Introduction: The concepts of

politics and governance

1.1 The meaning of politics
1.2 How politics can be studies
1.3 The meaning of governance
1. Politics
 Politics is an activity that involves the
interaction of people, whose relationship
Politics is characterized by conflict and cooperation,
and who come together to solve such
disagreements through binding solutions.
-Heywood (2013)
 Politics is the art of government, the
exercise of control within the society
Politics through the making and enforcement of
collective decisions.
-Heywood (1997)
 Politics is the way in which we
understand and order our social affairs
Politics and acquire greater control over the
situation.
-Ponton & Gill, 1982
 Politics is the strategy for
maintaining cooperation among people
Politics with different needs and ideals in life, or for
resolving the conflict within the group.
-Tuibeo, 1998
 Basic Concepts:

1. Order. Study of politics seeks to study

how human life in the aggregate is

Politics ordered.

2. Power. The government cannot maintain

order w/o power.

3. Justice. When the power is exercised in

the interest of the ruled, there is justice.
 • Greek word- polis- “of or pertaining to
State”

• root word for polites meaning people or

Politics citizens

• root word for politikos meaning “of, for, or

relating to citizens” which also translates to
“affairs of the state”
 • Art of government.
Views • Public affairs.
on • Compromise and consensus.
Politics • Power and the distribution of resources.
 Views on Politics
Description of Politics
Politics as….
Politics is the art of government, the exercise of
control within the society through the making and
enforcement of collective decisions.

• Art of Government It means that politics is the means by which we steer

or control society.

Politics concern the state. It focuses on the personnel

and machinery of the government.
 Views on Politics
Description of Politics
Politics as….
Political affairs is the process of shaping the political
environment for government officials, elected
representatives, interest groups, media, and any other
relevant stakeholders. It involves creating, executing,
and managing strategies and tactics to influence the
decision-making process of those in power.
• Public affairs
Politics is the conduct and management of public
interest and therefore, political affairs.

At its core, political affairs is a mixture of public

relations and public affairs, with a focus on the
political landscape.
 Views on Politics
Description of Politics
Politics as….
Compromise- an agreement or a settlement of a
dispute that is reached by each side making
concessions

Consensus- a general agreement

• Compromise and Politics is seen as a particular means of resolving
Consensus conflict, that is, by compromise, conciliation and
negotiation, rather, than through force and violence.

Politics attempts to resolve conflict through

discussion, compromise, bargaining, and consensus,
wherein people arrive at a binding decision.
Views on Politics
Description of Politics
Politics as….
Politics involves the exercise of
• Power and the authority in the production,
distribution of distribution, and use of resources. This
resources describes who gets what and under
what circumstances.
2. Political Science
 Political Science is the study of
Political the phenomena of the state and government; it
is derived from two Greek words, “polis” or
Science “city” which today would mean a sovereign
state; and “scire” meaning “science.”
 Political science is the study of
politics and power from domestic,
Political international, and comparative perspectives. It
Science entails understanding political ideas,
ideologies, institutions, policies, processes, and
behavior, as well as groups, classes, government,
diplomacy, law, strategy, and war.
Political Political science is a social science
Science discipline that studies the state and the
government.
 Political science is a social science discipline that
studies the state and the government.

Political community that involves four

important elements:
a. people
b. territory
c. sovereignty
d. government
Political community that involves four important elements:

a. people- there are no definite rules when it comes to population

b. territory- a state’s territory is made up of land, sea, and air space

c. sovereignty- refers to the ultimate power or authority over which

there is no appeal; freedom from external control; autonomy

d. government- a group of individuals who occupy a specific region

cannot create a state unless they are politically organised, that is,
unless they have a government
• Government is the instrument
of the state through which the will of
the people is expressed, carried out,
and formulated.

• The government serves as the

bridge that connect the people to
the state.
 Government and Governance

As an institution, it is the government which

concretizes the policies and addresses the problems of
the state.
On the other hand, good governance arises
when the government involves the people in its agenda
and in the process of policy making. The extent, therefore,
to which democratic participation is encouraged determines
Democratic participation refers to acts that are intended
whether or not governance exists to influence the behavior of those empowered to make
decisions.
 1. Philosophical Tradition
Major School
of Thoughts  otherwise known as political philosophy
in Political  regarded as the traditional approach to politics
Science  Plato and Aristotle are usually associated with this
tradition as they asked what “should” or “ought”
instead of what “is”
School of thoughts- a
particular way of thinking  underscored the analytical study of doctrines that
have become the major focus of political thought
 2. Empirical Tradition
Major School
of Thoughts
in Political  believe that any account of political reality must
be impartial and should thus be tested through
Science observation
 seek to analyze and explain, and not to offer
School of thoughts- a
particular way of thinking recommendations, as in the philosophical tradition
 3. Scientific Tradition
Major School
of Thoughts
in Political  promotes objective and quantifiable ways of
studying politics
Science  further pushed with the rise of behavioralism, or
the belief that social theories should arise from
School of thoughts- a
particular way of thinking observation and quantifiable data
Politics Political Science
 Politics Political Science
Politics
and  focuses on the affairs
 the “science of politics”
and uses comparative,
of the state and
Political includes the act of
qualitative, and
quantitative methods to
Science governing a country
and the decision-
achieve a comprehensive
understanding of politics
(Area of Concern) making process
and governance
 Politics Political Science
Politics
and
 world of politics  world of political science
Political includes politicians, includes political
Science lobbyists and
administrators
scientists, scholars and
academics
(Actors)
 Politics Political Science
Politics  political science usually
and  politics refers to the
concrete act of
remains at a more
abstract/theoretical level;
Political governing a country
and to the decision-
It provides the tools and
Science making process that
leads politicians to
theoretical background
needed to understand
(Theory vs Practice) reality and to foresee
act in certain ways
political choices
 Politics Political Science
Politics  politics aims (or
and should aim) at
improving the
 political science aims at
understanding different
Political welfare and
conditions of all
political paradigms and at
providing a
Science citizens and at
promoting and
comprehensive theoretical
framework that may
(Aim) implementing explain reality
constructive policies
3. Importance of Politics
 1.You should always know what is
going on around you.

2.You should have a say in what will

Importance
happen.
of Politics
3.You should care about politics because
the decisions people make will
affect many lives.