PO102 Lecture 7: Week 1 T - Jan 3
Understanding Politics
Politics: activity related to influencing, making, or implementing collective decisions for a
political community (textbook definition)
● Political communities can be small or large (class/country)
● In a community where everyone is equal, there will be some disagreement (on what
decision will be and how it should be implemented)
● Biggest decisions are often about money (what do we spend money on, how do we
decide, who gets to make decision, how do we make the decision, if by vote should
everyone’s vote be equal?)
In Politics…
● There are limited resources (money, benefits) but there are many demands
● We need a process to decide who should receive support
● We need to resolve any conflicts that could arise
It’s Not Just About Resources Though…
● Other issues come up in political system - class examples
● Difference in values (euthanasia, abortion)
● Electoral reform
● Social issues (aboriginal relations/gender politics)
● Quebec religious neutrality
So, Politics…
● Is also about resolving disagreements and conflicts over values and world views
Recap, We Know
● That political conflict originates over scarce resources and/or differing values
● It involves struggle among different groups in society who want different things
● It involves conflict! (rarely violent)
● Politics involves resolving these conflicts
What is the Mechanism for:
● Resolving conflicts
● And getting things done?
● Government
Government
● Local, provincial, federal
● The activity of individuals and institutions that
○ Make and enforce collective decisions
● Conflict manager
● Problem: at the global level, there is no government
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Politics: activity related to influencing, making, or implementing collective decisions for a political community (textbook definition) Political communities can be small or large (class/country) In a community where everyone is equal, there will be some disagreement (on what decision will be and how it should be implemented) Biggest decisions are often about money (what do we spend money on, how do we decide, who gets to make decision, how do we make the decision, if by vote should everyone"s vote be equal?) There are limited resources (money, benefits) but there are many demands. We need a process to decide who should receive support. We need to resolve any conflicts that could arise. Other issues come up in political system - class examples. Is also about resolving disagreements and conflicts over values and world views. That political conflict originates over scarce resources and/or differing values. It involves struggle among different groups in society who want different things.
