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Political decisions are public and authoritative Often impacts social climate/atmosphere Impacts public & private sphere Authoritative – holds authority over people, often by coercion (force & monetary means) WHAT IS POLITICS? Politics is….. • Activities associated with the control of public decisions among a given people in a given territory where control is backed by coercive and authoritative means. Governments & the State of Nature • Government – organization of individuals who are legally empowered to make binding decisions on behalf of a particular community State Types • Night Watchman State – government provides basic law & order, defense and property protection, but little else (limited government, 19th century) • Police State – seen in authoritarian government, esp. communist & facist • Welfare State – programs of social welfare, unemployment, insurance, pensions, etc. • Regulatory State – similar to welfare state but with stricter regulations State of Nature • Condition if no government existed • Thomas Hobbes – felt state of nature was chaos & conflict; government provided order & control • Jean-Jacques Rosseau – felt state of nature was ideal; government corrupted society • John Locke – in the middle; felt government was necessary for protection, etc. but favored a limited government Why governments? • Community & Nation Building – stability, peace, a common culture • Security & Order – protect from internal & external attacks • Protection – property and social & political rights • Promote Economic Efficiency & Growth – public & private goods, limit market failures (monopolies & externalities) • Social Justice – redistribute wealth & resources, protect the weak; often controversial Problems of Government • Critics – anarchists, libertarians • Destruction of Community (economic or political reasons) • Basic Rights Violations • Economic Inefficiency – restrictions, governmental monopolies, etc. • Private Gain – rent seekers are people who use political pursuit for private gain Political Systems • Political system must have – Set of interdependent parts – Boundaries towards outside environment Political Systems Are… • Set of institutions that formulate & implement the collective goals of society or of groups in society (legislative bodies, interest groups, courts, etc.) • Shaped by Domestic and International Environment • More successful with higher legitimacy • A collection of related and interacting institutions and agencies States • A state is a political system that has sovereignty (right to govern) • Political systems are referred to as “states” Internal & External Sovereignty • Internal Sovereignty – deals with matters of citizens • External Sovereignty – deals with matter of other states Nation - States • Nation – State – national identification & legal authority coincide • Approx. 200 independent states exist today • Old states (pre WW2) were mostly European • New states (post WW2) are mainly African and post-Soviet Union Classification System • 1st world – capitalist democracy • 2nd world – communist (mainly Soviet) • 3rd world – remaining states that weren’t rich, western or communist • 4th world – lack of resources, appear doomed • Terms are outdated • Today we use….. – North States – rich, capitalist democracies – South States – developing states Challenges for all States • Building community • Fostering economic, social & political development • Securing a democracy and civil liberties Building Community • Nation – group of people with a common identity (language, history, race, culture) • Most states are multi-national (can be culturally diverse or explosive with conflict) • Ethnicity – similar in language, culture or physical traits • Language – approx. 5000 languages today – 8 world languages Building Community (cont.) • 8 world languages are: English, Spanish, Arabic, Russian, Portugese, French, German & Chinese • Religion plays a role – Iran is a theocratic regime – Christianity is largest religion, Islam is fastest growing – Religious fundamentalism is on the rise (reject modern testaments/views) Political Cleavages • Political cleavage is when national, ethnic, linguistic & religious divisions effect policy • Cumulative cleavages are when the same people oppose one another on many issues • Cross cutting cleavages are when groups with a common interest on issue are on opposite sides of another issue • Cumulative cleavages are more destructive Fostering Development • Political systems must have economic development to satisfy citizens • Rich & poor countries differ in health, education, media and industry • Many states have internal economic inequality • Environment has suffered from industrialization, economic development & population growth Measuring the Economy • Gross National Product (GNP) – output per person that is a citizen of a nation, regardless of where they live (most common) • Gross Domestic Product (GDP) – output per person in a nation, regardless of where they are from • Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) – measures price levels of nations; most accurate Democracy, Human Rights & Civil Liberties • Democracy – leaders are elected in free and fair elections; citizens have basic rights & freedoms • Authoritarian – leaders are chosen by birth, military councils, parties, etc. (no citizen input) – Oligarchy is rule by the few; rights withheld from people – Totalitarian is withholding rights in a severe manner Samuel Huntington • Samuel Huntington’s “3rd Wave of Democratization” – 1st wave was after WW1 – 2nd wave was after WW2 – 3rd wave started in mid-1970’s – Democracy is fastest growing political system Challenges to Building a Democracy • • • • Environmental issues Economic inequality Ethnic differences Religious differences