What is Politics?

University of San Carlos

Department of Political Science
POSC _____

Philippine Government & Constitution

We are Political Animals!

Politics is part of our FATE,
we have no choice but to practice it.
(Hague & Harrop, 2001)
Thus
Politics is unavoidable and essential to our human
activity.
(Aristotle, father of POSC)

Ergo
We are indeed political animals!
Plato
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Popular (Mis)Conception
Argument #1: Politics is BAD!
Politics per se is BAD.
Argument #2: Politics is CLEAN!
Its the people practicing Politics.

Which is which?
None of the Above.
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Politics is a PROCESS!
Goal of the Course:
To know how to PRACTICE Good politics.
(People make GOOD or BAD Politics happen.)
BEWARE!!!
Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
NOTA BENE!
With great power comes great responsibility.
-Spiderman5

Twin Concepts of Politics

POWER
Ex. Lord of the Rings

Twin Concepts of Politics

CONFLICT

Formal Definition of Politics

It pertains to the
authoritative allocation
of scarce resources.
David Easton, 20018

Elements of Politics

1. Collective activity (Body Politic)

2. Diversity of Views (Conflict)
3. Reconciling such Differences
(Identifying the risks &
opportunities provided by the
Political Openings.)
4. Authoritative policy for a Group
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What is
Political Science?

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Political Science
Polis- meaning a city or sovereign state
Scire- to know

It is the systematic study of State.

States Elements

1. People
2. Territory
3. Government
4. Sovereignty
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3 Relationships in POSC
People (Citizen) to People (Citizen)
People (Citizen) to Govt (State)

Govt (State) to Govt (State)

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PHILIPPINES

DOMESTIC ENVIRONMENT
System functions
Socialization, Recruitment, Communication

I
NP
U
T
S

Process functions

Interest
Articulation

Interest
Aggregation

Policy
Making

Policy Implementation
and adjudication

O
U
T
P
U
T
S

Policy
Functions

Extraction,
Regulation,
and Distribution

Structure of A Political System

By: Almond & Powell

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For Note taking

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