INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE
FOOD FOR THOUGHT QUESTIONS + EXAM QUESTIONS
Introduction
- If politics is essentially social, why is not all social activity political?
- How, exactly, is political science different from sociology and
communication studies?
- Can knowledge about the political be ‘objective’? Can political
scientists have political preferences?
Nation states
- Is the state an essentially contested concept? Why (not)?
- Is Belgium a failed state? Why (not)?
- What are key features of states?
- Is Liberland a ‘state’ from a political science point of view? Why
(not)? (LIBERLAND ARTICLE)
- Is Liberland a ‘nation’? why (not)? (LIBERLAND ARTICLE)
- Which of the following is NOT a feature of the state
o People
o Territory
o Sovereignty
o Democracy
- Which of the following best describes what Weber discussed as “the
legitimate use of power”?
o Being recognized, by other states, as a legitimate government
institution with power of its citizens
o When the people of a state accept that the state exerts power
over them
o When the state exerts power according to the legal framework
of that state
- Which of these two approaches to the development of states, see
the state as a fair referee of conflicts?
o Conflict approach
o Pluralist approach
- Rokkan distinguished four phases in the development of states. In
which two phases do elites take a leading role?
o State formation
o Nation building
o Mass democracies
o Welfare states
Democracy
- Which of these two approaches (direct vs. representative) do you
prefer?
- Would you call the country where you come from a ‘democracy’?
Why (not)? According to which definition?
- Citizens’ assemblies are increasingly popular. Do they work? (See
week 4, slide 51)
1
, - Procedural definitions of democracy focus on the…
o When
o How
o Who
o What
- Which of the following best describes an illiberal democracy?
o A state with free and fair elections that does not have a liberal
party in government
o A state without free and fair elections, with civil rights
protections
o A state with free and fair elections, without civil rights
protections
- Hungary under Viktor Orban holds elections but limits press freedom
and judicial independence. According to Dahl’s framework, Hungary
would best be classified as…
o A liberal democracy
o An illiberal democracy
o A direct democracy
o A procedural democracy
- Referenda are examples of…
o Technocracy
o Direct democracy
o Representative democracy
o Illiberal democracy
Political ideology
- Does this quote by David Seymour of the New Zeeland liberal party
ACT support a classical or modern liberal view?
o “My family was in the electrical contracting business. It is a
tough business. My background gives me a healthy respect for
what individuals and business can do to make a difference in
their own lives and the lives of others. There is a role for
Government, but it should be to protect people’s rights and
not assume their responsibilities. I believe that real
compassion means putting your hand in your own pocket
rather than someone else’s. Governments should be there to
help in the hardest of times, but they should not breed
dependence or try to impose some people’s ‘vision’ on others.
On social issues, people should be able to live (and die) as
they please so long as they are not harming anyone else.”
- Does this quote by Margaret Thatcher support a conservative or
liberal view?
o “I think we've been through a period where too many people
have been given to understand that if they have a problem,
it's the government's job to cope with it. 'I have a problem; I'll
get a grant.' 'I'm homeless, the government must house me.'
They're casting their problem on society. But, you know, there
is no such thing as society. There are individual men and
2
FOOD FOR THOUGHT QUESTIONS + EXAM QUESTIONS
Introduction
- If politics is essentially social, why is not all social activity political?
- How, exactly, is political science different from sociology and
communication studies?
- Can knowledge about the political be ‘objective’? Can political
scientists have political preferences?
Nation states
- Is the state an essentially contested concept? Why (not)?
- Is Belgium a failed state? Why (not)?
- What are key features of states?
- Is Liberland a ‘state’ from a political science point of view? Why
(not)? (LIBERLAND ARTICLE)
- Is Liberland a ‘nation’? why (not)? (LIBERLAND ARTICLE)
- Which of the following is NOT a feature of the state
o People
o Territory
o Sovereignty
o Democracy
- Which of the following best describes what Weber discussed as “the
legitimate use of power”?
o Being recognized, by other states, as a legitimate government
institution with power of its citizens
o When the people of a state accept that the state exerts power
over them
o When the state exerts power according to the legal framework
of that state
- Which of these two approaches to the development of states, see
the state as a fair referee of conflicts?
o Conflict approach
o Pluralist approach
- Rokkan distinguished four phases in the development of states. In
which two phases do elites take a leading role?
o State formation
o Nation building
o Mass democracies
o Welfare states
Democracy
- Which of these two approaches (direct vs. representative) do you
prefer?
- Would you call the country where you come from a ‘democracy’?
Why (not)? According to which definition?
- Citizens’ assemblies are increasingly popular. Do they work? (See
week 4, slide 51)
1
, - Procedural definitions of democracy focus on the…
o When
o How
o Who
o What
- Which of the following best describes an illiberal democracy?
o A state with free and fair elections that does not have a liberal
party in government
o A state without free and fair elections, with civil rights
protections
o A state with free and fair elections, without civil rights
protections
- Hungary under Viktor Orban holds elections but limits press freedom
and judicial independence. According to Dahl’s framework, Hungary
would best be classified as…
o A liberal democracy
o An illiberal democracy
o A direct democracy
o A procedural democracy
- Referenda are examples of…
o Technocracy
o Direct democracy
o Representative democracy
o Illiberal democracy
Political ideology
- Does this quote by David Seymour of the New Zeeland liberal party
ACT support a classical or modern liberal view?
o “My family was in the electrical contracting business. It is a
tough business. My background gives me a healthy respect for
what individuals and business can do to make a difference in
their own lives and the lives of others. There is a role for
Government, but it should be to protect people’s rights and
not assume their responsibilities. I believe that real
compassion means putting your hand in your own pocket
rather than someone else’s. Governments should be there to
help in the hardest of times, but they should not breed
dependence or try to impose some people’s ‘vision’ on others.
On social issues, people should be able to live (and die) as
they please so long as they are not harming anyone else.”
- Does this quote by Margaret Thatcher support a conservative or
liberal view?
o “I think we've been through a period where too many people
have been given to understand that if they have a problem,
it's the government's job to cope with it. 'I have a problem; I'll
get a grant.' 'I'm homeless, the government must house me.'
They're casting their problem on society. But, you know, there
is no such thing as society. There are individual men and
2
