政治学讲义纽约州立大学Buffalo分校.pptVIP

Enduring Issues in Political ScienceFall 2003 Jóhanna Kristín Birnir Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science Overview Why Study Politics? ‘Politicos’ versus Political Scientists Theory, Concepts and Ideas in Political Research Political Science? Brief history of political science. Why study politics? “Primitive” societies man was one with nature. Development of strict hierarchies Men are “political animals” Aristotle (Politics) Bible full of political intrigue. Contemporary Politics - Some Preliminary Definitions “Who gets what, when how” Harold Lasswell, 1936 “Politics is the exercise of power” Robert Dahl (and other ‘realists’) “Politics involves the authoritative allocation of values for a society” David Easton, The Political System, 1953 Recurring themes Power Who holds it (authority) How do you get it (politics) Politics The processes whereby a society makes binding decisions who pays how much tax? Flat tax versus progressive/regressive schemes Who controls social security investments? How to regulate commercial activity? How much can a polluter pollute? What content is permissible in radio/television/movies? How to regulate civil activity? Should/can same sex partners marry? Should terminally ill be able to choose to die? Why Study Politics? Important issues liberty / justice stability / order / anarchy / terrorism regulating important sets of activities Size of Public Sector - federal government employs 2.9 million state local govts employ 14 million (growing) -federal budget is $1.5 TRILLION annually Politics and its objects Ideas and interests Democracy, Justice, feminism etc. State/Government Institutions Legislatures, Federalism, Political parties etc. Citizens/Communities Processes Elections, Socialization, Policy making etc. The Challenge of Democracy Democracy is more than a set of institutions It depends on citizen involvement It is therefore an achievement Most of us are not born democrats Or at least, if we are born democr