Introduction:

The concepts of

POLITICS and
GOVERNANCE
JUMBLED
LETTERS
GAME
PLTOICI
S
POLITICS
 LERU FO
AWL
RULE OF LAW
 GROVEANNCE

GOVERNANCE
 TARPCNSREAN
Y
TRANSPARENCY
 RSPENOISVEENSS

RESPONSIVENESS
 Introduction:
The concepts of

POLITICS and
GOVERNANCE
 ORIGIN OF POLITICS
• POLIS – city-state
• POLITES – citizens
• POLITIKOS – government officials
(Zaide, 1983)
 POLITIC
•S
is derived from the Greek
word polis which means
“city-state”, a small
independent self- contained
political society.
 POLITIC
•S“the heart of Political Science”

• It is the activity of people

where they create, preserve
and amend laws under which
they live.
POLITICS as the art
of government.
• Politics is what defines the
activities of the government
and of the state. All
government officials and all
those working in
government are
participating in politics.
POLITICS as public
affair.
• Politics is played by everybody,
politicians or not.
• In politics, Aristotle said that
“man by nature is a political
animal;” this means that it is only
within a political community that
human beings can live the good
life.
• Thus, politics becomes necessary
to create a just society.
POLITICS as
compromise and
consensus.
• Politics is meant to resolve
conflict.
• In politics, compromise,
conciliation and negotiation
become necessary.
• It is through these means that
issues and problems are
being resolved.
• Thus, politics becomes the
process of conflict resolution.
 POLITICS as
power.
• Politics happens in all human
interactions: within the family,
among friends, among officemates,
etc.

• Politics can, therefore, be seen as

struggle over scarce resources, and
power can be seen as the means
through which struggle is
conducted.
 Focuses its study on the actual actions
or decisions of the state.
 Politics is concerned with issues,
problems and activities of the state
while political science is concerned on
how the state originated, its nature and
its functions.
 An academic discipline deals with the
theoretical study of the state and
government.
 A political scientist observes how to
state makes decision, and how the
state’s decision affects people.

In the modern perspectives, political science studies politics.

The state and government are the key factors in the study of
political science and politics.

Thus, political science cannot be differentiated from politics.

5 REASONS TO STUDY POLITICS
1. Politics will help you to know your rights.
2. Politics clarifies what you yourself believes.
3. Politics is a living, breathing subject.
4. Politics helps you to understand our nation’s
parties.
5. Politics prepares you for adult life.
http://www.bedes.org/senior-school/news-and-blogs/senior-school-
news/2015/01/5-reasons-to-study-politics.aspx
HOW POLITICS CAN
BE STUDIED?
1. NORMATIVE vs. POSITIVE APPROACH

Focuses in answering the questions:

(What is?) Positive Approach
Example: “The Department of Education
documented more than 1,700 cases of child abuse and
bullying in school year 2013-2014.”
(What should be?) Normative Approach
Example: “Bullying and other forms of violence in
schools should be viewed not just a school problem but
a societal problem as well.”
2. BEHAVIORAL APPROACH
Focuses on the study of the individual (voter,
leader, party leader, etc.) particularly the actors of
the political system, their emotions, biases and
predispositions.

Behaviorists, therefore, study the political

process by looking at how it relates or influences
the individual’s behavior, motivations, personalities
or feelings of human actors
(Orji, 2009).
3. RATIONAL CHOICE APPROACH
Focuses on the study of human behavior,
wherein individuals are motivated by their
wants, their self-interest or goals which will
explain their preferences.

Furthermore, according to this approach,

humans act to maximize their outcome, that is, to
get the most benefit and profit from their actions.
 What is GOVERNANCE?
• the action of the government.

• “the process of decision-making and the

process by which decisions are
implemented.” (Sheng, UNESCAP)
• “a government’s ability to make and
enforce rule and to deliver services,
regardless of whether the government is
democratic or not.” -Fukuyama (2013)

• In the early Indian history, back to at

least 400 B.C, governance includes
emphasizing justice, ethics and anti-
autocratic tendencies.
• Moreover, World Bank (2007) defines
governance as “the manner in which
public officials and institutions acquire
and exercise the authority to shape
public policy and provide public goods
and services.”

NOTE:
Decisions should not be
influenced by interest of
the few, values and
preference.
8 CHARACTERISTICS OF
GOOD GOVERNANCE
1. Participation – active involvement of all
affected and interested
parties in the decision-
making process.

2. Rule of Law - legal frameworks should

be fair and enforced
impartially.

3. Transparency - free flow of information.

4. Responsiveness - serve all stakeholders.

 Consensus
5. - mediates differing
Oriented interests.
6.Equity and - all its members have
Inclusiveness opportunities to improve or
maintain their well-being.

Effectiveness
7. - produce results that meet
and efficiency needs while making the best
use of resources .

8. Accountability - accountable to the public.

PHILIPPINE
Politics and Governance
for Senior High School
pages 8-12