Aristotle
says politics is "the master science
Almost everything happens in a
political context
Politics determines
who gets what, when and how" - Harold Lasswell
Political decisions
set up government structures and determine how the economic system operates
Political Science
focuses on power; A gets B to do what A wants.
Political Power
is not truly measurable and finite.
Power
is earned, not seized.
Power
is not identical to politics, but it is a key ingredient
Power
enables the carrying out of policies and decisions
Legitimacy
Mass feeling that the government's rule is rightful and should be obeyed.
Sovereignty
A national government's being boss on its own turf, the last word in law in that country.
Authority
A political leader's ability to command respect and exercise power, relying on a sense of obligation based on legitimate power of office.
U.S. Politics
focuses on institutions and processes, such as parties, elections, public opinion, and executive and legislative behavior.
Comparative Politics
examines politics within other nations to establish generalizations about democracy, stability, and policy.
International Relations
studies politics among nations, including conflict, diplomacy, international law.
Political Theory
attempts to define the good polity.
Constitutional Law
studies the applications and evolution of the Constitution within the legal and political system.
Public Policy
analyzes the relationships of economics and politics to develop effective programs.
Data
is collected according to a well-defined and well- tested methodology, either by observation or experiment.
Empirical
based on observable evidence.
Reasoned
Clear, logical reasoning required; assumptions have to be explicit.
Balanced
Need to acknowledge there are several possible viewpoints on the topic.
Supported with Evidence
Data required for good scholarship; qualitative as well as quantitative data may be needed, as many aspects of politics aren't readily quantifiable.
Theoretical
Scholarship requires a theoretical framework that relates several factors to explain a broad array of phenomena.