BSEE 2 IM Politics Governance and Citizenship GEED 20023 Lesson 1. Understanding Politics and Political Science PDF

Title BSEE 2 IM Politics Governance and Citizenship GEED 20023 Lesson 1. Understanding Politics and Political Science
Author Jherome Villaflor
Course Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering
Institution Polytechnic University of the Philippines
Pages 52
File Size 886.2 KB
File Type PDF
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Summary

Instructional manualBSEE2-LQSaturday, 2:00-5:00pmFirst Semester, Academic Year 2021- 22Compiled by:Dr. RUFO N. BUEZASubject ProfessorGEED 20023POLITICS, GOVERNANCE AND CITIZENSHIPPOLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINESOffice of the Vice President for Branches and Satellite CampusesLopez, Quezon Br...


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Politics, Governance and Citizenship

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POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY OF THE PHILIPPINES Office of the Vice President for Branches and Satellite Campuses Lopez, Quezon Branch

Instructi Instructional onal man manual ual GEED 20023 POLITICS, GOVERNANCE AND CITIZENSHIP BSEE2-LQ Saturday, 2:00-5:00pm First Semester, Academic Year 2021-22

Compiled by:

Dr. RUFO N. BUEZA Subject Professor

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Lesson 1. Understanding Politics and Political Science

Learning Objectives: When you finish this lesson, you will be able to do the following: 1. Define Political Science and Politics as well as its key concepts. 2. Internalize the importance in the study of Political Science. 3. Discuss the approaches and fields in the study of Political Science

Keywords and Phrases politics theory

power polis legitimacy

coersion scire

sanction jurisprudence

authority

Introduction Politics (from Greek politikos "of, for, or relating to citizens") as a term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the corporate, academic, and religious segments of society. It consists of "social relations involving authority or power" and to the methods and tactics used to formulate and apply policy. Modern political discourse focuses on democracy and the relationship between people and politics. It is thought of as the way we "choose government officials and make decisions about public policy". [2] Basic Concepts Politics defined Aristotle’s philosophy immensely influenced classical and contemporary definition of politics. He once said, “men by nature are political animals.” In The Politics, he defined politics as the study of the affairs of the city-state (polis). Aristotle puts upon men the task of acquiring and exercising power and influence with the purest of motives and with respect for responsibility since men inevitably and naturally possess them. Video to watch: An Introduction to the Study of Politics

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzIcWW3FWSQ

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Politics as a struggle for power Bernard Crick, in his In Defense of Politics, defines politics as a struggle for power among groups whose aim is to control the state. He explained that politics is simply the activity by which differing interests within a given unit of rule are conciliated by giving them a share in power in proportion to their importance to the welfare and survival of the community Politics as conflict resolution In Comparative Politics: A Global Introduction, Michael Sodaro describes politics as the process by which communities pursue collective goals and deal with their conflicts authoritatively by means of government. Politics as compromise Former Senator Ernesto Maceda identifies politics as the study of compromise. It is the art of deciding who gets what, when and how as characterized by Harold Lasswell Politics as a pursuit for the greater good Aristotle termed the art of good government as politics. This disposition is echoed by Former Senate President Jovito Salonga when he said that politics is saying No to what is bad for the society.

Key Concepts in Politics Power - refers to the ability or the right to do something; the ability to exercise authority over others. The term implies a hierarchy of control of stronger over weaker. The word “power” comes from the Latin verb potere meaning “to be able”. In its broader sense, power is being able, physically, intellectually, or a combination of both, to achieve what one wants. Power may be implicit or manifest. In implicit power, A wants B to do something and B does it simply because he or she realizes that A wants it done, and for whatever reasons wants to accommodate those wishes. When power is manifest, on the other hand, it is directly observable; A acts in an evident way to make B do what A wants. We can define power then, as the ability to cause others to do what one desire, using means ranging from influence to coercion. Bases of Social Power Expert Power – based on the perception that the leader possesses some special knowledge or expertise; Referent Power – based on the follower’s liking, admiring, or identifying with the leader; Reward Power – based on the leader’s capacity to mediate rewards for the follower;

Legitimate Power – based on the follower’s perception that the leader has the legitimate right or authority to exercise influence over him or her; and

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Coercive Power – based on the follower’s fear that non-compliance with leader’s wishes will lead to punishment.

Sources of Power If power is not intrinsic to the power-holder, it follows that it must have outside sources said Gene Sharp of the center for International Affairs, Harvard University, USA. In his internationally acclaimed book: The Politics of NonViolent Action – power and Struggle, Sharp maintains that power appears to emerge from the interaction of all or several of the following sources: Authority – the extent and intensity of the ruler’s authority among the subject is crucial factor affecting the ruler’s power.”The right to command and direct, to be heard or obeyed by others,” voluntarily accepted by the people and therefore existing without the imposition of sanctions is authority. Human resources – a ruler’s power is affected by the number of persons who obey him, cooperate with him, or provide him with special assistance, as well as by the proposition of such persons in the general population, and the extent and forms of their organizations. Skills and knowledge – the ruler’s power is also affected by the skill, knowledge and abilities of such person, and the relation of their skills, knowledge and abilities to his needs. Intangible factors – psychological and ideological factors, such as habits and attitudes toward obedience and submission, and the presence or absence of a common faith, ideology, or sense of mission, all affect the power of the ruler in relation to the people. Material resources – the degree to which the ruler controls property, natural resources, financial resources, the economic system, means of communication and transportation helps to determine the limits of his power. Sanctions - the final source of a ruler’s power is the type and extent of sanctions at his disposal, both for use against his own subjects and in conflicts with other rulers. John Austin said sanctions are an enforcement of obedience used by rulers against their subject to supplement voluntary acceptance of their authority and to increase the degree of obedience to their commands Authority a government power to make binding decisions and issue obligatory commands. Such power must be perceived by citizens as rightful or acceptable and therefore to be obeyed.

Legitimacy denotes a general belief that the state’s powers to make and enforce rules are justified and proper. Legitimacy is a moral or ethical concept which involves perceptions of what is right.

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POLITICAL SCIENCE Political Science defined as the study of the state and government. The word “political” comes from the Greek word polis which means a “city-state”, the only form of government known to the ancient Greeks. The word ciencia, meanwhile, means knowledge of study. Political Science began as early as the 14th century B.C. when Aristotle (384-322 BC) wrote Politics, the first systematic work on political affairs. The book written about 335-332 B.C., won for him the title of “Father of Political Science.” As a branch of modern learning, political science has undergone three chronological and overlapping stages of development. These stages in the study of political science are as follows: Religious Stage – the government with its leaders and laws was considered as divine or divinely-spirited. This stage began during the prehistoric era and continued as long as the divine right of kings was supported (18th century) Metaphysical Stage – during this stage, the state was considered as a human institution, but it was almost worshipped as a perfect institution. This stage began with the ancient Greeks. Aristotle and Plato thought that the state was the means to develop the highest potential of the individual. Indeed, Aristotle claimed that “man is by nature a political animal,” and the state was established for the greatest good of the greatest number of citizens. Modern stage – finally in this stage, the state was still considered as a human institution but it was deemed capable of being improved by rulers and subjects according to certain principles and laws. This stage was ushered in by Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527), a renaissance writer of The Prince, a handbook for rulers in the art of government. Thus, Machiavelli is often credited as the “Father of Modern Politics.”

Political Science first attained recognition as a separate field of study in 1856. The significant innovation was done upon the request of Prof. Francis Lieber, a German-born American scholar who wrote Manual of Political Ethics (1838), the first systematic treatise in political science published in the United States. Thus, it was the Americans who first made the study of politics as a separate course of study. Goals in the Study of Political Science: 1. Education for citizenship 2. Essential part of liberal education 3. Knowledge and understanding of the government Importance in Studying Political Science: First, we are part of the government. The moment we were born up to the day we die our records formed part of our state’s public documents. Second, the study of political science enables us to know more about our rights and duties as citizens, the structure and functions of the different branches of

government, and our relations with other states.

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Third, the study of political science broadens man’s cultural background by knowing the function of the state, law, diplomacy, public finance, and etc. Finally, political science provides the needed background for those who intend to enter the profession of law, foreign service, public administration, business, education and journalism. The activities of these professions are intimately linked with the affairs of government. Approaches in the Study of Political Science Robert J. Jackson, in A Comparative Introduction to Political Science, enumerates the following approaches in studying politics: Traditional/Historical Approach Studying politics concentrates on an essentially legal/formal description of government. It contemplates the use of history, chronology and development of government structures and institutions as basis of study. Scientific/Behavioral Approach Muses on how individuals behave within political institutions and how behavior influences policy-making. This approach concerns mainly on the scientific method through the use of methodology, variables and hypotheses in theorizing political phenomena. General Theory Approach Contemplates the identification of all critical structures and processes of society, explaining their interrelationships with politics, and predict a wide array of governmental outcomes. It regards the study of politics as a commitment to explore and attempt to understand a given segment of empirical reality. Systems Approach Espouses David Easton’s comprehensive systems model depicted by the interaction between the societal environment and an abstract political system which processes and converts demands and supports into outputs, producing an overall stability. The approach entails the search for cyclical processes that govern political structures. Structural-Functional Approach The essence of this approach is that it specifies the activities of a viable political system and explains how these functions must be performed to maintain the stability of the political system.

Political Economy Approach It focuses with the relationship between government and economics. It highlights the role of government concerning regulation, support or intervention in economic and social affairs.

Branches of Social Science that are interrelated to Political Science History – Economics –

study of past events study of the production, consumption, conservation and

Philosophy –

distribution of state’s wealth. study of the underlying principles applied in the government

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Psychology – individual’s behavior Sociology – group behavior Geopolitics – focuses on the physical factors of a state such as population and sources of raw materials. Statistics and Logic – used in the treatment of data to yield a logical finding. Jurisprudence - analysis of existing law. Fields/Scope of Political Science Political Theory/Political Philosophy – are terms which are often used interchangeably. Scholars in this field are concerned with questions about value judgements and the history ang development of the ideas of great political thinkers. Political Philosophy is sometimes called value or normative theory because it is concerned primarily with values, norms, and morality. It attempts to examine the connections among facts, values, and judgements. Theory is an important part of all political science fields because it is used in the explanation and prediction of political phenomena. Political Dynamics – the forces at work in the government such as political parties, public issues and opinions and pressure groups like POs, NGOs or the civil society. Public Administration – is concerned more with how policies are formulated and implemented within the large bureaucratic structure of government. Public Law/Policy – analyzes and evaluates policies in areas such as defense, health, education and resource development. International Relations – focus on the foreign policies of countries, international organizations, and international law in order to learn more about the interactions among states.

Comparative Government and Politics – is a very wide field with many subdivisions. To a large extent it is the study of the macro-politics of states. It is primarily concerned with comparing the politics and government of different states. Video to watch: importance of Politics https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P9YEAVorSKM

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Lesson 2. Fundamentals of State

Learning Objectives: When you finish this lesson, you will be able to do the following: 1. Understand the concept of nation and state. 2. Identify and discuss the essential elements of state 3. Distinguish state from nation and government. 4. Discuss the theoretical basis/origin of states 5. Understand the importance of one’s citizenship and its effect to the exercise of one’s right. 6. Differentiate natural-born and naturalized filipino citizen 7. Identify the different forms of government 8. Determine the origin and growth of each government 9. Describe the general features of each government 10. Determine the advantages and disadvantages of each government 11. Realize the importance of having an appropriate form of government

Keywords and Phrases:

nation

terrestrial

fluvial domain social contract theory

aerial

evolution theory

sovereignty

instinctive

necessity/force theoty

totalitarianism

oligarchy

parliamentary

naturalization

repatriation

dual allegiance

dual citizenship

nationality

instinctive theory federalism citizenship

citizenship by election

Introduction Some contemporary Scholars like Quentin Skinner define the state today as "a locus of power distinct from either the ruler or the body of the body of the people." (Skinner, Foundations of Modern Political Thought, II, p.355). Yet, others would argue that the potency of the word "state" derives from the fact that it means both ruler and people. In other words, the state is at the same time loved for its promise of order and stability for the whole community and feared for its threat of coercion by the power which does the ordering. Both schools of thought may be right for there is no universal definition of the concept. But no intellectual discussion about the concept of the state is complete without a review of the writings of St. Thomas Aquinas and Martin

Luther. First, and most important, St. Thomas Aquinas arguably was the first to formulate the concept of the state as the "set order of the rulers" at the heart of

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every stable commonwealth. The general concept which was necessary before the name could be attached to a particular form of government in Aristotle's framework. Second, Martin Luther continued to evolve the concept of the state in terms of how he saw a division of labor between Church (or spiritual power) and those things temporal—the state—and how the ruler, without direct intervention from the Church, should govern it with respect to his nobles and, above, all the common good of the people of his realm. Aquinas establishes early on that the state is a natural institution (very different from Augustine whose ideas prevailed up to this point in history) because "la naturaleza del hombre [es] ser un animal sociable y politico que vivien sociedad." (Aquinas, La Monarquia, I, p. 7) And he goes on to affirm that man must live in societies to achieve fulfillment "porque un sol hombre por si mismo no puede bastarse en existencia." (Aquinas, La Monarquia, I, p. 7). State - a community of persons, more or less numerous, permanently occupying a definite portion of territory, independent of external control, and possessing a government to which a great body of inhabitants render habitual obedience (Collector of Internal Revenue v. Campos Rueda) State distinguished from a Nation A nation is a group of people bound together by certain characteristics such as common social origin, language, customs and traditions, and who believe that they are one and distinct from others. (De Leon, Textbook on the Philippine Constitution. In common usage, the terms are often used interchangeably. However, a state is a political concept while a nation is an ethnic concept. A state may consist of one or more nation. For example, the United States of America is a melting pot of several nationalities and conversely, a single nation may be made up of several states such as the Arab Nation which is divided into several states such as Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon etc. (De Leon, Textbook on the Philippine Constitution) State distinguished from Government A government is only the instrument through which the will of the state is expressed. It can exist without the state while the state cannot exist without a government. A government may change, its form may change, but the state, as long as its essential elements are present, remains the same. Inherent Powers of the State Police Power - It is defined as the power of promoting the public welfare by restraining and regulating the use of liberty and property (Freund). It is the Inherent and plenary power of the state which enables it to prohibit all that is hurtful to the comfort, safety and welfare of society (Ermita-Malate Hotel and Motel Operators Association, Inc v Mayor of Manila) Power of Eminent Domain - It is the government’s coercive authority,

upon just compensation, to forcibly acquire a property to devote it to public use.

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Power of Taxation - It is the power to raise revenue

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