Intro to Pol Sci
Lecture I - Politics
What is politics?
Two broad approaches:
1. An “Arena”
a. Art of government - what concerns the state or government. The activity of
governing the country, the exercise of control within society through the making
and enforcement of collective decisions. Many actors, institutions, and processes
“outside” politics are ignored, thus it is very restricted and limited
i. Within this you have the even more restrictive “party politics”, actors
motivated by ideological beliefs that they seek to be advanced through
membership of a formal organization (a political party)
b. Public affairs - what concerns the state + public life/public sphere. Public Sphere -
social sphere to which the public has access and where private citizens can engage
in debates pertinent to the public interest without interference from the state
(Habermas)
2. A Process
a. Compromise and consensus - politics as means to resolve conflict through
compromise and consensus. The key to politics is the wide dispersal of power -
shared among a variety of societal actors, compromise and conciliation is inevitable.
i. Political solution vs military solution
b. Power - politics at work in every social interaction and in all social activities.
Politics as struggle over scarce resources; power as a means through which the
struggle is conducted. Politics is then the exercise of power by one person/entity
over another.
Three ‘faces’’ of power (Lukes)
1. Power as decision-making - the ability to decide on formal rules and laws
2. Power as agenda-setting - the ability to make sure that some issues are being discussed or
to prevent issues from being discussed
3. Power as thought control - the ability to influence another by shaping what that person
thinks, wants or needs. Propaganda, soft power.
Politics - social activity through which people make, preserve, and amend the general rules under
which they live. Linked to conflict and cooperation. It is the continual search for conflict resolution.
Studying Politics
Philosophical Tradition
Empirical Tradition - behavioralism, rational choice, new institutionalism, critical approaches
,Lecture II - State
What is a state?
States are a way of organizing government (one form of many). They are historically relatively new.
States are a form of social life (community), the most important community; are political, so
power is vital; and have statehood symbols.
Key Features
1. Territory - claim to a geographical area; it does not have to be continuous but has to be
persistent/permanent; includes coastal waters and airspace; activities linked to territory
(defense, guard, etc.)
2. Sovereignty - the state holds the highest power and can act with complete freedom and
independence within its own territory. Internal (within their own territory states can act
and govern as they wish) and external (recognized by other states). Partial sovereignty can
be given up voluntarily (e.g. by joining EU or other organizations).
3. People - a community that has a relationship with the state; relatively permanent
population; legally recognized members with rights and responsibilities; forming a
collective entity (=nation) - nation-state.
4. + (Weber) Monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force - legitimate use accepted by the
people; enforced by army and police;
5. + (Weber) State itself is subject to the rule of law - the state is subject to, not above the law;
it has the responsibility and obligation to secure the fundamental human rights of its
citizens; the state can put limits, but they have to be in accordance to rule of law.
We cannot simply define states by what they do, as they do a variety of things and often differently,
not necessarily what is good for the people.
Why Do We Have States?
● Constitutional approach
○ States are the results of social contracts. Contract between citizens and their
rulers - citizens give up part of individual freedom and power to a sovereign
ruler, in exchange ruler provides security, protects citizens and establishes
social order.
● Pluralist approach
○ State is a device to regulate conflicts and reconcile differences. State acts as a
referee that uses legitimate authority to regulate and reconcile conflicts to
make sure every interest / group is treated reasonably fairly without
violence or social disruption.
● Conflict approach
○ States regulate conflict, but they are not fair or neutral referees. State as one
of the involved parties is biased, in favor of privileged groups - e.g. Marxism,
feminism.
, ● Ethical and moral approach
○ Individuals should be as free as possible, functions of the state should be
minimal. OR citizens should have a good level of well-being, be proactive,
provide services (welfare state). OR anarchist view - no need for state.
Origination and Development
Three patterns of Origination
1. Transformation - transformation of existing political units to nation states (monarchy to
state)
2. Unification - unification of previously independent but dispersed political units (Germany,
Italy)
3. Secession - breakup of previously existing political units (Austro-Hungarian Empire, Soviet
Union, but more recently movements like Catalonians).
Development
Stein Rokkan’s model of state development
- Development of the state is closely linked to basic societal conflicts (cleavages).
- State formation ≠ Nation formation
4 stages of development:
1. State formation
a. fewer and larger centres of power, increasing stability of power, territorial
consolidation/territorial demarcation.
b. elite, done by those in power
c. for example during Treaty of Westphalia (1648) - fixed boundaries, recognized state
rights, made a system of diplomatic relations
d. to control these consolidates territories, state institutions developed, improved
communication, extract resources
e. War and capitalism
2. Nation building
a. Elite invests in nation building, making a “people”
b. Standardization of “the people” - need to develop a common identity, and sense of
commitment,/loyalty to a political system
c. Common language, culture, history, fate
d. Importance of symbols
3. Mass democracies
a. Elite created the state, in phase 3 citizens obtain the right to participate, become
active actors in government decision making
b. Development of democratic states
c. Linkage mechanisms between state and citizens - extension of voting rights,
legitimate opposition to government, peaceful alteration of power
4. Welfare states
a. Need for redistribution of wealth and economic solidarity
b. State can play an active role - progressive tax system, social security, etc.
