Intro to Political Science 1.

Meaning of Political Science Polis (in Greek city-state) where according to Aristotle, is the most sovereign and inclusive association. (Curtis, 1965; p.59) Science which is knowledge the study of influence and the influential (Lasswell,1958; p.13) The study about politics

Sovereignty Supreme legal power of the state to enforce or command obedience among members of society within its territory/ jurisdiction

1a. Meaning of Political Science A branch of the social sciences, dealing with the theory, organization, government and practice of the state. (Smith and Zurcher, 1949; p. 293) Politics is the art and science of the possible. (Sen. Manuel Roxas III)

1b. Understanding Politics One great wit once said that of the three major human activities social which is the pursuit of pleasure, economic, the pursuit of profit and politics which is the pursuit of power the last one is admittedly the most obsessive, and the lords of pleasure as well as the lords of profit almost always end up in bended knees before the lords of power. (Africa, Leopoldo)

1b. Understanding Politics The essence of social existence is politics and that two or more people interacting with one another are invariably involved in a political relationship. That relationship is seen in rule, authority or power. (Aristotle) the art of compromise to achieve certain ends. (Former Sen. Ernesto Maceda) Art and science of governance. (Shafritz, 1988; p. 421) Our philosophy is to create a First world Oasis in a Third World Region. We had one simple guiding principle for survival, that Singapore had to be won rugged, better organized and more efficient than others in the region.( Lee Kuan Yew- Founding Father and former PM Sing.)

1c. Political Power

The ability or the right to do something; to exercise authority over others. It implies a hierarchy of control by the stronger over the weaker. (Dannug, 2005; p.26) Men share power. Men differ about what is to be done. The differences matter. This necessitates that government decisions and actions result from a political process. (Allison, 1971; p. 145) More than being social scientists that governance agents have become is the need to be social artists to effect real social change through governance work. (Dr. Jean Houston, UN Consultant on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

1d. Authority, Rule and Influence Authority is a) power the ability to control or direct the action of others; combined with b) right, according to custom, law, roles, institutions, rules, or principles of morality, to exercise that power. (Dannug, 2005; p. 30) Rule is to govern, lead, control, command and get persons or people to act accordingly. (Webster Third New International) Of all manifestations of power, restraint impresses men most. (Thucydides, a great warrior of the 12th century)

1d. Authority, Rule and Influence Influence power exerted over others, often through ones high position, intellect, force of character or degree of accomplishments, sometimes unconsciously and felt insensibly, sometimes consciously or calculatedly brought to bear. (Jackson, 1997; p.23) Governance is too complex a task to be left alone to politicians especially to the irresponsible and the corrupt. (Anonymous)

1e. Law and Political Legitimacy Law is a rule of human external conduct promulgated by the supreme authority. (Aruego, 1973; p. 7) Political legitimacy The legal and psychological right to govern Ability to sustain the faith and trust of the people (Roskin, 1988)

A politics without character is the greatest threat against good government. (Sen. Ramon Magsaysay Jr.)

1f. State, Government and Governance

State a community of persons, more or less numerous, permanently occupying a definite portion of territory, independent of external control, and possessing an organized government to which the great body of inhabitants render habitual obedience. (Garner, 1928) What causes the world to break apart is politics without principles. (Mahatma Gandhi, Guru on active non-violence)

1f. State, Government, and Governance Government the agency through which the will of the state is formulated expressed and carried out. (de Leon, 1989) Governance the exercise of political, economic, and administrative authority in the management of a countrys affairs at all levels, (United Nations Development Program) Doctors say of tuberculosis that in the early stages it is easy to cure but difficult to diagnose, whereas in the late stages it is easy to diagnose but difficult to cure . It is the same of the affairs if the state. (Machiavelli) Accountability, transparency, predictability and participation are strong pillars that make good governance irreversible. (Asian Development Bank, 2004)

Government The institution or aggregate of institutions by which an independent society makes and carries out the rules of actions which are necessary to enable men to live in a social state, or which are imposed upon the people forming that society by those who possess the power or authority of prescribing them.

2. Is politics all dirty? Men by nature have dual tendencies one towards the good and another towards the bad.(Agpalo, 1978; p.6) Duality is likewise true in politics. Elect good men and good politics becomes inevitable. Bad politics is the way of bad politicians. (Dannug, 2005;p. 50) The only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing. (Edmund Burke)

Law (Public Policy) Law is a rule of conduct, just and obligatory, promulgated by competent authority, for common observance and benefit. Public policy is what government intends to do or not to do. Dura lex sed lex (the law may be harsh, but it is still the law. The law is the law.)

Law and Public Policy Ignorancia legis neminem excusat. Ignorance of the law excuses no one from compliance therewith.

Laws are made in order to protect the common life we share. It is to create order and to have the ability to predict what will happen next. Man was born free and yet everywhere he is in chains. (Rousseau 2. Is politics all dirty? Politics is good. Those who choose to use politics for some personal gain and benefit make it dirty. (Dannug, 2005;p.53) Polithics is ethics in politics or political ethics. It is the study of rightness or wrongness of human acts reflected in the exercise of power, influence, authority, and rule to achieve certain political ends. Its aim is to narrow down the gap of good politics and bad politics in favor of the good one. (Dannug, 2005; p. 60-61)

A society wanting to develop at a speed parallel to the expectations of the people requires a leadership driven by a vision of a strong and prosperous tomorrow .- Dr. Mohammed Mahathir (former Malaysian Prime Minister 3. Politics and Globalization in the 21st Century Globalization as the closer integration of the countries and peoples of the world which has been brought about by the enormous reduction of costs of transportation and communication, and the breaking down of artificial barriers to the flow of goods, services, capital, knowledge and people across borders. (Stiglitz, 2002; p. 9) In todays world, individuals have become the super sparks of power, movers of capital, drivers of development and the engines of growth. (Friedman, 2000; p.7)

3. Politics and Globalization in the 21st Century Globalization is cursed by civil as a bane as it brings in its wake jobless growth, social and gender inequality, crass global cultural commercialism and environmental despoliation. (Ofreneo, Rene)

3. Politics and Globalization in the 21st Century The forces of globalization ( the changing relationships between governments and big businesses), and the new information technologies are transforming the world in many ways. Hierarchies are being flattened and the playing field is being leveled. The most important

implication is that people who understand this transformation can wield more power than ever. (Friedman, 2005) 3. Politics and Globalization in the 21st Century The next technological political model which he foresees will revolve around the power of community and individual uploading. In this model, the public officeholder will no longer be the one who talks or tries to listen to the many, but one who becomes a hub of connectivity for the many to work the many. This power of connectivity is shown in the creation of networks of public advocates who identify and solve problems. (Friedman, 2005)

Eastons Political Systems Model Social Economic, Political, and Cultural Environment

3. Politics and Globalization We have moved from a world where the big eats the small to a world where the fast eats the slow.(Klaus Schwab, Davos World Economics Forum, 2001) Only with the computers can the world become truly a global village. (Bill Gates, Microsoft Chairman)

Study guide Law a rule of conduct, just and obligatory, promulgated by competent authority for common observance and benefit.

Laws are made in order to protect the common life that we share. Jean Jacques Rousseau - man was born free and yet everywhere he is in chains.

Study guide Unitary control of national and local affairs is exercised by central government Presidential Republic representative government Democracy demos (people) and kratos (to rule) Constitution fundamental law of the state; body of rules and maxims in accordance with which the powers of sovereignty are habitually exercised; the law to which all other laws must conform