POLS 120 Lecture 1: Introduction to Politics

• School: Emory University
• Department: Political Science
• Course: POLS 120
• Professor: Holli Semetko

Document Summary

Importantly, these are rules which, once made, are binding on everyone, including those who disagree with them. I(cid:374) other (cid:449)ords, e(cid:448)er(cid:455)thi(cid:374)g is pote(cid:374)tiall(cid:455) politi(cid:272)al (cid:894)dr. e(cid:373)etko"s hu(cid:373)(cid:271)le opi(cid:374)io(cid:374)(cid:895). Be(cid:272)ause the(cid:455) (cid:272)o(cid:374)trol territor(cid:455), states ge(cid:374)erate (cid:894)(cid:862)e(cid:454)tra(cid:272)t(cid:863)(cid:895) re(cid:448)e(cid:374)ues through ta(cid:454)atio(cid:374) (cid:894)of people, commerce, transport, etc. ) and spend them on various policies and programs that benefit the population (ex. roads, schools, poli(cid:272)i(cid:374)g, (cid:373)ilitar(cid:455) defe(cid:374)se (cid:895). Most people are (cid:271)oth (cid:862)pa(cid:455)ers(cid:863) a(cid:374)d (cid:862)(cid:271)e(cid:374)efi(cid:272)iaries. (cid:863) but so(cid:373)e (cid:271)e(cid:374)efit (cid:373)ore tha(cid:374) others. I(cid:374) other (cid:449)ords, politi(cid:272)s is a (cid:373)e(cid:272)ha(cid:374)is(cid:373) for redistri(cid:271)utio(cid:374) or, i(cid:374) harold lass(cid:449)ell"s fa(cid:373)ous phrase, for de(cid:272)idi(cid:374)g (cid:862)(cid:449)ho gets (cid:449)hat, (cid:449)he(cid:374) ho(cid:449). (cid:863: values. Al(cid:373)o(cid:374)d, politi(cid:272)s is, i(cid:374) part, a(cid:271)out the (cid:862)authoritati(cid:448)e allo(cid:272)atio(cid:374) of (cid:448)alues(cid:863) (cid:894)i. e. disputes about what ought to be valued): status and power. Hence, in the words of vladimir lenin, politics is about deciding (cid:862)(cid:449)ho (cid:272)a(cid:374) do (cid:449)hat to (cid:449)ho(cid:373). (cid:863: processes.