Malgorzata Kulakowska

Introduction to politics and political science

03.10.2023. L. 1

1. Можна казати, коли щось не чутно, щоб говорила повільніше чи голосніше.

2. Перевіряє відвідуваність
3. Координує еразмус
4. Використовує PEGAZ - усос, курс, пегас
5. Радить прочитати першу главу книги на пегасі перед наступним вівторком.
6. Офіс аурс: по вівторках 14:15-15:15, кімната 422. Проте наголошує, що у неї є черги
7. Надає перевагу тому щоб ми приходили за питаннями до неї особисто, а не мейлом
8. Каже, що викладачі раді бачити студентів під час офіс аурс, особливо коли пропустив лекцію чи не розумієш чогось, хочеш
навчитись більшому.
9. Можна забронювати онлайн сесію на понеділок, 16:30-17:00. 10 хвилин через тімс. це робиться через усос, її профіль. Там
посилання за яким потрібно бронювати
10. Імейли не працюють коли ти хочеш швидке рішення, а якщо питаєш щось що вже є в усосі вона не відповість. Висновок: вивчи усос
та її онлайн форми
11. Може забути ваші імена (вона точно їх забуде)
12. Може позначити тебе як «активного», якщо відповідатимеш на питання. Обовʼязково скажи імʼя перед відповіддю. Це буде
бонусом
13.

ВІДВІДУВАННЯ

1. 2 рази можна пропустити пару просто так. Пропускаєш третій - треба одну тему з трьох обирати, читати
слайди з пегасу, читати рідінг з пегасу, побачити її особисто та показати, що ти пропрацював та розумієш
цю тему.
2. Якщо пропускаєш більше двох класів, потрібно буде зробити щось додатково.
3. Запізнення менше ніж на 15 хвилин нечасто - можна
4. Якщо більше - позначить як наполовину відсутній
5. Якщо ти пропустив клас - потрібно позначити, який саме ти пропустив.
6. Пропустив більше за 7 класів - проситиме 7 офіційних запитів на складання курсу.
7. Перевір пегас щоб зрозуміти скільки у тебе пропусків (score)
8. Підтвердження відвідування проводиться шляхом відмітки на пегасі з паролем. Не підписав - сам винен
9. Може

ДОЗВОЛЕНИЙ ПРОПУСК

1. Все що треба - документація того, що у тебе є причина пропустити. Завжди потрібен доказ.
2. Дозволений пропуск не враховується при відліку пропусків. Пропустив за хворобою - твої два дні
залишаються

ОЦІНЮВАННЯ

1. Курс закінчується одним екзаменом. midterms немає. Можливо перший тиждень лютого
2. Екзамен базується на лекціях та читаннях. 13 тем та 13 читань. Всі є на пегасі.
3. Максимум балів на екзамені - 80 поїнтів. 5 відкритих питань, вона даватиме приклад відкритих питань в кінці лекції. Мінімум
для проходу - 44 поїнти
4. Участь в класі має бонуси: участь в дискусії - 14 поїнтів макс (1 поїнт за активність на уроці), короткі інтро завдання на пегасі
ДО класу (pre-class tasks) - 13 поїнтів (по 1 поїнту на урок), групова робота - 10 поїнтів. МАКСИМУМ МОЖНА ОТРИМАТИ 20
БАЛІВ БОНУСУ!
5.

what makes a definition useful?

 What makes a definition useful? How would you define a chosen object?

You define the object when you wish to explain its meaning to yourself or the other person. Your description
should not be general and not include other things. Usually in academia the object is defined in an unbiased
manner with factual information. However, you can sometimes use the biased definition to project your
prejudice based on own knowledge. When we define an object we have to distinguish what we have drawn
from something else. The picture should include something which is true about an object (cat), but should also
include something that is not true about something which is not a cat.

Our definition of politics will show us at what is political, but will exclude things that are not politics

Definitions of politics

As power
As state bound activity
As public/private thing
epistemology The science of knowing; systems of knowledge.
methodology The science of finding out; proce- dures for scientific investigation.
Backgroung (personal)
Professor’s explanation
Motivation to study
Prof’s subjective view on reaults
Medical conditions
Study Group’s influence
Type of exam
Sleep schedule
How much did you prepare

Hpw to research: group people in groups e.g. one with multiple choice exam, essay question.
Those who slept welll and didnt, those with and without medical conditions
Topics at exam

• Defining the state

• Nature of the state
• The role of the state
• Understandings of Power

The main difference between how the state is understood by political philosophers and
sociologists, and how it is understood by IR scholars is that while the former treat civil
society as separate from the state, the latter treat civil society as part of the state, in that it
encompasses not only an effective government, but also a permanent population

Expectation of the state that are connected to the main concepts of the role of the state

• minimal states is the natural arbitre. People go there only when the need protection or in exceptional situations.
Responsibility to protect the freedom of people and help the monly when its needed (to make contracts and agreements)
• developmental only works when there is a need flr development and industrialisation. It interferes only to economic growth
• socio-democratic is governed by people, and always intervenes trying to help rectify the injustices of the economy. It aims
to eradicate power and social inequality. It does demand management and manages and regulates the capitalism
• collectivised state is based on eradicating class conflict and abolish private enterprise. All the economic decisions are
done by state. It also rejects the idea of state as a whole, but recognises the importance of “transitional” state on the path
to socialism
• Totalitarian state - all-embracing state, penetrating every aspect of human existence
• Religious state - domination of religious rules over the state and people
 Q: how can you join the election and what
Political system is a broader term that encompasses not only the requirements you need to take part?
mechanisms of government and the institutions, but also the
structures and processes through which these interact with society
Why do we classify political systems?
• Comparison leads to understanding
Who’s in charge?
• Comparison leads to evaluation
One person The Few. The many

Rulers Tyranny Oligarchy. Democracy

All Monarchy Aristocracy. Polity

(normative view)
Who benefits?

Group work

• Outputs must always exist in the government.

What were your vision on inputs in non democratic regimes

L.5 Political Systems
The three worlds typology
• Capitalist first world
• Marxist second world
• Developing third world

Key regime factors:

Heywood’s suggestions:

• Islamic regimes
• Military regimes
• Western polyarchies
• East Asian Regimes
• New democracies

Ethnocentric perspective judges things through lenses of your own culture The problem here is that the same country can be
in two or more classifications

Moreover, islamic states are different and are much more diverse and
complicated than he indicated

What is common and what is different for islamic regimes? EXAM

Not only politics and economics, but also culture must be acknowledged for East
Asian regimes

Pol. Parties vs. Gatekeepers? Some parties can form a government. But also is Inputs are peoples actions to express their demands
the opposition. We can show parties as a gatekeepers, but also as the
government. If the PP is in the governments and makes a decision, then it is
gov. If the opposition is asking for a rally and protests, it is a gatekeeper.

Gatekeepers:
• NGO’s
• Trade unions Media as a gatekeeper?
• Farmers’ unions • In totalitarian regimes, we will not have media as gatekeepers
• Teacher strikes
• Interest groups that want to influence the government.
 Democracy and its models
rights
natural

?3
Classical democracy:
life liberty property

,
,
• Direct governance by every person.
• Form of government by mass meeting
• Extremely high level of activity by citizens

Protective democracy - LOCKE

• Protecting citizens against the government
• Natural rights protected
• Government by consent -> a representive assembly
• Strictly enforced separation of powers
• The maintenance of basic rights and freedoms
• Is connected to MININAL STATE

Developmental democracy
• People develop themselves by participating in democracy

1 По
Jean Jacques Rousseau John Stuart Mill (less radical)
• Concept of General will • Participation enhances citizen’s capacities
• Obedience to law one prescribes to oneself • Promoting wide participation
• Support for radical direct democracy • Rejection of political equality -> plural voting,
people have different number of votes
• Fear of the tyranny of majority

People’s democracy
• Marxist tradition
• Social equality and common ownership of wealth
• Party is interpreting the genuine interest of the proletariat

L More democracy for Belgorod children

.6
We can analyse the democracy by reviewing checks and balances. They
are indicators of the extent to which government is controlled

An equivalent - Polyarchy = rule by many.

• Elections free and fair

• All adults have a right to vote
• Right to run for the office
• Free expression
• Access to alternative sources
• Relative independence from governments

Inputs are demands and support expressed by people

Types of groups (in general)

• Communal Interest groups

• Institutional
• Associational

Interest groups are a part of ASSOCIATIONAL type of groups.

Types of groups:

Communal groups are based on family, tribal or ethnic bonds

Institutional groups are a part of government - they are not interest groups
Associational groups are organised group with a common interest. These are mostly interest groups - but not all the IG are Associational:
there are interests that lay aside from politics (choir, sport, student associations)

Interest groups classifications

• Sectional vs. Promotional
• Insider vs. Outsider

Sectional Promotional
Subcat.: Functional - production of goods only

• Protect material values of members only • Promote their ideas and values (pro-life pro-choice)
• Represent the section of the society • Scope of action is not only for members
• Workers, religious • Not the organisation OF whales but FOR whales

Ethnic organisation is the interest group which

is sectional but not functional, because it does
not take part in production of goods

Groups

• Communal
Associational • Institutional

Insider

Non-IG (choir) Interest Groups GROUP WORK

Outsider
4 cases where interest groups were successful

Sectional Promotional Ozon layer protection - groups have lobbied government

to produce green production. Lobbying, protests, public
efforts, media - promotional mthds.
Borsh - private initiative also supported by MFA
(klopotenko) to include Borsh as the Ukrainian dish in
Functional (production only) UNESCO list - media, demonstrations, influential figures,
government support
Feminist movement - right to vote: protests, harmful
means, lobbying, media

It is up to government which groups get the insider status

Insider Outsider

• Are let in by government • Promote ideas by other means

• Have special position and influences government directly • Use people’s support and its weaker stance
• Are constrained by government in relation to government
 90 minutes for the exam
L. 8
Political ideas and Ideologies 1. Definitions of ideology
2. Various ideological traditions
(on conservatism or liberalism)
Models of group politics in liberal democracy

Pluralist democracy: a normative approach, they are happy with what they see.
Pluralism in this context: the assumption that power is widely and evenly dispersed in society.

◦ Polyarchy (rule by many) - many actors taking part in politics. Chars Lindblom, Robert Dahl
◦ Ability of interest groups to articulate their views freely, establishes a reliable link between the government and the governed,
◦ Assumptions of liberal democracy that are challenged by views:
◦ All groups and interests have potential to gain access to government
◦ All groups are internally responsive – leaders show the interests or values of their members
◦ The political influence (of a group) is roughly in line with their size and the intensity of their support

Elitist view
• Elitism: a belief in, or practice of, rule by an elite or minority.
A few makes decisions.

◦ The fact of elite view

◦ Vilfredo Pareto, Gaetano Mosca, Robert Michels
◦ Democracy as a foolish delusion

Normative elitism - political power Classical elitism - empirical, elite is Modern elitism - also empirical,
in the hands of a wise minority a fact of social existence but more critical. Charles Mills.
Business, Military, President’s groups

Corporatist view
• Neocorporatism, liberal corporatism

◦ ‚tripartite government’ – State officials, employers’ groups, workers unions

◦ Is it a form of functional representation?
◦ Groups seek ‚insider’ status, government needs groups

New Right View Marxist view

• Sceptical towards democracy and interest groups • Class analysis - capitalist abuse of workers
• The danger of Democratic overload • Political power reflects the distribution of economic power
• Advocating free market and minimal government • Neomarxism - unequal competition should be challenged
 Ideology IDEA AND THE NAME

It is difficult to understand ideology, and there are many views

Set of normative statements
◦ Destutt de Tracy: ideology as a new ’science of ideas’ (not valid anymore) - the first one to come up with word
◦ Liberal thinkers: ideology as an instrument of social control, a ’closed system of thought’, claiming a monopoly of truth
◦ Michael Oakeshott: since the world is beyond the human capacity to grasp, ideologies distort political reality. Focus on what’s working
• Karl Marx: ideology is a lie: as ideas of the ’ruling class’ that uphold the class system and perpetuate exploitation, ’false consciousness’,
preventing the exploited proletariat from recognizing the fact of their own exploitation

An inclusive definition is needed

“A more or less coherent set of ideas
— That provides a basis for organised political action

1. Offers an account of the existing order, usually in the form of a world-view

2. Provides a model of a desired future, a vision of the Good Society
3. Outlines how political change can and should be brought about”

3 lib, 2 cons, 2 socialism

Three main traditions of ideology Two key values of each ideology for
exam

Liberalism Key ideas:

• The industrial West • Individualism - all humans are equal
• Linked to capitalism • Morality - he is a good person who deserved to be trusted and make own moral
decisions
• Various forms: • Freedom - Each person is able to act as they choose
- Classical, nineteenth-century, liberalism •
- Social liberalism
- Neoliberalism

Classical liberalism - Modern (Social) Liberalism - Neoliberalism

protective democracy
• Individuals owe nothing to society
• Absence of external constraints -
“negative freedom”
• State is a necessary evil
• Minimal, nightwatchman state
• Free market
• Laissez faire
Rousseau Developmental
• Similarly to classical liberalism - Minimal state
• Accepting state intervention • Updated Classical political economy
• Big government • Friedrich Hayek and Milton Friedman
• New liberals: Green, Hobhouse, Hobson • Unregulated market capitalism
• Positive freedom - ability of the individual
to gain fulfillment and self-realize
• Social evils: want, ignorance, idleness,
squalor and disease
• Regulated capitalism

Edmund Burke,
Juseppe Mess
Paternalistic Conservatism - CDU, Tories

• Traditional Conservatism
• Social obligation
• !!Powerful have a responsibility to look after the poor
• Blend of market competition and government regulation
Conservatism
New Right
• Tradition
• Pragmatism - oriented towards what works • Against state intervention and spread of liberal social values
• Human imperfection - strong state, strict rules • Strong but minimalist state
• Hierarchy and autonomy • Married neoliberalism and neoconservatism
• Property - encourages to respect other people’s property
Neoconservatism

• State that does not intervene

• Advocates for state that protects values
• Against multicultural societies
• Authority is stability
• Family, religion, nation
 Marxism

• Fundamentalist, utopian and revilutionary social thought

Socialism • Abolish capitalist economy
• Classical marxism - “materialist conception of history”
• Equality
• Humans are social creatures
• Cooperation over competition Social democracy???
• Equality for opportunity - you get what you earn
• Common ownership

Political party
While interest groups are outside government, parties are both gatekeepers and are
also a part of government, as their main goal is to gain power and in elections

• Cadre (only best can be) vs. Mass (catch-all)

• Representative (represent views of most, catch-all) vs. Integrative (spread and educate on their ideology)
• Constitutional (abides by laws) vs. Revolutionary (disregards law)

Left-wing Right-wing

• Progressive, socialist, communist parties • Conservative and fascist parties

• Commitment to change in the social reform
• Support from poor and disadvantaged

Functions of parties
• Representation - input devices, articulating views of members and voters
• Elite formulation and recruitment
• Goal formulation - programmes, initiate policies, formulate different policies for choice
• Organisation of government
• Socialisation and mobilisation - political education

Party systems
• Party system = relatively stable network of relationships between
parties structured by their number, size, ideology

Multiparty system Two-party system Dominant-party systems.

• Competition amongst more than
two parties, less chance for single-
party government and increasing
likelihood of coalitions
+ Broad responsiveness
— Fractured and unstable government
• Two major parties, equal prospects of winning
• Classical form criteria
1. Only two parties
2. The larger party is able to rule alone
3. Power alternates between parties
+ Strong but accountable government
— Ideological polarisation, limited choice
Political system is democratic
• One party enjoys prolonged power
• Number of parties compete for power
• The party is in power for decades
+ Stability and predictability
— Erosion of the distinction between state
and party, fostering complacency,
corruption, lack of opposition

One-party system -
Authoritarian

• Exclusion of other parties

• Institutions align to make it ruling
• Permanent governments
• Version A: socialist regime
• Version B: anti-colonial nationalism
 Political culture
Culture = the way of life of a community that is passed from generation to generation.
Political culture = a people’s psychological orientations,
the pattern of orientations to political objects, expressed in
beliefs, symbols and values

Almond & Verba - the creators of the political culture Yet, their research was not perfect, and is also outdated

Political culture is about the long-term beliefs. Public opinion is instant.

Theories of mass-media

• Pluralist model - the more the merrier

• Dominant-ideology model -
• Elite-values model
• Market model

Oa