Public Policy and Decision Making
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Questions and Answers

What is the scenario at McDonald's that illustrates organisational politics?

  • The area manager is trying to establish power over the assistant manager.
  • The assistant manager is trying to prove themselves to the area manager. (correct)
  • The manager is on holiday and the assistant manager is in charge.
  • The employees are forming factions against the manager.

    • What is the narrowest conventional sense of 'politics'?

  • The study of power dynamics in organisations.
  • The exercise of power over others in social relationships.
  • The use of political ideas to achieve personal goals.
  • The activities of governments. (correct)

    • What is a challenge in defining concepts in the study of politics?

  • The complexity of human social relationships.
  • The difficulty in distinguishing between politics as a human activity and politics as an academic activity. (correct)
  • The inability to separate political ideas from personal biases.
  • The lack of objectivity in scientific disciplines.

    • What is the relationship between political ideas and the exercise of power?

    <p>Political ideas are a tool used to exercise power over others.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the broader sense of 'politics'?

    <p>The exercise of power over others in all social relationships.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the challenge in distinguishing between politics as a human activity and politics as an academic activity?

    <p>The difficulty in separating the search for truth from the exercise of power.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the formation of groups within an organisation that pursue their own interests?

    <p>Factions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of political ideas in the exercise of power?

    <p>They are a tool used to exercise power over others.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of children's game illustrates the concept of co-operation leading to greater benefits?

    <p>Cowboys versus Indians</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main argument presented by Parsons regarding co-operation?

    <p>Different groups can obtain greater benefits through co-operation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the growing sense of unease in Western democracies?

    <p>Democratic deficit</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What has been observed in citizens who are increasingly politically active?

    <p>A shift towards single-issue pressure group activity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main reason for the decline in traditional partisan electoral politics?

    <p>Citizens are increasingly disillusioned with traditional political behavior</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the title of the concept that describes the struggle of politics in established Western democracies?

    <p>Democratic deficit</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What has been observed in terms of citizen participation in elections?

    <p>A decline in voter turnout</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the author of the 2006 work that examines the possible explanations for changes in politics?

    <p>Gerry Stoker</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of modern politics according to the chapter?

    <p>The nation state</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the term 'political system' imply in the context of this chapter?

    <p>A complex of interconnecting political activities</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary characteristic of a state according to Max Weber's definition?

    <p>The claim of the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary difference between a state and a society without a state?

    <p>The existence of a system of government</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of a government according to the chapter?

    <p>To maintain order amongst its people</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the implication of developments at a supranational level according to the chapter?

    <p>A weakening of the nation state</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the significance of Max Weber's definition of a state in the context of this chapter?

    <p>It reflects the way most people see the world today</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of the chapter in relation to the concept of politics?

    <p>The concept of politics in personal and organisational activity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following mechanisms is often characterized by incremental decision making?

    <p>Rational policy making</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key challenge associated with 'rational' policy making?

    <p>Limited analytical capacity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of evaluating policy outcomes?

    <p>Assessing the distribution of wealth and income</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a key characteristic of multi-level governance?

    <p>Decentralized decision-making</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key limitation of the market in addressing public policy problems?

    <p>Inadequate provision of public goods</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key challenge associated with implementing public policy?

    <p>Coordinating across different levels of government</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main distinction between different approaches to studying politics?

    <p>The values and methods employed by writers in their analysis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of traditional scholarly writing, such as that of Plato and Aristotle?

    <p>An eclectic approach combining insights from various sources</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common feature among writers from the same school of thought?

    <p>A focus on the same topics, with similar assumptions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What can be said about writers from different approaches discussing the same topic?

    <p>They rarely engage in meaningful dialogue</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of the works of John Stuart Mill and other classic writers?

    <p>An eclectic approach combining insights from various sources</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a common feature of the works of Plato and Aristotle?

    <p>A combination of insights from history and current affairs</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of Table 1.1?

    <p>To provide an overview of different approaches and schools</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key difference between traditional and modern scholarship?

    <p>The separation of knowledge into distinct disciplines</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Understanding Public Policy and Politics

    • Public policy is concerned with the actions of governments and the implementation of those actions
    • The study of politics encompasses the exercise of power and influence in various aspects of life, including government, organisations, and personal relationships

    Different Approaches to the Study of Politics

    • Traditional scholarship: combines insights from history, current affairs, and moral issues, focusing on questions like "What is the best form of government?" or "What is justice?"
    • Modern approaches: compartmentalise knowledge into separate disciplines, with different schools and approaches focusing on different areas of human experience

    Defining Politics

    • Politics can be seen in personal and organisational activity, as well as in government institutions
    • The study of politics involves understanding power relationships and the exercise of influence in various contexts

    The Concept of the State

    • A state is an organisation that successfully claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory (Max Weber)
    • The modern world is divided into exclusive geographical areas (countries or nations), each with a government recognised by its people as having authority to maintain order and make decisions on their behalf

    The Scope of Politics

    • Politics is not limited to government institutions, but can be seen in all social relationships, including kinship, occupational, religious, and cultural relationships
    • The study of politics involves understanding power relationships and the exercise of influence in various aspects of life

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