2. Key Concepts in Politics

3. What is Politics? Politics is the study of conflict resolution, avoiding resorting to force. Why does conflict/ Politics exist? –State of Nature (Hobbes and Locke) –Problems of limited/ scarce resources. –Problem of effective compensation. –The need to find methods of dividing resources in a way that will limit conflict. Government is established to provide solutions to these problems. John Locke

4. Democracy ‘Government of the people, by the people, for the people’? Two types of democracy: 1.Direct Democracy? 2.Representative Democracy? Who is represented in ‘representative’ democracy? Who is excluded? Issue of ‘typicality’? Role of elections? –Consent and choice? –Legitimacy? –Burke? Is it possible to have a truly representative State? The US Senate

5. Power, Authority and Sovereignty What is meant by power? –Empowerment? –Force? What is meant by authority? Where does power stop and authority start? What is Sovereignty? Can sovereignty apply to States? Sovereignty in Federal/ Unitary States?