Introduction to Political Science and Comparative Politics

Political Science

• Political science is about understanding patterns of activity that are self-perpetuating and valued for their own sake, such as taxes, armies, elections, and the state.
• Political science sets the stage for political behavior by influencing how politics is conducted and varies from country to country.
• It embodies norms or values considered central to people's lives and thus are not easily changed or dislodged.

Comparative Politics

• Comparative politics is about finding the balance between equality and freedom in different regimes, democratic and non-democratic.
• Democratic regimes lie somewhere in the middle of the spectrum.

The State

• The state is a machinery of politics that should be sovereign, having a monopoly over a territory and being highly institutionalized.
• Sovereignty is the core element of a state, referring to the ability to carry out policies within a given territory.
• There are two types of sovereignty: internal (the authority to make laws and carry out administrative tasks) and external (recognition by foreign powers of a government's claim to independence).

Legitimacy

• Legitimacy is a value whereby someone or something is recognized and accepted as right.
• A legitimate institution is widely accepted and recognized by the public.
• There are three types of legitimacy: traditional, charismatic, and rational-legal.

State Power Distribution

• State power distribution refers to the ability to mobilize its own resources effectively.
• States with high autonomy can make decisions without considering public reactions, while states with high capacity can mobilize resources effectively.

Nations and Society

• Citizenship is a political identity developed explicitly by states and accepted or rejected by individuals.
• Ethnic identity is based on culture, while national identity is based on political aspiration.
• There are similarities and differences between ethnic identity, national identity, and citizenship.

Political Parties

• Political parties are organizations that bring people together, serving two functions: helping to establish the means by which the majority can rule and enacting policies.
• Parties are often diverse and unable to fully dominate politics.

Electoral Systems

• Electoral systems can be single-member districts (plurality) or multi-member districts (proportional).
• Mixed electoral systems combine elements of both.

Referenda and Initiatives

• Referenda allow the public to make direct decisions about policy.
• Initiatives are collections of suggestions or proposals made for the public.

Civil Rights, Liberties, and Rules of Law

• Civil rights consist of things like the right to vote, equal treatment under the law, and access to public things without discrimination.
• Civil liberties refer to individual freedoms like freedom of speech, religion, and privacy.
• The rule of law is important in making democracy, as seen in England, where the country is ruled by law, not by the king.

Non-Democratic Regimes

• Authoritarianism is characterized by restricted participation, competition, and liberty, with power controlled by a small group of individuals.
• Legitimacy in non-democratic regimes may differ from democratic regimes.
• Different models of non-democratic regimes include dictatorships, which imply absolute power by one person.
• Legitimacy in dictatorships can come from various sources.

Understand the basics of political science, including self-perpetuating activities, and comparative politics, including how politics is conducted across countries.