What is Politics?What is Politics?

You have until the end of You have until the end of Coldplay’s Politix to write your Coldplay’s Politix to write your own definition. own definition.

DefinitionsDefinitions

The Science and the Art of The Science and the Art of Government - OEDGovernment - OED

Who gets what, when and how Who gets what, when and how

– – H. LasswellH. Lasswell The authoritative allocation of The authoritative allocation of

values values

– – David EastonDavid Easton The art of the possible – R.A. ButlerThe art of the possible – R.A. Butler

Can you escape ?Can you escape ?

Politics is completely inescapablePolitics is completely inescapable

It’s all about obeying laws, laid down It’s all about obeying laws, laid down by Governments !!by Governments !!

So then politics is purely an exercise So then politics is purely an exercise in restricting individual in restricting individual freedoms ??freedoms ??

Well maybe……Well maybe……

Political power grows out of a Political power grows out of a barrel of a gun – Chairman Maobarrel of a gun – Chairman Mao

War is nothing, but a continuation War is nothing, but a continuation of politics – Von Clausewitzof politics – Von Clausewitz

Every state is founded on force – Every state is founded on force – TrotskyTrotsky

NonsenseNonsense …….…….

Politics may indeed arise out of a Politics may indeed arise out of a disagreement or conflict….disagreement or conflict….

But……..But……..

A political solution is often seen as A political solution is often seen as an alternative to violencean alternative to violence

Politics is all about power !!Politics is all about power !!

Scope of politicsScope of politics

Liberals – Exclusion of politics from Personal Liberals – Exclusion of politics from Personal life….freedom to do what you wantlife….freedom to do what you want

Free market economists – Keep politics out of Free market economists – Keep politics out of the economythe economy

Socialists – State controls the EconomySocialists – State controls the Economy Fascists – Totalitarian control over every Fascists – Totalitarian control over every

aspect of peoples lives.aspect of peoples lives. Feminists – Gender relations, at home, at Feminists – Gender relations, at home, at

work and in the bedroomwork and in the bedroom Green Politics – Politicised the environmentGreen Politics – Politicised the environment

But who controls But who controls Politics?Politics?

If politics is power then who has If politics is power then who has power?power?

David Cameron?David Cameron?

The Queen?The Queen?

David Beckham?David Beckham?

Mr Clauson?Mr Clauson?

Me?Me?

Power = Legitimacy = AuthorityPower = Legitimacy = Authority

Those who have power Those who have power

a)a) Have Legitimacy – The public Have Legitimacy – The public accepts them as the true holder accepts them as the true holder of their position. of their position.

b)b) Have Authority – The rightful Have Authority – The rightful and legitimate use of power and legitimate use of power

Types of AuthorityTypes of Authority

Why do we obey these people?Why do we obey these people?

Traditional Authority – A long established custom, a Traditional Authority – A long established custom, a hereditary monarchhereditary monarch

Charismatic authority – compelling personal qualities i.e. Charismatic authority – compelling personal qualities i.e. Adolf Hitler or slightly more positively Nelson MandelaAdolf Hitler or slightly more positively Nelson Mandela

Legal-Rational Authority – Based on formal rules, elected Legal-Rational Authority – Based on formal rules, elected politicians legitimately hold their offices. politicians legitimately hold their offices.

So what do we aim to So what do we aim to achieve this year?achieve this year?

To look at formal institutions i.e. To look at formal institutions i.e. Parliament and how it worksParliament and how it works

To examine where policies came from, To examine where policies came from, who is involved in the process?who is involved in the process?

To see where all the ideas go to and To see where all the ideas go to and how this shapes the world we live in.how this shapes the world we live in.

Enjoy it……..Enjoy it……..