5 Questions
What is the broadest sense of politics according to Heywood, 2013?
The activity through which people make, preserve, and amend the general rules under which they live
What does the phrase 'conflict and cooperation' inextricably linked to politics refer to?
Different wants, views, and interests guarantee disagreement about the rules
According to Harold Laswell, what is politics about?
Who gets what, when, and how
What does politics seek to guide indirectly, according to Roskin et al., 2016?
Beliefs and values of members of society
What is the process by which people negotiate and compete in making and executing shared or collective decisions, as per Hague et al., 2016?
Politics
Study Notes
Defining Politics
- In the broadest sense, politics refers to the art of government, or the exercise of power and influence in a society (Heywood, 2013)
- Politics is characterized by the phrase "conflict and cooperation", which implies that politics involves both competition and collaboration between individuals and groups
The Essence of Politics
- According to Harold Laswell, politics is about "who gets what, when, and how" (Laswell)
- This definition emphasizes the distributive aspect of politics, where resources and benefits are allocated among individuals and groups
The Scope of Politics
- Politics seeks to guide indirectly the allocation of scarce resources and the distribution of benefits and costs in a society (Roskin et al., 2016)
- This implies that politics is concerned with the management of competing interests and demands in a society
The Process of Politics
- Politics involves the process by which people negotiate and compete in making and executing shared or collective decisions (Hague et al., 2016)
- This process involves the interaction of individuals and groups with differing interests and preferences, and the creation of collective decisions that reflect these competing interests
Test your knowledge of political science with this quiz! Explore the fundamental concepts and theories of politics, governance, and policy-making. Assess your understanding of key terms and principles in the field of political science.
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