A detailed, in-depth summary of chapter 1 of the book Politics by Andrew Heywood. The summary includes all terms and definitions and is sufficient scope for an exam. This book is often used for first-year political science courses.
Summary of Introduction to Political Science Part 2- Final
Summary Introduction to Political Science Part 1- Midterm (Readings and Lectures)
All for this textbook (27)
Written for
Universiteit van Amsterdam (UvA)
European Politics And Global Change
7321E020FY
All documents for this subject (12)
Seller
Follow
natyprycova
Reviews received
Content preview
CHAPTER 1 – WHAT IS POLITICS?
- People disagree, how such matters should be resolved
- Politics is a social activity
DEFNINING POLITICS
- Activity through which people make, preserve and amend the rules they live by
- Linked to the phenomena of conflict and cooperation
- Politics is an inevitable feature of human condition
- Conflict → competition between opposing forces, reflecting a diversity of opinions,
preferences, needs or interests
- Cooperation → working together, achieving goals through collective action
- When clarifying the definition of politics – two major problems
o 1. The off of associations that the world has when used in everyday language
– politics is a loaded term, dirty word
o 2. Even respected authorities cannot agree what the subject is about
▪ Exercise of power, science of government, allocation of scarce
resources and so on
- Politics is essentially contested
- 2 broad approaches when defining politics
o 1. Politics is associated with an arena or location – it is political because of
where it takes place
o 2. Politics is viewed as a process or mechanism in which case political
behaviour is behaviour that exhibits distinctive characteristics or qualities –
can take place in any social contexts
Politics as an arena Politics as a process
Definitions of politics The art of government Compromise and consensus
Public affairs Power and the distribution
of resources
Approaches to the study of Behaviouralism Feminism
politics Rational-choice theory Marxism
Institutionalism Post-positivist approaches
Politics as the art of government
- Started in city-state Athens – what concerns the state
- Polis → city-state, classically understood to imply the highest or most desirable form
of social organization
o Study of the exercise of authority
- Authority → legitimate power, power is the ability to influence the behaviour of
others, authority is the right to do so
- Politics is thought to happen in closed areas with only a specific group of people
- Polity → a society organized through the exercise of political authority, for Aristotle,
rule by the many in the interests of all
, - Negative view of politics – it is closely associated with the activities of politicians
o View as self-serving, two-faced and unprincipled activity, evident in the use of
derogatory phrases such as ‘office politics and ‘politicking’
- Anti-politics → disillusionment with formal or established political processes,
reflected in non-participation, support for anti-system parties or the use of direct
action
- Niccolò Machiavelli
o Italian politician and author
o Public affairs
o The Prince
o Machiavellian = cunning, duplicitous
- Negative view of politics reflects the liberal perception that individuals are self-
interested and political power is corrupting as it encourages those in power to exploit
their position
- Task of politics is to ensure that it is conducted within a framework of checks and
constraints that guarantee governmental power is not abused
- Power → the ability to achieve a desired outcome, ‘power to’ do something
Politics as public affairs
- Beyond the realm of government, public life/affairs
- Aristotle – man is by nature a political animal
- Where should be the line between public and private life
- Aristotle
o Greek philosopher, student of Plato, tutor of Alexander the Great
o Peripatetic school
o Foundation for Islamic and Christian theology
o Book – Politics
- Civil society → political community, distinguished from the state, institutions that are
private (independent from the government) and organized by individuals to pursuit
their own ends
- The notion that politics should exclude ‘personal’ was challenged by feminists –
gender inequality has been preserved because the inequal division of labour was
seen as natural rather than political
Public Private
The state: Civil society:
apparatus of government Autonomous bodies – businesses, trade
unions, clubs, families…
Public realm: Personal realm:
Politics, commerce, work, art, culture… Family and domestic life
- Politics as public activity – both positive and negative
o Positive – because of public character, Rousseau and Mill
▪ Public affairs is educational
o Negative – politics as unwanted interference, private life should not be
interfered
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through EFT, credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying this summary from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller natyprycova. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy this summary for R160,08. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
