THE POLITICAL SELF

“Man by nature is a political animal.” –Aristotle

Politics

 It involves making common decisions for a group of people.

 It is the activity by which differing interests within a given unit of rule are conciliated by giving them a share in
power in proportion to their importance to the welfare and survival of the whole community.

Philippine Politics

• Elitism – leadership or rule by an elite or minority who enjoys much wealth, power, and privilege in the society

• Personalistic politics- form of authoritarianism where in the political power seems hereditary; occurs when people
vote for a candidate based on the “name” (or popularity of the candidate) and not on the political ideology

• Kleptocracy - government by those who seek chiefly status and personal gain at the expenses of the governed;
political corruption

Orientation of Political Self

 Political attachment and loyalties directed towards the nation or its significant political symbols
 National identity

• Particular content : democracy

• Formal content: separation of powers, democratic system govern in the name of people and are
accountable to them

• Various forms of specific knowledge, feelings, beliefs about political institutions

• More transient views about specific policies, issues, programs, personalities and events

Identity is defined as:

 Personal – our unique and distinct characteristics

 Social – roles and members of groups
 Human – universal; membership of the human species in a globalized world.

Three Levels of Political Identity

1. Passive identities – potential identities based on lived relationships (class, gender, ethnicity) but not acted on
2. Active – conscious identities that come to the fore when threatened
3. Politicized – a more constant base for actions and how individuals identify themselves

Negative Types of Identity

1. Identity disregard /unreal identity – identity of people who are totally unaffected on what is happening around
them but work towards personal economic gain
2. Singular affiliation – identity created when individuals impose only one identity on them and exclude other
identities

Factors that Shape the Political Self

 1. 1st level: individual: Attitudes and Values
 Presence of dualism
 Highlights the contradiction between self-interest and the good of the community
 Attitudes change
 Due to events that sweep the nation
 Due to involvement in service-oriented activities
nd
2. 2 level: institutional
 Families teach their children basic human values and instill discipline.
 Schools teach nationhood and its associated values.
 The church periodically issues pastoral letters which deal with social realities as discerned in the context
of the gospel.
 Any form of media presents positive and negative portrayals of citizenship; and provides venues for
discussion of issues and exposing anomalies in the conduct of public affairs.
 The government prescribes official programs such as the curriculum in state-run educational institutions.
It provides frameworks and the environment for the exercise of rights and fulfillment of social
obligations.
rd
3. 3 level: Community
 The degree of identification with the nation depends, among others, on the type of community to which
one belongs and the extent to which it is served by, or benefits from, instruments of the state

Social Responsibilities

• To be loyal to the Republic

• To love and defend the country

• To contribute to the development and welfare of the State

• To uphold the Constitution and obey the laws

• To cooperative with duly constituted authorities

• To exercise rights responsibly and with due regard for the right of others

• To engage in gainful work

Role of Citizenship in Developing Political Self

• gives young people a sense that they have a stake in society and democracy

• learning to be ‘political’, skills and experience of being actively involved in democracy

• learning about the relationship between citizens and the state, how democracy works

a need to explore, understand, negotiate their identities