Political Science 15: Introduction to Political Science

Overview

• The lecture covers a basic introduction to political science, concepts of government and politics, and a general overview of the course.
• Readings: Bardes et al., American Government textbook, Chapter 1.

Political Science

• A relatively new field of study in higher education, beginning in the late 19th century.
• Defined as the study of systems of government, political activity, and behavior.

Key Concepts

• Government: The institution with ultimate authority for making decisions that resolve conflicts and allocate benefits within a society.
• Politics: The struggle over power and influence within organizations or formal groups.
• Institutions: Ongoing organizations that perform certain functions for society, such as churches, schools, or governmental bodies.

Subfields of Political Science

1. American Politics: Study of American political institutions and processes.
2. Political Theory: Theoretical questions about justice, rule, and political phenomena.
3. Comparative Politics: Comparison of political institutions and processes across different countries.
4. International Relations (IR): Interaction of countries at the international level, studying war, peace, and organizations like the UN.
5. Political Economy: Study of the global economy in relation to international politics.
6. Behavioral Politics: Study of political behavior of actors like voters and politicians through demographic lenses.

Government Types

• Totalitarian Regime: Controls all aspects of life (e.g., Nazi Germany).
• Authoritarian Regime: Government controlled by a ruler, but social and economic institutions exist independently (e.g., Pinochet's Chile).
• Monarchy: Rule by one hereditary ruler (e.g., ancient Israel).
• Theocracy: Rule by religious leaders (e.g., Iran).
• Oligarchy: Rule by a few (e.g., modern Russia).
• Democracy: Rule by the people (e.g., the US).

Necessity of Government

• Prevents chaos or anarchy.
• Inspired by the writings of John Locke and Thomas Hobbes.
• Balances between security/order and freedom/liberty.

Authority and Legitimacy

• Authority: Right and power to enforce decisions.
• Legitimacy: Popular acceptance and recognition of authority.

Types of Democracies

• Direct Democracy: Political decisions made directly by the people.
• Republic: Sovereign power rests with the people, but decisions made by elected representatives.
• Representative Democracy: Elected leaders make decisions, monarchy may have a ceremonial role.

Founders' Approach

• Opted for a republic to maintain balance between liberty and order.
• Emphasized universal suffrage, majority rule, and limited government.

Course Focus

• Introduction to political science, US politics, and California politics.
• Encouragement to explore elements influencing US politics such as the Constitution, institutions, and citizen participation.

Questions for Consideration

• What makes California politics unique?
• How do California and US politics compare?