1. PowerPoint Supplement Richard P. Farkas, DePaul University
POWER & CHOICE An Introduction to Political Science 14th Edition W. Phillips Shively, University of Minnesota
PowerPoint Supplement
Richard P. Farkas, DePaul University

2. Chapter 1
Politics: Setting the Stage

3. POLITICS Use of power The making of common decisions
Production of public choice

4. Avenues for Political Analysis
behaviors
institutions
policies
“state” as organizer of politics

5. More Guidelines … see both sides of any question
keep our emotions in check
be precise about the meaning of the words we use
be open to borrowing from other academic disciplines
recognize need for broad principles

6. “POLITICS” social process rivalry & cooperation making of a decision
binding on a group
POLITICS is a social process involving rivalry
and cooperation culminating in the making
of a decision binding on a group.

7. … or
the use of power to make a common decision for a group of people

8. POWER Politics ALWAYS involves power
Power = ability of one person to cause a second person to do what the first wishes, whether the second wants to or not

9. “POWER” … means by which power is exercised coercion persuasion
construction of incentives
authority can be the basis of one’s power if those governed accept
the relationship …
other sources possible

10. Think about your “feeling” about the following terms …
administer, manage
manipulate, force
direct, lead
order, control

11. POWER & CHOICE 1. Making common decisions (choice) Contrast:
A way to work out rationally the best common
solution to a common problem
2. Exercise of power
Ability to get someone to do what you want
Contrast:
Implicit vs. Manifest power

12. Approaching “politics” …
As public choice … emphasizes the options and decisions located throughout the system & the attempt to meet needs
As power … emphasizes the management of persons in the system
Example: the university classroom

13. AUTHORITY
Power to make policies based upon an institutionalized mechanism, procedure or by coercive force -- examples …
Any limits to governmental authority?
Gov. authority = efficient & powerful
 once established, requires little investment
Authority, if widely accepted, is easier to exercise

14. LEGITIMACY
Belief by a large number of citizens that a particular government properly has authority
Individual or collective agreement that (1) a person or group has the right to issue certain sorts of commands and (2) that those commands shall be obeyed.
normative and tentative perception!

15. Sources of Legitimacy Legitimacy by RESULTS Legitimacy by HABIT
Legitimacy by IDENTITY
Legitimacy by PROCEDURES
Consider legitimacy of:
professor, mother, mayor, judge,
clergy, ambassador

16. “State” “sovereign state”
The political entity whose government has ultimate authority to make decisions binding upon all those within the boundaries of that entity
… country
not what Americans call “states”

17. Kinds of Approaches … “Interpretive political scientists”
historical, philosophical aspects built
from detailed, non-numerical cases
“Behavioralists”
look for broad patterns across many
cases using statistical analysis
of numerical data

18. “Theory”
Thinking about politics invites broad generalization and abstraction
We pursue generalization through theory
A theory is a statement linking specific instances to broader principles

19. Normative & Empirical Analysis
empirical: systematic examination of
what IS
normative: systematic thoughts about
what OUGHT TO BE

20. Political Science as a Discipline
American political behavior
American political institutions
American public law
American public policy
American state and local politics
Comparative politics
International politics
Political theory