PHILIPPINE POLITICS

AND GOVERNANCE
JOHN PAUL CELERIDAD
 LESSON 1

POLITICS, POLITICAL
SCIENCE AND GOVERNANCE
 POLITICS

• The great Greek philosopher Aristotle once said, Man by nature is a political animal.
For Aristotle, this made politics the ‘master science’: that is, nothing less than the
activity through which human beings attempt to improve their lives and create the
Good Society. Politics is, above all, a social activity. It is always a dialogue, and
never a monologue
• To study politics is in essence to study government or more broadly, to study the
exercise of authority. Politics is the art of government, the exercise of control within
the society through the making and enforcement of collective decisions (Heywood,
1997).
POLITICS

• Politics came from the word polis meaning “of or pertaining to state” in Greek.
• It is also the root word for polites meaning people or citizens and politikos meaning
“of, for, or relating to citizens” which also translates to “affairs of the state.” It involves decision-
making, law-making, and governance. It is the study of practice and distribution of powers.
• The word moved into the Latin language as politicus, with additional meanings of "city" and
"civics." As with much Latin, the word made its way into modern English through French
derivations. The first use of the singular politic showed up in English in the 1400s, coming
from the Middle French politique.
 POLITICS

• In ancient times, city-states like Athens and Sparta were relatively small and cohesive
units, in which political, religious, and cultural concerns were intertwined. The Greek
philosopher Aristotle's word for ‘politics’ is politikê, which is short for politikê epistêmê
or ‘political science.’
• Politics is a practical science since it is concerned with the noble action or happiness of
the citizens (although it resembles a productive science in that it seeks to create,
preserve, and reform political systems)
 DIFFERENT POLITICAL VIEWS

• According to the International Encyclopedia of the Social and Behavioral Sciences (2001), a
political ideology is a set of ideas, beliefs, values, and opinions, exhibiting a recurring pattern, that
competes deliberately as well as unintentionally over providing plans of action for public policy
making, in an attempt to justify, explain, contest, or change the social and political arrangements and
processes of a political community. Political ideologies, may more or less provide basis for coherent
ideas for organized political action whether these ideas intend to preserve, modify or overthrow an
existing government or power structure. Below are some of the different ideologies.
DIFFERENT POLITICAL VIEWS

Political Definition and Perspectives on the State

Ideology
Conservatism Conservatism is the belief that traditional institutions work best and that society
should avoid radical change. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they
are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose
modernism and seek a return to the way things were. Links the state to the need to
provide authority and discipline and to protect society from chaos and disorder,
hence, their traditional preference for a strong state.
Liberalism Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equality. Most liberals
support such fundamental ideas as 8 constitutions, liberal democracy, free and fair
elections, human rights, free trade, secularism, and the market
economy.
 Liberalism sees the state as a neutral arbiter among competing interests and groups in
society, a vital guarantee of social order. While classical liberals treat the state as a
necessary evil and extol the virtues of a minimal or custodian
state, modern liberals recognize the state’s positive role in widening freedom and
promoting equal opportunities

Socialism Socialism refers to the various theories of economic organization which advocate either
public or direct worker ownership and administration of the means of production and
allocation of resources. Socialists generally share the view that capitalism unfairly
concentrates power and wealth among a small segment of society that controls capital and
derives its wealth through a system of exploitation. This in turn creates an unequal society,
that fails to provide equal
opportunities for everyone to maximize their potential, and does not utilize technology
and resources to their maximum potential nor in the interests of the public.
Socialists believe in utopian visions of a better society where individuals can achieve
genuine emancipation and fulfilment as members of society. It believes in social
equality as it upholds justice or fairness, underpins community and cooperation, and
enlarges freedom in a positive sense as it likewise believes
POLITICS AND POLITICAL SCIENCE

• Political Science is the study of the phenomena of the state and government; it is derived
from two Greek words, “polis” or “city” which today would mean a sovereign state; and
“scire” meaning “science.”
• Aristotle (324-322 B.C.) a Greek philosopher, is credited with the observation that “man by
nature is a political animal.” By this statement, Aristotle meant that the basic underlying
substance of human existence is politics, that is, that man is predisposed to be involved in
politics. He added that the only way to optimize the potentials and capabilities of an
individual and to achieve the highest form of social existence was through interaction with
others in a state (Rodee, et al., 1983)
• Political Science as defined by Rodee (1980) is “a branch of social science that deals with the theory,
organization, government, and practice of the state.”
• Political Science also deals with those relations among men and groups, which are subject to control by the
state, and with the relations of the state to other states.
• Montesquieu (1689-1755), expounded the concept. He posited that all the functions of government could be
encompassed within the categories of legislation, execution, and the adjudication of law. He assumed that
liberty could best be assured by the distribution of these functions – referring to legislation, execution, and
adjudication – among separate branches of the government namely: the legislative, the executive department,
and the judiciary of the courts of law. The preceding modules will discuss further the three branches of the
government.
• Jean Bodin (1530-1596) a French political philosopher coined the term “Political Science” Political science is a
discipline in social science that is concerned with political institutions and with the principles and conduct of
government. It deals with the theory and practice of politics; description and analysis of political systems and
political behavior. It may be defined as the study of the activities of the government (Laswell, 1935) in determining
who gets what and how.
• Aristotle (384 - 322 B.C.), the father of Political Science considered Political Science as the master of all sciences.
He was the first thinker to use the term ‘politics.' The term "Politics" is derived from the Greek word ‘Polis" which
means city-state, a small independent self-contained political society. Greeks did not make any distinction between
politics and society. Greek city-state of ancient times provides an ideal point for the beginning of a systematic
study of political science
 WHAT ARE THE METHODS OF POLITICAL
SCIENCES?
• Several methods are available to political phenomena. These methods are available to political phenomena. These methods are discussed
below:

• Deductive Method – this method employs the drawing up of specific conclusions from premises presumed to be infallible.

• Inductive Method – this method proceeds to establish general truths upon the basis of known facts are to be used as premises for a
specific application.

• Observational Method – this method allows the political scientist to observe the workings of political systems and political processes.
Every change in governmental structure, law, or public has significance.

• Historical Method – present and probable political phenomenon are interpreted by the political scientist based on his knowledge and
observation of the past serving as a backdrop.

• Comparative Method – this method allows the political scientist to correlate economic, geographical, psychological, sociological data, and
other scientific phenomena.
 VALUE OF POLITICS
WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT POLITICS?
• One reason you should care about politics is that you should always know what is going on around you. For
example, if a new law is made is made in your area, you might want to make sure that you and the people around
you know that a new law has been made so that no one breaks the law without even knowing it. Also, if
something dangerous is happening around you or someone you know, you want to be aware if someone is
breaking the law. It is very important to know what is happening around you.
• Another reason you should care about politics is that you should have a say in what will happen. Everyone should
have a say in what will happen, because we all live side by side with each other, and it would not be fair if
someone was left out. Also, each vote makes a difference in the ways that we live. It is always important to share
your opinion. The way you vote will affect many people and their everyday life
 VALUE OF POLITICS
WHY SHOULD YOU CARE ABOUT POLITICS?

• Finally, you should care about politics because the decisions people make
will affect many lives. For example, if someone wanted to build on the land,
it might be good for the people who worked in the area, but residents who
lived nearby and loved the land and relied on the land for water and food
might be devastated. Sometimes things that sound like good ideas might be
very devastating later
 GOVERNANCE AND GOVERNMENT
MEANING OF GOVERNANCE

• Governance in General
The word “governance” came from the Latin verb “gubernare,” or more
originally from the Greek word “kubernaein,” which means “to steer.” Basing
on its etymology, governance refers to the manner of steering or governing, or
of directing and controlling, a group of people or a state
• Definition of Governance
Governance is commonly defined as the exercise of power or authority by political leaders for the
well-being of their country’s citizens or subjects. It is the complex process whereby some sectors of
the society wield power and enact and promulgate public policies which directly affect human and
institutional interactions and economic and social development. The power exercised by the
participating sectors of the society is always for the common good, as it is essential for demanding
respect and cooperation from the citizens and the state. As such, a great deal about governance is the
proper and effective utilization of resources.
 GOVERNANCE AND GOVERNMENT

• Governance is traditionally associated with the government. In works of literature, they are often used
interchangeably. But in the 1980s, political scientists broadened the meaning of governance as including, not
just government actors, but also civil-society actors.
• Today, governance includes three sectors: the public sector (state actors and institutions), the private sector
(households and companies), and the civil society (non-governmental organizations). These three sectors are
said to work hand in hand in the process of governance. This new use of the term focuses on the role of
“networks” in the achievement of the common good, whether these networks are intergovernmental,
transnational, or international. In other words, governance is broader than government in that other sectors are
included in it.
• Many authors also distinguish the two by associating government with "control and domination," and
governance with "decentralization and relational management." On the one hand, the government refers
to a central institution which wields power over its subjects. It is the instrument patterned after the model
of "command and control," the government being in command over the affairs of the people. On the
other hand, governance is closely associated with the concept of decentralization of power and the need
for inter-sectoral management. Governance is based on the realization that the government cannot do
everything for the people so that in order to survive the state should not only rely on government but also
on the other sectors of the society.
 GOVERNANCE HAS THREE LEGS

• Economic governance includes decision-making processes that affect a

country's economic activities and its relationships with other economies. It
clearly has major implications for equity, poverty, and quality of life.
• Political governance is the process of decision-making to formulate policy.
• Administrative governance is the system of policy implementation.
 CURRENT STATE OF GOVERNANCE IN THE
PHILIPPINES
• The Philippines is plagued by bad governance. Based on the six dimensions of governance in the Worldwide
Governance Indicators (WGI), it ranks in the lower half of the percentile. In 2010-2011, the Philippines
ranked only 85th in the Global Competitive Index (GCI), lagging behind most of its Southeast Asian
neighbors. The decline of trust on the actors of governance and the consequential poor economic condition
were brought about by the systemic corruption among and between public officials and private organizations.
In 2013, it ranked 94th among 177 countries in the Corruption Perception Index. Among the key institutions
in the Philippines perceived to be most corrupt based on the Global Corruption Index are “political parties,”
“judiciary,” “police,” “public officials and civil servants,” and “legislature.” This means all branches of the
Philippine government are now challenged
 CURRENT STATE OF GOVERNANCE IN THE
PHILIPPINES
• As perceived and experienced by the common Filipino masses, the foremost indicators of
bad governance in the Philippines are the unending cycle of poverty, the huge gap between
the rich and the poor, the deep-seated tradition of corruption, mistrust on formal
government institutions, yawning cynicism on the true motive of political actions,
instability of the economic environment, constant threats to the authority of the established
government, and questions on accountability and transparency. These are the usual content
of everyday broadcast media, so common that there perceived to be the normal state of
affairs in the Philippines
 CURRENT STATE OF GOVERNANCE IN THE
PHILIPPINES

• Bad governance is the root cause of all evils. It is what prevents the
Philippines from achieving its Millennium Development Goals. Rising above
such state of governance is a political imperative and the ideal solution to a
wide range of politico-economic problems. While the Philippines has already
created “islands of good governance” in some national agencies and local
government units, its overall state is still miserable.
Thank you
and
Godbless