PPGC Week 1.pdf

ipp in e p o l it ic s, Phil ER NM E NT an d GOV citize ns h ip  W EEK 1: POLITICS AN D GOVER NA N CE AGENDA: NATURE AND DEFINITION THE STUDY OF POLITICS: OF POLITICS POLITICAL SCIENCE APPROACHES IN THE STUDY OF...

ipp in e p o l it ic s, Phil ER NM E NT an d GOV citize ns h ip  W EEK 1: POLITICS AN D GOVER NA N CE AGENDA: NATURE AND DEFINITION THE STUDY OF POLITICS: OF POLITICS POLITICAL SCIENCE APPROACHES IN THE STUDY OF IMPORTANCE OF POLITICS DIFFERENT POLITICAL STRUCTURES AND INSTITUTIONS AND GOVERNMENT MEANING OF CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOVERNANCE GOOD GOVERNANCE  NATURE OF POLITICS “Politics exists because The acquisition of “A disagreement in people disagree about power, therefore, is a which incompatible the aims and objects of prerequisite of policies are advocated human endeavor and, achieving political can only be resolved probably even more so, objectives.” ultimately by one side about the methods to obtaining the power be used in achieving to make its viewpoint them” (S. G. Richards, Thus, is the nature prevail over the other. 1978). In his book, The of politics. Nature of Politics and Government.  of DEFINITION POLITICS SWELL LD LAS HARO Political Scientist Harold TUIBEO LE AMAB Lasswell, (1936) author of a major study of the P. GILL Politics is the strategy for NTON & maintaining cooperation distributive consequences of B. PO among people with different political activity, gave his Politics is the way in which book the title, Politics--Who we understand and order our needs and ideals in life, or for Gets What, When, and How. social affairs, and acquire resolving the conflict within Lasswell, in effect, defined greater control over the the group, whether this is a "politics" as involving situation. family, a tribe, a village, or a questions as to "who gets nation-state. what, when, and how." The study of politics: political science Political science is a classical discipline that deals with the study of political phenomena. Its goal is to deepen human understanding of the forms and nature of political action and to develop theoretical tools for interpreting politically meaningful phenomena. Political Science deals with the systematic study of political structures, political processes, and political behavior.  APPROACHES IN THE STUDY OF DIFFERENT POLITICAL STRUCTURES AND INSTITUTIONS Traditional BEHAVIORAL approach APPROACH The traditional approach The behavioral approach to the study of political to political science mainly science is a combination emphasizes on scientific, of views on and objective, and value-free orientations to politics in study of political philosophical, ethical, and phenomenon. institutional terms. Various forms of the traditional approach: Philosopical Historical Institutional Legal This approach firmly believes that This approach is values cannot be It emphasizes the This approach is concerned with separated from the study of the concerned with the study of study of politics history of every the legal process, formal structures and political political reality to legal bodies or and institutions system. Therefore, analyze any institutions, justice like legislature, its main concern is situation. and independence executive, to judge what is of judiciary. judiciary, political good or bad in parties, etc. any political society.  CHARACTERISTICS OF BEHAVIORAl approach: Regularties Verification Techniques Quantification believes that there are emphasizes testing put emphasis on the After collecting data, certain uniformities in and verifying use of those research the researcher should political behavior which everything. According tools and methods measure and quantify can be expressed in to behaviorists, what which generate valid, those data. generalizations or theories cannot be verified is reliable, and in order to explain and not scientific. comparative data. predict political Integration phenomena. Political Science Pure Science should not be Systematization believes that the study separated from Values research in Political of Political Science various other social believe that to do Science must be should be verified by sciences like history, objective research one systematic. Theory and evidence. sociology and has to be value-free. research should go economics, etc. together. Importance of POlitics and Government: 1. 2. 3. It is very important to care about politics Another reason you You should care about because you should should care about politics because the know what is going on politics is because you decisions people make around you. should have a say in will affect many lives. what will happen. Ber tolt Br ec h t “The worst illiterate is the political illiterate, he doesn’t hear, doesn’t speak, nor participates in political events. He doesn’t know the cost of living, the price of the bean, of the fish, of the flour, the rent, the shoes, and of the medicine, all depend on political decisions. The political illiterate is so stupid that he is proud and swells his chest saying that he hates politics. The imbecile doesn’t know that, from his political ignorance is born the prostitute, the abandoned child, and the worst thieves of all, the bad politician, corrupted and flunky of the national and multinational companies.”  GOVERNANCE The word “governance” came from the Latin verb “gubernare,” or more originally from the Greek word “kubernaein,” which means “to steer.” 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. CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE Good governance essentially requires the participation of Participation different sectors of society. Participation means the active involvement of all affected and interested parties in the decision-making process. It is through the law that people express their will and exercise their sovereignty. That the government is of the Rule of Law law and not of men is an underlying democratic principle that puts no one, however rich and powerful, above the law. CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE Effectiveness (meeting the needs) and efficiency (proper Effectiveness utilization of resources) must necessarily go together to & Efficiency ensure the best possible results for the community. People must be open to information regarding the Transparency decision-making process and its implementation. It also means that transactions involving public interests must be fully disclosed and made accessible to the public.  CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE The interests of all citizens must be well protected in a Responsiveness prompt and appropriate manner so that each of them can appreciate and take part in the process of governance. All members of society, especially the most vulnerable ones or those at the grassroots level, must be taken into Equity & Inclusiveness consideration in policy-making. Everyone has a stake in society, and no one should feel alienated from it.  CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE Governance is consensus-oriented when decisions are Consensus made after taking into consideration the different Oriented viewpoints of the actors in society. To reach a consensus, a strong, impartial, and flexible mediation structure must be established. It means answerability or responsibility for one’s actions. Accountability The actors have an obligation to explain and be accountable for the consequences of the decisions and actions they have taken on behalf of the community they serve.