25-26
Introduction to Political
Science
WEEKS 2-12
,Table of Contents
Introduction to Political Science (Week 2) .................................................................................................................... 4
Course Logistics and Evaluation ..................................................................................................................... 4
Defining Politics .............................................................................................................................................. 4
Studying Politics .............................................................................................................................................. 8
Tools of Political Analysis ............................................................................................................................... 9
Politics in a Global Age ................................................................................................................................. 10
Introduction to Political Science (Week 3): Nation States ........................................................................................... 11
What is A State? ............................................................................................................................................. 11
Why Do We Have States? .............................................................................................................................. 13
Where do they Originate? How do They Develop?....................................................................................... 13
The State in a Globalized World .................................................................................................................... 15
Case Study: Liberland.................................................................................................................................... 16
Introduction to Political Science (Week 4): Democracy .............................................................................................. 17
Defining Democracy ...................................................................................................................................... 17
Forms of Democracy ..................................................................................................................................... 18
Requisites of Democracy ............................................................................................................................... 20
The Global Spread of Democracy ................................................................................................................. 21
Signs of Crisis ................................................................................................................................................ 22
Introduction to Political Science (Week 5): Political Ideologies ................................................................................. 23
The Nature of Ideology .................................................................................................................................. 23
Liberalism ...................................................................................................................................................... 24
1
, Conservatism ................................................................................................................................................. 25
Christian Democracy ..................................................................................................................................... 26
Socialism / Social Democracy ....................................................................................................................... 26
Other Schools of Thought .............................................................................................................................. 27
Introduction to Political Science (Week 6): Political Behavior, Pressure Groups and Social Movements ................. 29
Political Behavior .......................................................................................................................................... 29
Pressure Groups and Social Movements ....................................................................................................... 30
Operations and Power .................................................................................................................................... 31
Systems of Pressure Groups .......................................................................................................................... 33
Influence on Democracy ................................................................................................................................ 34
Political Culture ............................................................................................................................................. 34
Introduction to Political Science (week 7): Public Policy and the Bureaucracy.......................................................... 36
The Public Bureaucracy (Implementation) .................................................................................................... 36
Public Policy Making .................................................................................................................................... 38
Introduction to Political Science (Week 9): Political Parties and Party Government .................................................. 40
Defining Political Parties ............................................................................................................................... 40
Party Organization and Development ............................................................................................................ 40
Party Families ................................................................................................................................................ 42
Party Systems................................................................................................................................................. 42
Coalition Governments .................................................................................................................................. 43
Parties and Democracy .................................................................................................................................. 44
Introduction to Political Science (week 10): Voters and Elections .............................................................................. 45
2
, Democratic Elections ..................................................................................................................................... 45
Voter Turnout ................................................................................................................................................. 45
Electoral Systems........................................................................................................................................... 46
Consequences of Electoral Systems .............................................................................................................. 47
Voting Behavior ............................................................................................................................................. 47
Introduction to Political Science (Week 11): Legislatures and Executives.................................................................. 49
The Separation of Powers .............................................................................................................................. 49
Legislatures .................................................................................................................................................... 50
Executives ...................................................................................................................................................... 51
Systems of Government ................................................................................................................................. 52
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................... 53
3
Introduction to Political
Science
WEEKS 2-12
,Table of Contents
Introduction to Political Science (Week 2) .................................................................................................................... 4
Course Logistics and Evaluation ..................................................................................................................... 4
Defining Politics .............................................................................................................................................. 4
Studying Politics .............................................................................................................................................. 8
Tools of Political Analysis ............................................................................................................................... 9
Politics in a Global Age ................................................................................................................................. 10
Introduction to Political Science (Week 3): Nation States ........................................................................................... 11
What is A State? ............................................................................................................................................. 11
Why Do We Have States? .............................................................................................................................. 13
Where do they Originate? How do They Develop?....................................................................................... 13
The State in a Globalized World .................................................................................................................... 15
Case Study: Liberland.................................................................................................................................... 16
Introduction to Political Science (Week 4): Democracy .............................................................................................. 17
Defining Democracy ...................................................................................................................................... 17
Forms of Democracy ..................................................................................................................................... 18
Requisites of Democracy ............................................................................................................................... 20
The Global Spread of Democracy ................................................................................................................. 21
Signs of Crisis ................................................................................................................................................ 22
Introduction to Political Science (Week 5): Political Ideologies ................................................................................. 23
The Nature of Ideology .................................................................................................................................. 23
Liberalism ...................................................................................................................................................... 24
1
, Conservatism ................................................................................................................................................. 25
Christian Democracy ..................................................................................................................................... 26
Socialism / Social Democracy ....................................................................................................................... 26
Other Schools of Thought .............................................................................................................................. 27
Introduction to Political Science (Week 6): Political Behavior, Pressure Groups and Social Movements ................. 29
Political Behavior .......................................................................................................................................... 29
Pressure Groups and Social Movements ....................................................................................................... 30
Operations and Power .................................................................................................................................... 31
Systems of Pressure Groups .......................................................................................................................... 33
Influence on Democracy ................................................................................................................................ 34
Political Culture ............................................................................................................................................. 34
Introduction to Political Science (week 7): Public Policy and the Bureaucracy.......................................................... 36
The Public Bureaucracy (Implementation) .................................................................................................... 36
Public Policy Making .................................................................................................................................... 38
Introduction to Political Science (Week 9): Political Parties and Party Government .................................................. 40
Defining Political Parties ............................................................................................................................... 40
Party Organization and Development ............................................................................................................ 40
Party Families ................................................................................................................................................ 42
Party Systems................................................................................................................................................. 42
Coalition Governments .................................................................................................................................. 43
Parties and Democracy .................................................................................................................................. 44
Introduction to Political Science (week 10): Voters and Elections .............................................................................. 45
2
, Democratic Elections ..................................................................................................................................... 45
Voter Turnout ................................................................................................................................................. 45
Electoral Systems........................................................................................................................................... 46
Consequences of Electoral Systems .............................................................................................................. 47
Voting Behavior ............................................................................................................................................. 47
Introduction to Political Science (Week 11): Legislatures and Executives.................................................................. 49
The Separation of Powers .............................................................................................................................. 49
Legislatures .................................................................................................................................................... 50
Executives ...................................................................................................................................................... 51
Systems of Government ................................................................................................................................. 52
Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................... 53
3
