Political compass

Upon reflection he realized contradictions in some of the subjects he covered. That included our founding fathers which largely helped shape America with their different ideas and philosophies. Now much of the modern western world’s government and political structures are modeled after those very ideas. Thomas Jefferson has one of the most famous and profound quotes in history, “All men are created equal” having an effect even today on people that feel that they do not have equal…

Growing up in such a tumultuous era allowed Niccolò Machiavelli to examine many cases of the rise and subsequent fall of short-lived governments as well as their causes, such as constantly changing alliances. These experiences led to a cynical view of human nature along with a clear understanding of the objectionable behavior necessary to retain power in politics. His career as a politician and diplomat cemented his very pragmatic stance on human nature and the nature of politics, both of which…

The results will show that both the leader and the people being led would be more just and well rounded if morality plays a key role in government. Introduction A good sense of morality is a trait that the majority of people would desire in a political candidate. Without it, how is one to judge what is right and what is wrong?…

Michael Den Tandt's article: "Race to the middle: Rhetoric aside, the major parties have near unanimity on key policies" discusses the lack of ideological differences that exist amongst Canadian political party leaders in their upcoming election campaigns. He argues that the party platforms of the NDP, Liberals, and Conservatives are similar in that they all explicitly speak of the need to implement policies that support the middle class. The article argues that the votes usually come down to a…

After more than ten years of domination by the left-wing politics (populist and Social Democratic) in South America, the political compass has turned to the Centre-right. The newly elected government in Argentina, Brazil, and Peru have promised to open their domestic markets and implement social and political reforms. It is the beginning of a new era for Latin America’s, however, it does not mean that Latin America will not return to populist promises in the near future. To avoid the return of…

According to the author, the issue with U.S. politics is how it has been deconstructed from its original purpose. We have begun to treat political disagreements as war rather than facing the chance of commonsense compromise. Perhaps this extreme separation was caused by the definition of certain ideologies in addition to the use of the party system. “…deep philosophical differences aren’t new and that some of the most ideologically charged periods produced important policy advantages… (Article)”…

Democratic support. One thing, however, remains constant throughout these times: presence of an external threat. The end of the Cold War brought about the age of low politics; no longer burdened by the external threat of the Soviet Union, the American political system could now afford to argue about every manner of domestic issue, regardless of how petty or parochial. As a result, the United States Congress is more sectarian than it was just a generation…

When John Rawls’ A Theory of Justice emerged into the realm of political philosophy in 1971, it not only breathed life into modern-day liberalism but it also inspired the rise of sharp criticism, as philosophy often is wont to do, from different political morals. Included in that mo-saic of contrasting views is modern-day communitarianism. Drawing primarily upon the insights from renowned philosophers Aristotle and Hegel, communitarians place a greater emphasis on the role of the community in…

Although it may seem rather trite to boil down Machiavelli’s entire political theory down into one idea, it can be said that he creates the image where a successful prince is one who is willing to employ any means necessary to achieve his ends. Even if a leader wants to promote good, they must be able to get their hands dirty, or rather, “it is necessary for a prince who wishes to maintain himself to learn how not to be good, and to use this knowledge or not to use it according to necessity”…

Defining Statesmanship When assigned the task of defining statesmanship, one may attempt to use Occam's razor. All things being equal, the simplest solution is usually the best one. According to the Blackwell Dictionary of Political Science, the definition of statesmen simply states "see politician". This leads to two conclusions: First, Occam's razor is not always correct. Secondly, Blackwell's accuracy is questionable, at best. Statesmanship is said to be a “tricky, elusive matter-hard to…