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What is Political Thought?

A Reading Compiled by Mr. R. Y. Dumaug1

The term politics, political theory, political philosophy and political thought

are terms that are intimately related of which they have a unique link that

connects one with the other.

Understanding politics by discounting either any one of them is to

understand politics as a casual term only.

Indeed, political theory will help one in understanding what politics is really

all about or what political thought is really possessing.

Generally, political thought is understood to be all about politics, as it is

functioning, or it can be considered as a political theory in a sense that it has

some sort of a theory in its framework.

The Nature of Political Thought

1. The Thematic Essence of a Political Thought

Political thought means the systematic reflection upon the practices and

institutions of political life.

As a student in international studies, the first item that will appear on your

minds about the term political thought is that the term is all about political life,

entirely and essentially about politics.

At this juncture, I hope that every one of us here has a better or a clear

view on what politics is all about. My presumption is that all of you have already

taken and passed Political Science in your previous years.

1 This article is intended for select classes of Mr. Dumaug. Nothing from this article should be cited. This reading

compilation is intended for classroom use only, hence no part of this should be made available to the public.

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Therefore, political thought is not about the study of society for this is not a

subject on social thought as we are going to differentiate ourselves from

sociology but it is the study about the society in relation to politics and more

particularly about the social life in relation to political life.

Further, it is not about the economy for we are not purely dealing with

economic thought but what we are going to live in this course is the impact of

economics to politics.

Lastly, we can differentiate ourselves from the world of ethics although in

all aspects we will be reflecting on what ought to be an ideal political

constitutions or an ideal political life.

We have to understand political thought in following generalizations:

(a) That it is an orderly reflection on the political institutions and political

practices;

(b) That it is about how people live under a political authority, obey it, resist

it if it does not conform to what they think proper dispassionately;

(c) That it is about how political life is influenced by the external world and

how it is influenced by the world around;

(d) That it is about how authority works as a system and how it is related to

the subsystems under it and outer systems of which it is only one part.

Traditionally, when we speak about political thought it usually signifies

political philosophy at the best.

For example, when we are going to discuss the history of political thought

we usually focus on the seminal works of Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes or for example

Marx.

These works generally deal with the broad-ranging explorations of politics

which answers the many questions that relate to the general conditions of life

and experience.

Plato in his Republic elucidated the nature of relationship between

knowledge, practical political life and philosophic understanding.

Likewise, Aristotle was seeking to relate the actual conditions existing

during his time to the ethical norms these conditions absorb in themselves.

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Further, Hobbes conceptualized the essentiality of the state to mans

demand to live in an assured peaceful living.

Lastly, Marx crystallized the importance of materialism in mans social life

even as well in nature.

Political philosophy becomes the political thought of a particular

philosopher of a particular time.

However, it is not political thought only or merely. It is more than political

thought because it reflects on political concepts which exists for a long period

of times and circumstances.

For example the concept of justice discussed thoroughly from Plato to

Rawls is part of political philosophy covering the theorization of justice as it

travelled through time even before Plato up to Rawls and even up to the

moment.

Without discussing history, political thought is a structure without base, a

body without life.

In the study of politics, we are studying traditions and behavior. Proper to

say, that the study of politics is also a historical study.

History is more than reading the stories of people who died in the past. It is

a narrative of tradition, experience and wisdom stored.

Hence, in the study of political thought and you ignore history including its

times and circumstances, the world will never know and understand Plato.

If we are going to disregard the particular context why such ideas came

into being, which is historical by all means, we will never understand what the

text is all about.

Political thought, as history, is the thought of the whole society in a

particular period to include what a particular philosopher views politics and

political life as a whole.

It has therefore,

(a) The political thought of the whole people reflecting political vision they

have on politics and institutions.

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(b) It is the sum-total of all the ideas, a particular political philosopher of a

particular time. That is why talking about the political thought of Plato,

Aristotle, Adam Smith or Karl Marx wherein each one of them has a

different views about political life and political institutions reflecting by

the way on the political life and institutions of their times. Either they

defended them like how Aristotle defended slavery or condemn them

in the way Marx passionately condemned capitalism.

(c) It is about the political thinking of a particular age: so when we talk

about the political thought of ancient times, or a medieval age, or of

the 16th century or of the 20th century.

2. Distinctions of Political thought, Political Philosophy and Political Theory

It is not uncommon that the term political thought and political philosophy

are being used interchangeably.

The works of the great philosophers depict not only the problems faced in

their respective times but also reflect their examination, inquiry and experience.

Political philosophy may be termed as the political thought of a particular

philosopher of a particular age. It is larger than the political thought of a

particular philosopher for it is the political thought of an age or of a community.

Political thought is closely related with political philosophy for it amplifies

and clearly states some political ideas, puts them in a time frame.

So to speak, political philosophy does include political thought even

though all political thought is not political philosophy.

Political thought is a historical narrative, descriptive to a large extent.

Though political thought is historical in its approach, it is also at the same

time observational, empirical, operational, comparative and scientific.

Indeed political philosophy is larger than political thought although its

area includes the methodological and substantive aspects of political thought,

its thought comprises of a particular political philosopher or of a particular

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period. It also includes the rational synthesis of political speculation, maxims and

norms.

Political philosophy is more of a speculation than of a reality, which is not

the case with political thought or political theory.

Political philosophy is largely imaginative, philosophical and speculative;

political thought is largely descriptive, analytical, explanatory and evaluative.

Political thought and political theory are closely related to each other in

so far as thought has a measure of theory.

In an attempt to change a political phenomenon into abstraction, we

attempt to build a theory. Political theory covers a wide range of practical

political activities and in the process, interprets, examines and relates them with

one another.

Political theory is both pure theory and pure practice of politics.

In his famous work entitled The Marxists by C. Wright Mills, political theory is

regarded as a social reality, an ideology, an ideal and of course as a theory.

With this interpretation, political theory becomes a political thought.

Political thought explains politics and political life as it really exists.

It defends or condemns or justifies or evaluates the political institutions as

they exist at a particular point of time. It articulates political events and

movements.

Political thought explains and political theory speculates.

Political thought is tied to a particular time frame while political theory is

above time, in fact beyond all times.

Political thought by nature, is both historical and transitional while political

theory is one that is future-oriented, developmental and to that extent has a

measure of ideology.

Political thought is both history as well as politics while political theory is

politics, science, history, philosophy all rolled into one.

Political thought provides political theory necessary data on which the

latter contemplates and acts.

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Example to reflect upon: Hobbess political thought is the complete

philosophy of Thomas Hobbes. Political theory is concerned with taking Hobbess

political thought in view on why do people need a state or why must they obey

the law.

3. Relationship between Political Thought, International Studies and

Political Science

Political thought is the assemblage of the philosophies of the numerous

political philosophers where each political philosopher theorizes on political

issues confronting his times.

Each political philosopher crystallizes the political ideas of his times and

the age he lives in.

It is in this sense that the assertion is put forward wherein each of the

political philosophers is a child of his own age.

History is related to political science only casually and to the extent it

helps understand political phenomena. History is a characteristic feature of

political thought; science that of political science.

The nature of political thought is philosophical while that of political

science is empirical. Political thought is a value-laden exercise while political

science is value-free.

Political thought understands the present through the help of the past and

thereafter builds future on the preset while political science deals mainly with

the present and with the future only marginally.

What is International Studies?

International Studies is an interdisciplinary program where students are to

explore global issues in the discipline of History, Political Science, Foreign

Languages, Geography, Economics and the Arts.

The thematic programs of IS includes Globalization, Development,

Modernization, Diplomatic Relations among nations and peoples, Cultures,

International Relations, local, national and global communities, Global Conflicts

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and Peacekeeping, Human Rights, Culture and National Identities, Foreign

Policies and Migration.

International Studies as a multidisciplinary program leads the students in

appreciating the political, economic, social and cultural aspects of the local,

national, regional and global communities, and acquire such competence to

focus on global issues that transcend cultures and continent. With this, it has

some unique methodological inclinations that make such field distinct from the

other courses in social sciences like political science and history.

International Studies, as a separate field, is originally a subfield of political

science. Political science depends on political thought in more than one way.

Political thought places date at the disposal of political science for the

latters scrutiny and for the international studies application.

A political philosophers philosophy is examined by political scientists

through scientific tools which later on are articulated by the International Studies

mostly in comparative analysis of states formation, behavior and foreign

intercourses.

The political ideas of a political philosopher are examined in a way that

he is described as an idealist or a scientist.

Personally, it is I think valid to say that Plato is the father of political

philosophy, Aristotle as the father of political science and Grotius the father of

international law. Political idealism owes its inspiration to Plato, political realism to

Aristotle and international politics to Grotius.

The Meaning of Political Thought

1. Menu of Political Thought: Essential Ingredients

In understanding the meaning of political thought, it is important to know

what it contains in it, what it explains and reflects on and what it is concerned

with.

Its major essential ingredients are the following:

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(a) It is about politics and political life, about political structure and

institutions. All political philosophers reflect on the type of politics they

confront and political life they live in.

(b) It is the political commentary on the times and circumstances of the

political philosophers.

(c) In the course of their reflections on their age, the political philosophers

deal with the theories and concepts, their merits and weaknesses, such

as their views on the state, division of power, legal frameworks , types

of polity and politics, kind of society and environment.

(d) Political thought is not only about politics or political life or political

institutions it is about their ideas and theories. It is not about politics only

it is about its speculation as a concept. It is not only about government

but is also about the government that ought to be. To that extent,

political thought contains normativism which, as we know, has

dominated the greater part of political thought, especially the western

political thought.

(e) Political thought is not only a reflection on political life of a particular

period it is also a reflection on the society in which a particular political

philosopher lives and reflects. When Plato was planning to build an

ideal state, he had in view the ancient Greek society and the problems

it was then confronting. When Marx condemned the bourgeois state

as the committee for managing the common affairs of the whole

bourgeoisie, they were reflecting on the characteristic feature of the

capitalistic society.

(f) Political thought, as expressed through works and treatises, and writing

and reflections, provides a body of knowledge through concepts and

categories which alone help in understanding the subject or the

subject matter. It is the source of knowledge of political concepts and

can be a key to formulate numerous models and categories.

Political thought is Politics in so far as it makes it as its subject matter; it is

History in so far as it represents an age; it is theory in so far as it examines on the

concepts it works on; it is philosophy in so far as it speculates on political terms

and categories; it is an international studies as it provides framework of coming

up with common understanding on the political life and institutions of men in the

community of nations.

2. The Framework of Political Thought

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The essential ingredients of political thought help formulate its framework.

Political thought is about politics or what is relevant to politics. It is an

account given by numerous political philosophers relating to political institutions,

political events and political activities, their evolution and their growth.

The Republic of Plato is about justice in the state and in the individual and

thereby leading to the construction of an ideal state.

Aristotles Politics is about the possible, the desirable and the best

practicable state.

Locke in his Two Treatises of Government stated to have given the chief

end of people uniting into commonwealth and chief end of the state is that

protection of the property of the people and about limiting the powers of a

state.

Marx in his numerous writings sought to foresee a classless and a stateless

society from where would begin the real freedom of man.

Politics implies political activity. It is an activity which helps a citizen

participates in the composition and functioning of the government.

It is an activity which helps the political parties seek power and then rule

the people. It is an activity through which political power is sought, maintained

and retained. It is an activity of manipulation and bargaining, of seeking and

exercising power.

It is therefore rightly said to be an art of possible.

Politics is about power as Harold Lasswell said that politics means who gets

what, when and how.

Politics, as an activity that helps secure political power, exercise it and

retain it, IS THE CENTRAL POINT OF ALL POLITICAL THOUGHT.

Political thought is thought about politics.

When we take politics from its particularity to generality, we enter into the

realms of political thought.

When we take politics from its transitory and day-to-day form into its

sustainable form, we tend to prepare the grounds of political thought.

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Political thought responds, in a general way, to the questions relating to

politics, the state, political activities, states policies and its functions, for various

political philosophers, over the years, have done so.

It seeks to find the permanent or near permanent solutions to the

problems that confront politics.

Political thought discusses not only the state but also its highest forms. It

not only examines the various theories of the origin of the state but also seeks to

develop a consistent theory regarding the origin of the state that appeals to our

reasoning.

The day-to-day issues relating to the nature of the state, forms of

government, functions of the state, nature of political power become the issues

discussed by the political philosophers.

Machiavellis reference of casual questions relating to the rulers security

became the characteristic questions of statecraft.

Marxs attempt to analyze capitalism is a question of politics but in the

process of analysis, if Marx builds a socialist and communist society after

capitalism, it becomes a part of political thought.

Political thought obtains data from politics.

Politics introduces political activities for discussion by the thinkers. Political

thought on the other hand gives a direction to the activities concerning politics.

For example, politics during the Stuart period in England became the basis

on which Hobbes and Locke built their philosophies. Hobbes trying to prefer

authority to freedom while Locke, doing the exact opposite, giving freedom a

predominant place to authority.

Marx while analyzing and studying capitalism and in the process seeking

to obtain more truth, and thereafter keeping in the medieval and early history,

not only tried to know the functioning of the activities of capitalism, but was also

built a new vision of political thought, creating history in what is known as the

materialistic interpretation of history.

Born in a particular political atmosphere, political philosophers study the

atmosphere and in turn, build a new political environment, a new philosophy,

and a new thought.

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Politics assumes political activities while political thought studies them,

seeks to know the objectives of those activities and gives them a shape, a vision

and in the process, builds new concepts.

Politics gives us the account of political activities while political thought

gives us political education.

Politics is knowledge about the political conduct while political thought

that of the theories of political conduct.

Politics identifies the way towards which political thought moves.

Politics paves way for political thought and political thought guides the

future direction of politics.

For example Marxs political theory inspired the Russians to launch the

socialist movements in the underdeveloped world.

The ever-continuing direction of politics makes the basis for political

thought.

If politics provides political thought, political thought provides politics a

vision to look to.

3. What is Political Thought?

It is the sum-total of ideas on matters relating to politics, state and

government as expressed by the thinkers.

It is historical in nature because it is described as history.

It analyzes, examines and evaluates issues that have universal concern

and are of perennial interest even though each political theorist responds to a

particular reality.

It is written, keeping the larger public in mind and is not confined to ivory

towers for an intimate link is established between the political process,

institutions, events and actors.

Usually political theory flourishes in times of crises which act as stimulus

thought it is not necessary that all crises lead to political theorizing.

Political thought is the description, analysis, expression and evaluation of

the philosophies of the philosophers of a political tradition.

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It is a tradition in so far as it comes to us as a body of thought. It is the sum-

total of what stays on, and an accumulation of what is changed and what

continues. It is what keeps responding to our circumstances. What becomes out-

dated is not part of the tradition.

Political thought attempts to identify values and norms and makes them

an inseparable part of a particular political trend.

For example, Western political thought evolves and revolves around

values like liberty and libertarianism, democracy and democratic tradition,

equality and egalitarianism.

Political thought is primarily the study of the state.

It studies society in so far as society influences the state as political life and

social life though independent is interdependent. Similarly, it focuses on

economic institutions and process in so far it influences the political orders and

process. It also takes into consideration ethical questions, for ultimately it is

concerned with a just and good political order.

The characteristic features relating to what political thought can be state

is that:

(a) Political thought is the systematic reflection upon the practices and

institutions of political life. It is the commentary on the existing political

institutions, how people have lived under a political authority, why

have they obeyed it and why have they resisted it.

(b) Political thought is not merely the description of political life and

political institutions it is also the analysis, examination and evaluation of

the issues which concern political life. It is both science and philosophy.

Science in so far it examines critically the concepts and philosophy in

so far as it reflects on those concepts.

(c) Political thought in the course of its discussion of political life and

political institutions, helps identify ideas and concepts and issues of

universal concern. Political philosophers and theorists alike have

debated the nature of state and peoples obligations to obey the laws

and will continue debating in times to come.

(d) Political thought is history as it relates itself to a particular time as it

relates itself to a particular time; as the political philosopher seeks to

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answer the problems that confront his/her times; and as it has the

experience and richness of the time in which it is written.

(e) Political thought is ethics as it upholds the ideals and norms of the

political tradition it belongs to.

(f) Political thought is not merely the assemblage of the political ideas of

a particular theorists, it is also the assemblage of political ideas of a

host of political philosophers. It is also what may be related to a

particular time. That is why we hear about the political thought of the

16th century or of the 20th century. There are for examples references

about political thought related to nations and states: Political thought

in England, the US Political Thought; the political thought of the

Philippines?

4. Why You Are In My Class?

To close the discussion above, we have to be frank about the relevance

of the study of political thought. Here we may highlight them that:

(a) The study of political thought reveals the identification of certain

political issues together with the solutions as discovered by the political

philosophers. These political issues remain largely the same: the nature

of political authority, the problems of political obligation, the ongoing

debates on what should be the rights of the people, and the nature of

corruption in administration. The solutions offered by the political

philosophers act as our guide: we work on those solution, we restate

them and refine them. Their teachings remain suggestive always.

(b) The reflections on the same political issues, time and again, make us

understand these issues from numerous angles and in the process will

help us solve them from varying perspectives. Political thought places

before us the age-old experience so to help utilize it. It helps converse

us with history; a dialogue between different perspectives, between us

on the one hand and the great political philosophers on the other. We

communicate with the political philosophers of the past, and in the

process, enrich ourselves.

(c) Political thought is a key to understand the past. With political

philosophers we go into their times, their situations and in the process,

understand history as it existed then, a political philosopher not only

writes history, his political philosophy, he interprets the history of his

times. In the process, we, as the students of political thought, know not

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only the political philosopher of a particular time but also the times in

which the political philosopher lives.

(d) Political thought contribute to the growth of certain political concepts

and ideas. That is how we build the meaning of the concept of justice

as it comes to us through the writings or numerous political

philosophers. Our concept of liberty has not been the same as it was

during the times of either Hobbes or Locke but whatever it is, it has

grown since the days of Hobbes and Locke.

(e) Political thought adds to our vocabulary and to our literature of

political theory. It gives us new concepts, new meanings and new

interpretation. It keeps adding to our corpus: social justice here and

socialism there, liberalism here and conservatism there.

(f) Political thought is suggestive and therefore, inspiration and activating

and reactivating. We may not agree with Platos communistic

diagnosis as devices to eliminate corruption in politics, but who stops us

on thinking about other possible alternatives? Political thought is an aid

to our thinking.

(g) Political thought by illustrating political institutions and political

structures, helps us choose and build our own. It is through political

thought that we have known numerous forms of government and of

states and have in the process chosen our own type of political system.

Political thought helps us enrich our knowledge, and our experience, train

and broaden our responsibilities, sharpen our discriminating power and acquire

sound judgment.

Political thought is rich and therefore illuminative and educative.