PPGC 211 Philippine Politics, Governance, and Citizenship Week 1 Lecture PDF

PPGC 211 Philippine Politics, Governance, and Citizenship Week 1 Lecture  An Introduction: To Concepts of Politics, State, Governance, and Citizenship  Nature and Definition of Politics Politics: comes from the Greek word “polis”, meaning city-...

PPGC 211 Philippine Politics, Governance, and Citizenship Week 1 Lecture  An Introduction: To Concepts of Politics, State, Governance, and Citizenship  Nature and Definition of Politics Politics: comes from the Greek word “polis”, meaning city-state. Modern Definition: “What concerns the state.” Politics can be defined as the study of the state, its aims and purposes the institutions by which those are going to be realized, its relations with its individual members and with other states.  Nature and Definition of Politics Politics is defined in such different ways: as the exercise of power, exercise of authority, the making of collective decisions, the allocation of scarce resources, the practice of deception and manipulation, and so on. (Heywood, 1997) Politics is the way in which we understand and order our social affairs, and acquire greater control over the situation. - B. Pomton and P. Gill  Harrold Laswell Political Scientist Harold Lasswell, (1936) author of a major study of the distributive consequences of political activity In his 1936 book, the political scientist Harold Lasswell said that “politics is who gets what, when, and how.” BOOK: Politics – Who Gets What, When, and How.  Harold Laswell According to Harold Lasswell, Politics is concerned with determination, by official governmental decision making and action, of: Who in political society receives what benefits, rewards, and advantages and how much of them they receive, When they receive the benefits, rewards, and advantages, and What are the methods by which they receive them. Conversely, politics is also concerned with determining, by governmental decision making and action,: who in society is denied what benefits, rewards, and advantages, when and how long they are denied them, and the methods by which they are subjected to such deprivations.  Political Science The study of politics. Political Science is a classical discipline that deals with the study of political phenomena. Political Science deals with the systematic study of political structures, political processes and political behavior. Political Science focuses on the theory and practice of government and politics at the local, state, national, and international levels.  How Politics is Studied? Giovanni Sartori has pointed out, “approaches and research methods are largely decided by the kind of evidence which is available for the units, and the kind of problems with which one deals.” Approach: a particular orientation in looking at and interpreting the world of politics. An approach seeks to provide a framework for analysis, explanation and prediction.  Approaches As to the criterion of time dimension: 1. Traditional Approaches: philosophical, historical, and legal- institutional modes of analysis Tends to emphasize the usefulness of analyzing governmental institutions 2. Modern or Behavioral Approaches: value-free, empirical, and behavioral modes of inquiry Tends to assert the importance of research into the intricacies of the behavior of individual political actors  Approaches As to the criterion of time dimension: 3. Postbehavioralism: is an approach that emphasizes that (a) political science research should be meaningful, that is, that it should address urgent political problems, (b) that science and values are inextricably connected; and (c) that political science should not seek to model itself on the strict application of scientific methods used in the natural sciences  Key Points to Remember 1. Traditionalism, behavioralism, and postbehavioralism are broad categories, and within each category one finds a variety of political scientists who are not necessarily in agreement on all matters relating to the study of politics. 2. The emergence of a new approach did not necessarily completely or entirely displace an older one; for example, while traditionalism was challenged by behavioralism in the 1950s and 1960s, a number of political scientists continued to hold to traditionalism. 3. Two of the three research approaches have tended to define themselves in opposition to their predecessors and, in so doing, have helped shape the manner in which those prior approaches have been remembered.  Comparisons Traditional Approaches Behavioral Approaches Dates back to Ancient Greece Dominant approach in 1950’s to Concerned with what “should”, “ought”, or 1960’s “must” be brought about, rather than what “Scientific tradition” “is” Objective and quantifiable data This involves the analytical study of ideas against which hypotheses could be be and doctrines that have been central to tested political thought. David Easton: “politics could adopt Literary analysis on what major thinkers the methodology of the natural said sciences”  CHARACTERISTICS OF TRADITIONAL APPROACHES: 1. Traditional approaches are largely normative and stresses on the values of politics 2. Emphasis is on the study of different political structures and institution 3. Traditional approaches made very little attempt to relate theory and research 4. These approaches believe that since facts and values are closely interlinked, studies in political Science can never be scientific.  FORMS OF TRADITIONAL APPROACH PHIL 1. Philosophical- This 2. Historical- As the approach firmly believes name of this that values cannot be approach is related to separated from the study history, it emphasizes of politics and political system. Therefore, its on the study of main concern is to judge history of every what is good or bad in any political reality to political society. analyze any situation.  FORMS OF TRADITIONAL APPROACH PHIL 3. Institutional- This 4. Legal- This approach is concerned approach is with the study of concerned with the formal structures and legal process, legal institutions like bodies or legislature, executive, institutions, justice judiciary, political and independence of parties, etc. judiciary.  BEHAVIORAL APPROACH (BEHAVIORALISM) The behavioral approach to political science mainly emphasizes on scientific, objective and value free study of political phenomenon. This approach stresses upon the use of empirical as well as scientific methods of study political behavior. This approach shifts its emphasis from the study of the state and government to the day-today problems, activities and behavior of individuals and groups.  CHARACTERISTICS OF BEHAVIORALISM: 1. Regularities - 2. Verification - believes that there emphasizes are certain uniformities in testing and political behavior verifying which can be everything. expressed in According to the generalizations or theories in order to behaviorists, what explain and predict cannot be verified political phenomena. is not scientific.  CHARACTERISTICS OF BEHAVIORALISM: 3. Techniques - put 4.Quantification emphasis on the use - After collecting of those research tools and methods data, the which generate researcher valid, reliable and should measure comparative data. and quantify those data.  CHARACTERISTICS OF BEHAVIORALISM: 5.Values - 6. Systematization believe that to - research in Political Science do objective must be research, one systematic. Theory has to be value and research should go free. together.  CHARACTERISTICS OF BEHAVIORALISM: 7. Pure Science - 8. Integration - believes that the Political Science study of Political should not be Science should separated from various other be verified by social sciences like evidence. history, sociology and economics,  Class Discussion Why is it important to study politics? Governance Definition and Characteristics  Class Discussion: Is it enough that the government is “functioning”, or should we demand more?  GOVERNANCE The World Bank defines governance as “the manner in which power is exercised in the management of a country's economic and social resources for development”... “Governance has been defined as “the rules of the political system to solve conflicts between actors and adopt decision (legality).”  Definition Governance is commonly defined as the exercise of power or authority by political leaders for the well-being of their country’s citizens or subjects. It is the complex process whereby some sectors of the society wield power, and enact and promulgate public policies which directly affect human and institutional interactions, and economic and social development.  Etymology of Governance The word “governance” came from the Latin verb “gubernare,” or more originally from the Greek word “kubernaein,” which means “to steer.” Basing on its etymology, governance refers to the manner of steering or governing, or of directing and controlling, a group of people or a state. Eight Indicators Of Good Governance  1. Participation Good governance essentially requires participation of different sectors of the society. Participation means active involvement of all affected and interested parties in the decision-making process. It requires an enabling environment wherein pertinent information is effectively disseminated and people could respond in an unconstrained and truthful manner. It also means gender equality, recognizing the vital roles of both men and women in decision-making.  2. Rule of Law Rule of law demands that the people and the civil society render habitual obedience to the law. It also demands that the government acts within the limits of the powers and functions prescribed by the law. Democracy is essentially the rule of law. It is through the law that people express their will and exercise their sovereignty. Thus, good democratic governance is fundamentally adherence to the rule of law.  3. Effectiveness and Efficiency Effectiveness (meeting the needs) and efficiency (proper utilization of resources) must necessarily go together to ensure the best possible results for the community. When valuable resources are utilized, without wasting or underutilizing any of them, means that there is efficient governance.  4. Transparency Transparency means that people are open to information regarding decision-making process and the implementation of the same. In legal terms, it means that information on matters of public concern is made available to the citizens or those who will be directly affected. When there is transparency, people are placed in a better position to know and protect their rights as well as denounce corrupt or fraudulent practices in the public sector and in the private sector.  5. Responsiveness Responsiveness means that institutions and processes serve all stakeholders in a timely and appropriate manner. In other words, the interests of all citizens must be well protected in a prompt and appropriate manner so that each of them can appreciate and take part in the process of governance.  6. Equity and Inclusiveness Equity and inclusiveness means that all the members of the society, especially the most vulnerable ones or the grassroots level, must be taken into consideration in policy-making. Social equity refers to a kind of justice that gives more opportunity to the less fortunate members of the society. It is based on the principle that those who have less in life should have more in law.  7. Consensus-Oriented Governance is consensus-oriented when decisions are made after taking into consideration the different viewpoints of the actors of the society. Fundamentally, democratic governance is based on the partnership of the actors of the society in providing public services.  8. Accountability Accountability means answerability or responsibility for one’s action. It is based on the principle that every person or group is responsible for their actions most especially when their acts affect public interest. Political accountability refers to the accountability of public officials to the people they represent.