Philippine Politics and Governance - Any account of political reality must be
impartial and should thus be tested
I. Approach to Politics through observation.
- Seek to analyze and explain, and not to
Political Science offer recommendations, as in
- is a social science discipline that deals with philosophical tradition.
systems of government and the analysis of
political activity and political behavior. Scientific Tradition
- Promotes objective and quantifiable ways
Dimensions of studying politics.
1. Political Behavior: why individuals and - Led to the rise of behavioralism.
groups behave the way they do. o Behavioralism – the belief that
2. Political Institutions: the formal and social theories should arise from
informal rules that tell political actors what observation and quantifiable data.
they can / cannot do.
3. Political Outcomes: such as why countries Post-Positivism
distribute more wealth than others. - Approach that emphasizes how people
conceive or construct the political world.
EXPLANATIONS IN POLITICAL
SCIENCE II. Political Ideas and Ideologies
Theoretical Explanation Ideas
- set of assumptions about how political - Formulated thought or opinion.
actors behave and how political - Governs political behavior.
institutions influence and shape this - Constitutes a part of the raw material
behavior, from which a set of propositions needed to create a coherent doctrine.
is derived, which can then be tested against
empirical observations. Political Ideology
- A coherent set of ideas that direct or
Rational Choice Approach organize a specific political action.
- Emphasizes the importance of political Other definitions:
actors and how they behave. - A political belief system.
- Political actors: such as voters, politicians, - An action-oriented set of political ideas.
parties, or interest groups behave - Ideas of the ruling class.
‘rationally’ - The world-view of a particular social class
or social group.
Institutional Approach - Political ideas that embody or articulate
- Derives from a variety of assumptions and social interests.
propositions about the role of institutions. - An all-embracing political doctrine that
- Emphasizes the importance of societal and claims a monopoly of truth.
political institutions in determining - An abstract and highly systematic set of
political behaviors and political outcomes. political ideas.
Philosophical Tradition THE SPECTRUM OF POLITICAL
- Traditional approach to politics. ATTITUDE
- Analytical study of doctrines that have
become major focus of political thought.
Empirical Tradition
, - Status quo – the existing state of affairs. education and those who have little
capacity to act on their interest.
MAJOR POLITICAL IDEAS AND KEY
TENET Socialism
- Belief in the community, highlights the
Tenet – A principle, belief, or doctrine generally degree to which the individual is
held to be true. connected with others. Identity therefore
is a product of social interaction more than
Liberalism innate qualities.
- Belief in individualism underscores the - Socialist put the primacy on social equality
importance of the human individual over other values.
compared to the other group. - Common ownership is also central to
- Liberty of the individual must be socialist thought. Unlike private property,
protected. An individual has the freedom common ownership means to harness
when he or she is able to act as she or he material resources for the common good.
pleases.
- Reason can lead individuals to make wise Marxism
judgments which could solve issues or - Historical materialism or the materialist
differences. conception of history provides that
- Equality implies that individuals are born economy (mode of production) conditions
equal, at least in moral terms. all other aspects of social life – including
- Tolerance is the willingness of individuals law, government, politics, and education.
to allow others to think and behave in ways - The dialectic, a process of interaction
they do not approve. between competing forces, drives change
- Authority and social relationships must and leads to a higher stage of development.
also be based on agreement or consent. Historical change is therefore a
consequence of contradictions in the
Conservatism mode of production, as reflected in class
- Tradition must be conserved. These conflict.
traditions include established customs, - The exploitation of the proletariat
institutions and ways doing things that (workers) by the capitalists (owners of the
endured through time. means of productions) would develop
- The belief in pragmatism highlights the class consciousness among the former,
limits of human reason. As a belief, hence ushering a proletarian revolution
pragmatism emphasizes that actions and which will facilitate the creation of a
goals should be shaped by practical communist society.
circumstances and goals. ** Communist society – classless, stateless (will
- Human imperfection presents the arise when antagonisms fade.)
pessimistic view of conservatives on the
individual. Accordingly, individuals are Social Democracy
morally corrupt and are therefore the - Social democrats stand for the balance
sources of crime and disorder. Order could between the market and the state, and
thus be achieved through a strong state. between the individual and the
- Conservatives believe that society is an community.
organic whole and is a living entity, more - Concerned with the weak, vulnerable, and
than being an artifact of human ingenuity. the underdog.
- Social position and status are only natural. - Values include compassion. Common
Hierarchy is inevitable. humanity. Freedom, equal opportunities,
- Authority must be exercised from above. paternal duty, and care.
Leadership is provided to guide and
support those who lack knowledge and Reductionism
impartial and should thus be tested
I. Approach to Politics through observation.
- Seek to analyze and explain, and not to
Political Science offer recommendations, as in
- is a social science discipline that deals with philosophical tradition.
systems of government and the analysis of
political activity and political behavior. Scientific Tradition
- Promotes objective and quantifiable ways
Dimensions of studying politics.
1. Political Behavior: why individuals and - Led to the rise of behavioralism.
groups behave the way they do. o Behavioralism – the belief that
2. Political Institutions: the formal and social theories should arise from
informal rules that tell political actors what observation and quantifiable data.
they can / cannot do.
3. Political Outcomes: such as why countries Post-Positivism
distribute more wealth than others. - Approach that emphasizes how people
conceive or construct the political world.
EXPLANATIONS IN POLITICAL
SCIENCE II. Political Ideas and Ideologies
Theoretical Explanation Ideas
- set of assumptions about how political - Formulated thought or opinion.
actors behave and how political - Governs political behavior.
institutions influence and shape this - Constitutes a part of the raw material
behavior, from which a set of propositions needed to create a coherent doctrine.
is derived, which can then be tested against
empirical observations. Political Ideology
- A coherent set of ideas that direct or
Rational Choice Approach organize a specific political action.
- Emphasizes the importance of political Other definitions:
actors and how they behave. - A political belief system.
- Political actors: such as voters, politicians, - An action-oriented set of political ideas.
parties, or interest groups behave - Ideas of the ruling class.
‘rationally’ - The world-view of a particular social class
or social group.
Institutional Approach - Political ideas that embody or articulate
- Derives from a variety of assumptions and social interests.
propositions about the role of institutions. - An all-embracing political doctrine that
- Emphasizes the importance of societal and claims a monopoly of truth.
political institutions in determining - An abstract and highly systematic set of
political behaviors and political outcomes. political ideas.
Philosophical Tradition THE SPECTRUM OF POLITICAL
- Traditional approach to politics. ATTITUDE
- Analytical study of doctrines that have
become major focus of political thought.
Empirical Tradition
, - Status quo – the existing state of affairs. education and those who have little
capacity to act on their interest.
MAJOR POLITICAL IDEAS AND KEY
TENET Socialism
- Belief in the community, highlights the
Tenet – A principle, belief, or doctrine generally degree to which the individual is
held to be true. connected with others. Identity therefore
is a product of social interaction more than
Liberalism innate qualities.
- Belief in individualism underscores the - Socialist put the primacy on social equality
importance of the human individual over other values.
compared to the other group. - Common ownership is also central to
- Liberty of the individual must be socialist thought. Unlike private property,
protected. An individual has the freedom common ownership means to harness
when he or she is able to act as she or he material resources for the common good.
pleases.
- Reason can lead individuals to make wise Marxism
judgments which could solve issues or - Historical materialism or the materialist
differences. conception of history provides that
- Equality implies that individuals are born economy (mode of production) conditions
equal, at least in moral terms. all other aspects of social life – including
- Tolerance is the willingness of individuals law, government, politics, and education.
to allow others to think and behave in ways - The dialectic, a process of interaction
they do not approve. between competing forces, drives change
- Authority and social relationships must and leads to a higher stage of development.
also be based on agreement or consent. Historical change is therefore a
consequence of contradictions in the
Conservatism mode of production, as reflected in class
- Tradition must be conserved. These conflict.
traditions include established customs, - The exploitation of the proletariat
institutions and ways doing things that (workers) by the capitalists (owners of the
endured through time. means of productions) would develop
- The belief in pragmatism highlights the class consciousness among the former,
limits of human reason. As a belief, hence ushering a proletarian revolution
pragmatism emphasizes that actions and which will facilitate the creation of a
goals should be shaped by practical communist society.
circumstances and goals. ** Communist society – classless, stateless (will
- Human imperfection presents the arise when antagonisms fade.)
pessimistic view of conservatives on the
individual. Accordingly, individuals are Social Democracy
morally corrupt and are therefore the - Social democrats stand for the balance
sources of crime and disorder. Order could between the market and the state, and
thus be achieved through a strong state. between the individual and the
- Conservatives believe that society is an community.
organic whole and is a living entity, more - Concerned with the weak, vulnerable, and
than being an artifact of human ingenuity. the underdog.
- Social position and status are only natural. - Values include compassion. Common
Hierarchy is inevitable. humanity. Freedom, equal opportunities,
- Authority must be exercised from above. paternal duty, and care.
Leadership is provided to guide and
support those who lack knowledge and Reductionism
