What is Politics? Produced by Dr Peter Jepson - with materials from AS UK Govt & Politics by Mark Garnett and Philip Lynch (2005). 1

What is expected? Before the class you should have read and précised Chapter 1 of the textbook (précis notes will be checked). Turn off your mobile. Raise your hand to ask a question. Annotate your notes. 2

What is politics? (1) Politics is about government? (2) Politics is about public affairs? (3) Politics is about compromise? (4) Politics is about power? 3

(1) Politics is about government? Closest to the everyday definition - concentrates on specific people and institutions (MPs, parliament and civil servants). Problem is that it limits politics to decision makers. 4

(2) Politics is about public affairs Voting is undertaken by citizens - so they are also part of the political process. We have what is termed office politics - all this suggests that politics is broader than government - it involves you, me - all of us. But, is this solely in relation to our public activities? 5

(3) Politics is about compromise? Aristotle - a man is a political animal? What does he mean by that? What Aristotle means is that we live in association and man prefers to compromise than to have conflict. Hence, politics is about man (woman) compromising on private and public matters. 6

(3) Politics is about compromise? A problem with the compromise definition is that it fails to deal with imposition. Say the govt impose a tax without consultation - there is no compromise but politics has taken place. Also, what if the govt use force to impose its tax? Does that mean it has abandoned politics? Obviously not - hence is politics about compromise? 7

(4) Politics is about power? This is the most far reaching definition - man has power over woman in the household. The boss at work, teacher at College. On this view conflict is unavoidable - man v woman (feminist) or owner v worker (marxist). This definition includes force - it is about the use of power. 8

Which definition do we choose? It is something from all. Do pressure groups fit into the first definition? Is the second definition better or too inclusive? The third and fourth definitions are more about how decisions are made and not by who. Needs to reflect both. Is politics about community? 9

Approaches to the study of politics … Political science - facts such as govt, elections, parties - describing activities rather than what people ought to do. Political theory - more to do with values and theories of politics. AS Politics is more about political science than theory. 10

Key Terms … Define the following key terms (see page 6 of the textbook UK Govt & Politics - Garnett/Lynch) … Civil society State 11

Break into Political Groups Define what is politics and what is not politics. List items that are not and cannot be influenced by politics. Report back to the whole class. 12