Chapter 1 What is Politics

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This deck includes 23 flashcards covering studying politics, definition, view, and related concepts. Use it to review key Language ideas, focus on weak cards, and prepare for your exam with StudyLess.

1. 01

   Andrew Heywood's definition of politics

   Politics is the activity through which individuals establish, preserve, and modify the broad norms by which they exist.

2. 02

   Politics as an arena vs. Politics as a process

   Politics can be viewed as a venue where actions become political due to location (arena), or as a process where political conduct is defined by behavioral features in any social setting.

3. 03

   Meaning of 'polis' in relation to politics

   Politics is derived from 'polis,' referring to the ruling organizations of Ancient Greece, specifically the city-state of Athens, and relates to 'polis issues' or 'what concerns the state'.

4. 04

   David Easton's definition of politics

   Politics is the 'authoritative allocation of values,' involving mechanisms by which the government responds to demands, awarding benefits, incentives, and punishments.

5. 05

   What is party politics?

   Party politics refers to people driven by ideals who want to further their convictions through participation in a formal organization.

6. 06

   Distinction between 'political' and 'non-political' spheres (Heywood)

   The distinction corresponds to the public and private spheres of existence, with the state representing government and civil society comprising institutions like family, businesses, and trade unions.

7. 07

   Alternative 'public/private' distinction in politics

   This view distinguishes between 'political/personal' affairs, arguing that politics should not infringe on personal matters, a view contested by feminist thinkers.

8. 08

   Positive connotations of politics (Aristotle, Arendt, Rousseau, Mill)

   Aristotle saw it as noble; Arendt as essential human activity involving free citizens; Rousseau's 'general will' from participation; Mill saw it as educational for personal growth.

9. 09

   Negative connotations of politics

   Politics can have a negative connotation due to perceptions of politicians as power-hungry hypocrites, stemming from views like Machiavelli's emphasis on cunning and manipulation.

10. 10

    Politics as Compromise and Consensus

    Politics is the art of resolving disagreements through compromise, conciliation, and negotiation, often referred to as 'the art of the feasible'.

11. 11

    Bernard Crick's view on conflict in politics

    Conflict is unavoidable, and social groupings with power must reconcile their interests rather than be crushed, using politics to resolve issues.

12. 12

    Adrian Leftwich's view on the pervasiveness of politics

    Politics is at the center of all collective social action, formal and informal, public and private, in all human groups, organizations, and societies.

13. 13

    Harold Laswell's view on politics, diversity, and scarcity

    Politics is a mix of diversity and conflict, driven by scarcity where limitless demands meet limited resources, making power a method of acquisition.

14. 14

    Karl Marx's view on politics and class struggle

    Politics is a state machinery used to exploit people, driven by class war between the bourgeoisie and proletariat, where the economic is political.

15. 15

    Definition of power as decision-making

    This face of power involves deliberate activities that impact the substance of decisions, as analyzed by Robert Dahl in 'Who Governs?'

16. 16

    Definition of power as agenda setting

    This is the ability to prevent decisions from being made ('non-decision-making'), effectively controlling the political agenda by preventing topics from being discussed.

17. 17

    Definition of power as thought control

    This is the capacity to shape another's thoughts, desires, or needs to influence them, manifesting as ideological indoctrination or psychological control (Lukes' 'radical' perspective).

18. 18

    Two main traditions in the study of politics

    The Philosophical Tradition (focusing on 'should' and ideal societies) and the Empirical Tradition (aiming for descriptive and unbiased explanations based on observation).

19. 19

    Key characteristics of the Philosophical Tradition in studying politics

    Focuses on ideas and ideologies, uses literary analysis, and deals with normative questions like 'why should I obey the state?'

20. 20

    Key characteristics of the Empirical Tradition in studying politics

    Aims for descriptive and unbiased explanations, founded on empiricism and positivism, rigorously following scientific methods and evaluating theories via observation.

21. 21

    Behavioralism in political science

    Focuses on independently observable and measurable events, assuming political institutions reflect social factors, and establishes statistical connections using psychological approaches.

22. 22

    Core assumptions of Rational Choice Theory

    People are rational and self-interested, acting in ways that best achieve their objectives and reflect their interests, responding reliably to incentives.

23. 23

    New Institutionalism's view on institutions

    Institutions are viewed as a collection of 'rules' (formal or informal) that govern or limit individual actors' conduct, embedded in a moral and historical framework.