POSC 1000U Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Energistics, Nationstates, Authoritarianism
1 Feb 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
The study of political science started as the study of the affairs of the state- the study of government. As both (a) and (b) deal with power the study of political science have developed into the study of power. Political science = the study of the exercise of social power. Therefore, politics (not the study of) can be defined as activity in which conflicting interests struggle for power (advantage/domination) Generally, power is defined in political science as the ability to influence the behaviour of others: force, persuasion. 2: coercion, manipulation, authority legitimate power = socially approved power. People have to work (sell their labour to power) to survive. The wages people earn determine the quality of their life. All societies have organized some way to govern. There are different types of governing (decision making) systems: different types of political/social organizations. Historically the most common systems are bands, tribes and chiefdoms. Band = small community connected by blood ties.
