Introduction to politics

By Joseph Ochieng Okumu: Global Citizens’ College

INTRODUCTION TO POLITICS

CONCEPTIONS OF POLITICS

GCC Spring 2


OUTLINE DEFINING POLITICS

1. Politics as the art of government

2. Politics as public affairs

3. Politics as compromise and consensus

4. Politics as power and the distribution of

resources.


Politics As The Art Of Government

DIFFERENT CONCEPTIONS OF POLITICS

• This is a state-centered view of politics. - Politics is what governments‖ or states‖ do.

• It means that most people, most institutions and most social activities can be regarded as being outside politics.

• Businesses, schools and other educational institutions, community groups, families and so on are in this sense nonpolitical.


The Cynic View of Politics

• The implication of this state-centric conception of politics is that politics is thought of as a negative word.

• It raises up images of trouble, disruption and even violence on the one hand, and deceit, manipulation and lies on the other.


The Cynic View of Politics

“One has to be a lowbrow, a bit of a murderer, to be a politician, ready and willing to see people sacrificed, slaughtered, for the sake of an idea, whether a good one or a bad one”. - Henry Miller

“The more you read and observe about this Politics thing, you got to admit that each party is worse than the other. The one that's out always looks the best”. - Will Rogers


Politics as Public Affairs

• A second and broader conception of politics moves beyond the narrow realm of government.

• Politics is thought of as public life or public affairs.

• The distinction between the political and the nonpolitical corresponds with the division between an essentially public sphere of life and what can be thought of as a private sphere.


• In Politics, Aristotle declared that “man is by nature a political animal” - He meant that it is only within a political community that human beings can live the good life.

• From this viewpoint, then, politics is an ethical activity concerned with creating a just society.‖

Aristotle


One view of the public/private divide

Public Private

The State: apparatus of government

Civil Society: autonomous bodies:

Businesses, trade unions, clubs, families

and so on


An Alternative view of the public/private divide

Public Private

Public realm: Politics, commerce,

work, art, culture and son on.

Personal realm: Family and

domestic life


• This conception of politics as something positive and public activity was firmly endorsed by - Hannah Arendt

• She argued that politics is the most important form of human activity because it involves interaction amongst free and equal citizens.

• It thus gives meaning to life and affirms the uniqueness of each individual.

Hannah Arendt


Politics as Compromise and Consensus • The third conception of politics relates to the

way in which decisions are made. • Politics is seen as a particular means of

resolving conflict: that is, by compromise, conciliation and negotiation. –

• Politics becomes the process of “conflict

resolution.”

• In this view, the key to politics is a wide dispersal of power.


• Accepting that conflict is inevitable and social groups possess and compete for power, they must be conciliated.

“There are two methods of curing the mischiefs of faction: the one, by removing its causes; the other, by controlling its effects….The inference to which we are brought is, that the causes of faction cannot be removed, and that relief is only to be sought in the means of controlling its effects” .

James Madison


Politics as power and the distribution of resources.

Politics as Power

• The fourth definition of politics is both the broadest and the most radical.

• Rather than confining politics to a particular sphere; - this view sees politics at work in all social activities and in every corner of human existence.

• In this sense, politics takes place at every level of social interaction.


• It can be found within families and amongst small groups of friends just as much as amongst nations and on the global stage.

Distribution of Power and Resources

• At its broadest, politics concerns the production, distribution and use of resources in the course of social existence.

• At its broadest, politics concerns the production, distribution and use of resources in the course of social existence.


• Politics is, in essence, power: the ability to achieve a desired outcome, through whatever means.

• From this perspective, politics is about

diversity and conflict.

• The essential ingredient is the existence of scarcity…

• Politics can therefore be seen as a struggle over scarce resources, and power can be seen as the means through which this struggle is conducted


CONCLUSION

The inescapable presence of diversity and scarcity ensures that politics is an inevitable

feature of the human condition.


Overview of

Political Ideologies


OUTLINE

A. Ideologies

B. Right-wing and left-wing politics

• Historical origin of the terms • Practice • Spectrum

• Liberalism • Conservatism • Socialism • Communism


What is a political ideology?

• A coherent set of ideas of on how people should live together • A plan of action for applying these ideas

How it is applicable in four key functions;

• Explanatory • Evaluative • Orientation • Programmatic


Four key functions 1. Explanatory: How the world Works -

Empirical

2. Evaluative: Deciding whether things are good or bad – Normative

3. Orientation: Supplies the holder with a sense of identity

4. Programmatic:

What to do and how to do it


Foundational Disputes Human Nature • ‘Naturally’ good, cooperative, even perfectible • Inherently flawed, evil, dangerous Individual versus Collective • A normative choice with empirical implications Conception of Freedom • Freedom as an ‘essentially contested concept’ • ‘Freedom from…’ versus ‘Freedom to…’


I. Liberalism

• Desire for a free, open, tolerant society

• Humans as rational and able to recognize and promote self-interest

• Liberty and equality of opportunity • Classical Liberalism versus Modern

(Welfare) Liberalism


Liberalism’s ‘Four Functions’

Explanatory: • Social conditions are the result of individual choices

and actions Evaluative: • Societies work best when individuals are free to do as

they wish without harming or violating rights of others Orientation: • Rational, self-interested individuals Programmatic: • programs for promoting individual liberty and

opportunity


II. Conservatism • Human imperfection

• Focused on conserving existing social order

• Custom and tradition as ‘latent wisdom’

• Organic view of society

• Acceptance of inequality

• Freedom and order


Conservatism’s ‘Four Functions’ Explanatory: • Social conditions are the result of human

imperfections (intellectual and moral) Evaluative: • Success is a question of social order and harmony Orientation: • Each of us is part of a greater whole, and we should

act with interest of society (not just self) in mind Programmatic: • Slow and cautious change


III. Socialism

Flaws of Liberalism • Individualism and Social Class • Economics and Political Power Economic Equality as ‘True Equality’ Economic Planning and the Welfare State


Socialism’s ‘Four Functions’ Explanatory: • Social conditions can only be understood by reference

to economic and class relations Evaluative: • Sharpness of economic divisions (exploitive?)

determines health of society Orientation: • People should think of themselves in terms of their

economic (class) position Programmatic: • Policies must be put into place to advance economic

equality


IV. Communism Historical Materialism • Economic (material) foundation of social change • Class conflict as engine of history Historical progression • Primitive Communism Slave-based Empires • Feudalism Capitalism Communism Inherent contradictions • Capitalism, profit and exploitation • Revolution


Communism’s ‘Four Functions’ Explanatory: • Social conditions determined by economic and class

relations Evaluative: • Sharpness of class divisions determines ‘stage of

development’ Orientation: • People should think of themselves in terms of their

class position Programmatic: • Policies must be put into place to advance movement

toward communist revolution and ‘classless society’


Right – Wing vs Left – Wing

Politics

Spectrum


Historical origin of the terms

• The terms Right and Left refer to political affiliation which originated early in the French Revolutionary era of 1789 – 1896

• The seating arrangement in the French parliament – 18th century

Socio-political system which existed in most of Europe during the 18th century Countries were ruled by absolutism – the monarch had absolute control over the government Classes of people – privileged and unprivileged Unprivileged people – paid taxes and treated badly Privileged people – did not pay taxes and treated well


• The meaning of left-wing and right-wing varies considerably between different countries and at different times

• Generally, the right wing often values tradition

while the left wing often values reform and classlessness,

• with the center seeking a balance between the two such as with social democracy or regulated capitalism.


Radical Liberal Moderate Conservative Reactionary

Left Right


Left of Moderate Liberal • Believe that the government should actively

promote social reform to increase individuals’ well being.

• Favor change but work peacefully within the

existing political system. (Democrats, Green Party - US)


Right Side of Moderate Conservative • Government should stay out of the lives of

citizens and businesses, except on moral issues.

• Favor the status quo, (the way things are). Hesitant to change.

• Will work peacefully within the existing political system.


Change Tradition

Problems are circumstantial Problems are individual

Gov’t is responsible for social reform Gov’t needs to be less involved

Freedom – personal choices Equality–fairness–level the playing field

Human rights Property rights

Moral Principles Relative Values

Liberals Conservatives

Introduction to politics

Education

joseph ochieng

social conditions

social activities

social existence

hannah arendt

cynic view

work peacefully

politics concerns