Political Science Overview

Definition: Study of ideas, concepts, and values related to politics.
Key Thinkers: Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Marx.
Major Concepts:
- Justice: Examines fairness and moral principles in governance.
- Power: The ability to influence or control others; forms include coercive, persuasive, and authoritative.
- Sovereignty: The ultimate authority within a territory; state sovereignty vs. popular sovereignty.
- Liberty: The condition of being free; includes positive liberty (freedom to act) and negative liberty (freedom from interference).

Definition: Study of interactions between nations, focusing on diplomacy, conflict, and cooperation.
Theories:
- Realism: Emphasizes power and national interests; views international politics as a struggle for power.
- Liberalism: Focuses on cooperation, international institutions, and interdependence; promotes peace through democratic governance.
- Constructivism: Highlights the importance of ideas, identities, and social constructions in shaping international relations.
Key Topics:
- International Organizations: UN, NATO, WTO; roles in global governance.
- Global Issues: Human rights, environmental policy, terrorism, and global trade.

Definition: The study of government actions and decisions intended to address public issues.
Policy Cycle:
1. Agenda Setting: Identifying issues that require government attention.
2. Policy Formulation: Developing proposals and strategies.
3. Adoption: Formal approval of policies by legislative bodies.
4. Implementation: Execution of policies through government agencies.
5. Evaluation: Assessing the effectiveness and impact of policies.
Types of Policies:
- Economic Policy: Management of the economy, including taxation and spending.
- Social Policy: Welfare, healthcare, education policies aimed at social well-being.

Definition: Study of political systems and behaviors in different countries.
Key Approaches:
- Institutionalism: Focus on structures and institutions (e.g., legislatures, courts).
- Behavioralism: Emphasizes political behavior, focusing on individuals and groups.
- Historical-Comparative Method: Examines historical context and its effects on current political systems.
Key Concepts:
- Political Culture: The shared attitudes, values, and beliefs about politics.
- Types of Governments: Democracies, authoritarian regimes, totalitarian states.
- Electoral Systems: Methods of electing representatives (e.g., first-past-the-post, proportional representation).

Definition: Study of how individuals and groups engage with politics.
Key Areas:
- Voting Behavior: Factors influencing voter decisions (e.g., demographics, party affiliation, issues).
- Political Participation: Activities beyond voting, including activism, campaigning, and protests.
- Public Opinion: The distribution of individual attitudes toward political issues, leaders, and institutions.
Influences:
- Media: Role in shaping public perception and political discourse.
- Socialization: Family, education, and peer influences on political beliefs and behavior.

Political Theory Overview: Involves the exploration of foundational ideas and values that shape politics.
Key Thinkers: Influential figures include Plato (ideal states), Aristotle (political virtue), Machiavelli (power and statecraft), Hobbes (social contract), Locke (government legitimacy), Rousseau (general will), and Marx (class struggle).
Justice: Analyses concepts of fairness, equality, and moral foundations in political governance.
Power: Explores the dynamics of influence; types include coercive power (force), persuasive power (convincing), and authoritative power (legitimacy).
Sovereignty: Discusses ultimate authority within borders; differentiates between state sovereignty (government control) and popular sovereignty (people’s authority).
Liberty: Concepts of freedom divided into positive liberty (ability to act) and negative liberty (freedom from restraint).

International Relations Overview: Examines the complex relationships and interactions among nations with an emphasis on diplomacy and cooperation.
Realism: Focuses on power dynamics, viewing international affairs as a continuous power struggle among nations.
Liberalism: Advocates for cooperation through internationalism and institutions, positing that democracy fosters peace.
Constructivism: Centers on the role of social constructs, identities, and ideologies in shaping world politics.
International Organizations: Significant entities include the UN (promoting peace), NATO (military alliance), and WTO (global trade regulation).
Global Issues: Important topics encompass human rights, environmental challenges, terrorism, and international trade regulations.

Public Policy Overview: Investigates how government decisions address societal needs and issues.
Policy Cycle Stages:
- Agenda Setting: Identifying key issues needing government action.
- Policy Formulation: Crafting proposals and potential strategies.
- Adoption: Legislative approval of policies.
- Implementation: Actual execution of policies by government bodies.
- Evaluation: Analyzing the effectiveness and impacts of implemented policies.
Types of Policies:
- Economic Policy: Concerning economic management through taxation and expenditure.
- Social Policy: Encompasses welfare, healthcare, and education aimed at societal betterment.

Comparative Politics Overview: Focuses on analyzing political systems and behaviors across different nations.
Key Approaches:
- Institutionalism: Studies political structures and official institutions.
- Behavioralism: Emphasizes individual and group political behaviors.
- Historical-Comparative Method: Considers historical contexts to understand contemporary political frameworks.
Political Culture: Shared beliefs and values shaping political behavior and systems.
Types of Governments: Includes democracies (citizen participation), authoritarian regimes (centralised control), and totalitarian states (total control over public and private life).
Electoral Systems: Varied methods such as first-past-the-post (majoritarian) and proportional representation (proportional to votes).

Political Behavior Overview: Studies how individuals and groups interact with and participate in the political process.
Voting Behavior: Investigates the factors that drive voter choices, including demographics, party loyalty, and key issues.
Political Participation: Extends beyond voting to include activism, campaigning, and protests advocating for change.
Public Opinion: Assesses how individual attitudes regarding political figures and issues are distributed across the populace.
Influences:
- Media: Plays a critical role in shaping perceptions and informing political narratives.
- Socialization: Family, educational institutions, and peers significantly impact political beliefs and engagement.