Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Politics Semester Two - Coggle Diagram
Politics Semester Two
Lecture One: What is Politics?
What is the definition of politics given by the textbook?
Politics is the struggle in any group for power that will give one of more persons the ability to make decisions for the larger group -
the competition for public power
. (O'Neil)
What is the definition of power given by the textbook?
The ability to extend one's will.
Realists take the approach that power is the 'currency' of politics.
What is the definition of inductive reasoning given by the textbook?
The means by which we go from studying a case to generating a hypothesis. Can be the foundation on which we build greater theories in comparative politics.
What is the definition of deductive reasoning given by the textbook?
Starting with a puzzle and from there generating some hypothesis about cause and effect to test against a number of cases. Inductive reasoning start with the evidence as the way to uncover a hypothesis whilst deductive reasoning starts with a hypothesis and seeks out the evidence.
How does Laswell define politics?
"Who gets what, when and how" -- criticism, may be overly focused on the material.
How does Easton define politics?
"The authoritative allocation of values for a society".
Values can be both material and immaterial.
Politics has always incorporated immaterial ideas such as morality.
This includes legitimacy, which differs from popularity.
Legitimacy means that somebody has the right and authority to be in power (mostly because they were democratically elected).
How does Dahl define power?
The ability to get someone to do something they would not otherwise do - the ability to extend one's will.
How can power be viewed as a resource?
Can be seen as an attribute or possession - material, immaterial and soft and hard power - which suggests a causal relationship between resources and outcome.
How can power influence individual and collective political thinking?
States and private businesses have the power to shape/determine individual and collective political thinking and demands through influencing how people think and define their interests (algorithms and AI)
Modern technology and its impact on political behaviour is an element of power. NATO is an important international organisation, but so is Apple.
How can power be viewed as an outcome?
Power can be seen as being about skills, strategies and perceptions.
9/11 is a case in point that a small group of people can dramatically affect international relations without having many resources.
What is institutional power?
The power to be able to define the rules of international institutions/ organisations.
The UN is the biggest and most important institution in the world and the USA is the most important country in the world - defined by its institutional power.
eg. Other countries refusing to call for a ceasefire in Israel/Palestine before the USA did.
Lecture Four: Nations and Society
Society is a collection of people bound by shared institutions that define how human relations should be conducted.