Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
21 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
- 3rd side (hint)
|
What are some definitions of politics?
|
-Book: the activities associated with the control of public decisions among a given people/territory, backed by authoritative/coercive means
-Activities associated with the control of public decisions -Who gets what, when and how? -The authoritative allocation of values -Decisions backed up by authoritative and coercive means |
ch1
Jan14 |
|
|
How important did Aristotle think politics were?
|
He argued that it is impossible to live in human community without politics. Ppl must live civilly, despite different interests and values.
|
Jan14
|
|
|
In what ways are both conflict and consensus integral parts of politics?
|
Almost everyone appreciates the need for an ordered society in which conflict can take place (working for claims to be gained/lost by political action/inaction) but at the same time be contained by the legal rules and cultural norms (need for justice, peace, and defense against foreign enemies)
|
Jan14
|
|
|
What is a political interest and how is one pursued?
|
A political interest is a right or claim that is pursued when groups make and defend their own demands
|
Jan14
|
|
|
What are political values and why are they important to political life?
|
Political values are things of worth (monetary, religious, moral) that are important because defending these values can influence decision makers
|
Jan14
|
|
|
Can both interests and values be involved in the same action?
|
Yes. Demands for lower taxes
Interest: desire to have more disposable income Value: private decisions for the use of money is a good thing |
Jan14
|
|
|
Why should interests and values only be pursued while one remains aware of the interests and values of others?
|
There is common consensus that each group should be allowed to pursue its own interests. For compromise, conflicting interest must be weighed and conflicting values must be balanced
|
Jan14
|
|
|
What do communalism and pluralism mean? How do they affect the pursuit of politics?
|
Communalism: political identity identified exclusively by ethnicity, religion, and language
Pluralism: overlapping memberships, competing memberships These affect the pursuit of politics because in pluralism, each group is allowed to pursue its own interests, resulting in compromise. Communalism has trouble with compromise and is usually settled by violence |
Jan14
|
|
|
What are historical or common memories and how do they affect the political process?
|
These memories are stories passed from generations to provide identity and unity fro the ethnic or national group. These feelings enforce either commitment to or alienation from the group
|
Jam14
|
|
|
What is meant by "anti-politics" and "forgiveness politics"?
|
"Anti-politics" is violent and is characterized by getting even or nursing a grudge. "Forgiveness politics" embraces participation rather than cynicism; ppl accomodate because it is better to live in a community than in a state of war
|
Jan14
|
|
|
What are the responsibilities of an ideal gov't?
|
Community- and nation-building, security and order, protecting property and other rights, promoting economic efficiency and growth, social justice, and protecting the weak
|
ch1, p3-6
|
|
|
What are some causes of economic inefficiency in the gov't?
|
Gov't regulation of the economony may distort terms of trade, limiting producers' incentive; gov't monopolization can cause undersupply and overpricing; gov't industry workers and managers have far better job protection, which can lead to complacency and inefficiency
|
ch1, p8
|
|
|
Why do people have governments?
|
People have governments as a means of aking common decisions for the general welfare (ex: choose leaders, make rules, punish offenders)
|
Jan16
|
|
|
What are the arguments for and against the necessity for government?
|
Without government, people run wild. With government comes corruption and inequality.
|
Jan16
|
|
|
Specifically, what are the positions of Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Marx?
|
H: In exchange for liberty, people get protection from a sovereign (DEF NECESSARY)
L: Government is beneficial for protection of freedoms that are to be equally granted towards all. R: Government corrupts human potential and natural communities, causing inequality. M: The mode of production is key to the political power in a society. Owner/worker division causes exploitation. |
Jan16
|
|
|
Where does each Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Marx place the blame for society's ills?
|
H: The brutish nature of human beings
L: The fact that not everyone obeys the laws of a social contract R: Government and unequal power M: Class differences |
Jan16
|
|
|
What is meant by "the social contract"?
|
The social contract is an agreement of mutual respect among all people.
|
Jan16
|
|
|
What is meant by "man in a state of nature"?
|
This is characterized by a world lacking rules, order, or prosprerity.
|
Jan16
|
|
|
How did Hobbes and Locke differ with the regard to the need for limiting government?
|
Hobbes believed government should be an all powerful sovereign. Locke believed should be limited, because ultimately the monarch is just a man.
|
Jan16
|
|
|
What roles do governments have?
|
Historically, governments were set up to provide nationaal defense, domestic tranquility, and general welfare. Now their roles have greatly expanded.
|
Jan16
|
|
|
In what ways can the government be a problem?
|
Government can be the problem when great inequality arises between classes, it doesn't have the commoner's interest in mind, etc.
|
Jan16
|
