Defining politics and government

 Everyday uses of “politics” and “political” – what do they have in common?  Standard PSC definition (circa 1960s): the process of “authoritatively allocating values” (Definitions of authoritative, allocation and “values”)  The political process includes --selecting rules for decisionmaking --selecting leaders to make decisions --selecting decisions --enforcing and applying decisions (implementation)  Definition of government: institutions with preponderance of force and legitimacy in society that make authoritative decisions

 Where does government’s “legitimacy” come from? Ancient and modern ideas  Easton’s model of the political system Inputs – demands, support, resources Outputs – policies (authoritative allocation decisions) Government: the institutions that produce policies Feedback: effects of policies on future inputs and the environment

 1.) Scarcity (both material and moral) --as scarcity increases, the intensity of conflict increases, and the need for (and difficulty of) political resolution increases  2.) Govt. solves collective action (“free rider”) problems that exist even in the absence of overt conflict  3.) Govt. solves coordination problems that exist even in the absence of overt conflict

 Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations 1776— reaction against mercantilism  Advantages of a “free market” allocation  Assumptions underlying successful free market: competition, reliable information, enforcement of property rights, enforcement of contracts--  govt’s role in supporting FM  How does the FM handle moral conflicts? Allowing people to “vote with their feet”?