF WHITE AMERICANS

WHO HAD LITTLE INTEREST IN PUBLIC AFFAIRS.

MIDDLE CLASSSUCCESSFUL BODY OF INDIVDUALS

ELITEDOMINATED SOCIAL, CULTURAL, ECONOMIC, & POLITICAL LIFE

Early American Elites & Masses

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• Government under the articles of confederation.

Established a “Firm League Of Friendship.”

Identified national government powers.

Reassured each state of its:

Sovereignty.

Freedom.

Independence.

• Repayment of loans made to congress.

Investors who backed the American war effort had

difficulty securing their loans.

Without the power to tax, the future of the

American government looked bleak.

Elite Preferences:

Inspiration For A New Constitution

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Articles Of Confederation

Though the American Revolution was that of ideas, it was a full

out war. Victorious, the thirteen colonies established and lived

under the Articles of Confederation until the adoption of the

Constitution of 1787. Revolutionary itself, the Articles of

Confederation provided little assistance for a nation absent of

leaders who possessed experience in governing the whole

country. The Articles of Confederation linked the thirteen colonies

in mainly defensive guarantees. Though a congress with typical

authority associated with a central government was established

with normal duties including the right to declare war, engage in

treaties and coin money, there lacked an executive branch to

enforce decisions. Congress was state directed, with each state

having a single vote. Nine out of thirteen states had to agree if

anything were to be passed.

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• Protection of bankers and creditors.

State-issued paper money permitted debtors to pay off creditors with money worth less than they originally owned.

• Opening western land to speculation.

Need a strong central government.

With enough military power to oust the British from the northwest.

To protect settlers against Indian attacks.

The protection and settlement.

Cause land values to increase.

Make land speculators rich.

Elite Preferences:

Inspiration For A New Constitution

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• Protection of shipping and manufacturing. Strong navy important to American commercial interests. Tariff barriers not adequate against foreign goods.

• Ensuring the return of runaway slaves. Protection of human “property.” In 1787, slavery was lawful everywhere except in

Massachusetts. Nation’s founders prepared to protect slavery. Southern economy highly dependent on slaves.

• Exercising powers in world affairs. Confederation held in contempt by Britain and barbary

states. Elite wanted to assume role in the international community

and exercise power in world affairs.

Elite Preferences:

Inspiration For A New Constitution

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• Annapolis Convention.

Report that outlined defects in the articles of

confederation.

Called upon states to send delegates to new

convention to suggest remedies.

• George Washington's prestige.

55 men chose George Washington in the

summer of 1787.

Stood at the apex of American elite structure.

Formation Of A National Elite (1)

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• Founders’ governing experience—wealthy individuals.

Wealth assumed A variety of forms:

Land, ships, business inventories, slaves, credit, bonds, paper money.

• Founders’ “ continental” view.

Cosmopolitanism distinguished the men of Philadelphia from the masses.

“Continental” point of view for political, economic, & military issues.

Members of the elite extended their loyalties beyond their states.

Formation Of A National Elite (2)

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• Goal of government is to protect liberty and property.

• Origin of government is implied contract among

people.

• Elites believe in:

A republican government.

Limited government could not threaten liberty or

property.

A strong national government could:

“establish justice.

insure domestic tranquility.

provide for the common defense.

promote the general welfare, and

secure the blessings of liberty.”

Elite Consensus In 1787

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• Representation Compromise:

addressed representation in the national legislature.

• Slavery compromise –the three-fifths compromise.

For tax and representation purposes: slaves counted as

three-fifths of a person.

• Export tax compromise –between planters and merchants.

Articles exported from any state should not bear tax or

duty.

Imports could only be taxed by the national government.

• Voter qualification compromise:

concerned qualifications for voting and holding office.

electors in states should qualify for electors of the most

numerous branch of the state legislatures.

women could not participate in government.

An Elite In Operation: Conciliation

And Compromise

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• Elites benefited more directly and immediately than nonelites.

• Levying taxes. Congress given power to tariff.

• Regulating commerce –the interstate commerce clause & the provision in article I, section 9. Created free trade area over the thirteen states. The arrangement was beneficial for American merchants.

• Protecting money and property. Congress gains control over currency and credit.

The Constitution As Elitist

Document (1)

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• Creating the military – two purposes.

Army and navy promote commercial and territorial

ambitions.

Protection from invasion.

• Protecting against revolution.

Protect government from revolution with military.

Protect slaveholders from slave revolt.

• Protecting slavery.

• Congress outlawed the import of slaves after 1808.

• Protect existing property and slaves.

The Constitution As Elitist

Document (2)

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• Limiting States In Business Affairs

Prevents States “Impairing The Obligation Of

Contracts”

• Limiting States In Monetary Affairs

Provided Protection To Elite

• States Could Not

Coin Money

Issue Paper Money

Make Money Other Than Gold Or Silver Coin

Legal Tender In Payment Of Debt

The Constitution As Elitist

Document (3)

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• Structure reflects desire to protect liberty and property.

• Elite control government and policy decisions. National supremacy – congressional control of decisions. Republicanism – representative government.

• Separated powers in the national government. Bulwark against majoritarianism. Additional safeguard for elite liberty & property. Divides responsibilities. Difficult to hold government accountable for public policy.

Elitism And The Structure Of The

National Government

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• Ratification rules designed to give clear advantage to

supporters of constitution.

Special ratifying conventions called extraordinary

ratification procedure.

Minority of population participated in ratifying the

constitution.

• Emergence of anti-federalist opposition.

Feared a strong federal government’s control.

Confidence in ability to control state government.

• The bill of rights an afterthought.

Most effective criticism centered on the absence of

bill of rights.

Ratification: An Exercise In

Elite Political Skills