What is Politics? You have until the end of Coldplay’s Politix to write your own definition.

Definitions The Science and the Art of Government - OED The Science and the Art of Government - OED Who gets what, when and how Who gets what, when and how – H. Lasswell The authoritative allocation of values The authoritative allocation of values – David Easton The art of the possible – R.A. Butler The art of the possible – R.A. Butler

Can you escape ? Politics is completely inescapable It’s all about obeying laws, laid down by Governments !! So then politics is purely an exercise in restricting individual freedoms ??

Well maybe…… Political power grows out of a barrel of a gun – Chairman Mao Political power grows out of a barrel of a gun – Chairman Mao War is nothing, but a continuation of politics – Von Clausewitz War is nothing, but a continuation of politics – Von Clausewitz Every state is founded on force – Trotsky Every state is founded on force – Trotsky

Nonsense……. Politics may indeed arise out of a disagreement or conflict…. Politics may indeed arise out of a disagreement or conflict….But…….. A political solution is often seen as an alternative to violence Politics is all about power !!

Scope of politics  Liberals – Exclusion of politics from Personal life….freedom to do what you want  Free market economists – Keep politics out of the economy  Socialists – State controls the Economy  Fascists – Totalitarian control over every aspect of peoples lives.  Feminists – Gender relations, at home, at work and in the bedroom  Green Politics – Politicised the environment

But who controls Politics? If politics is power then who has power? David Cameron? The Queen? David Beckham? Mr Clauson? Me?

Power = Legitimacy = Authority Those who have power a) Have Legitimacy – The public accepts them as the true holder of their position. b) Have Authority – The rightful and legitimate use of power

Types of Authority Why do we obey these people? Traditional Authority – A long established custom, a hereditary monarch Charismatic authority – compelling personal qualities i.e. Adolf Hitler or slightly more positively Nelson Mandela Legal-Rational Authority – Based on formal rules, elected politicians legitimately hold their offices.

So what do we aim to achieve this year? To look at formal institutions i.e. Parliament and how it works To examine where policies came from, who is involved in the process? To see where all the ideas go to and how this shapes the world we live in. Enjoy it……..