Politics: Who Gets What, and How?In this chapter we will learn aboutWhat is politics?Politics and governmentPolitics and economicsEconomic systemsAdam SmithKarl MarxPowerPoint PresentationAuthoritarian systemsAuthoritarian systems, cont’d.Nonauthoritarian systemsSlide 13Slide 14Theories of democracyThe role of the peopleOrigins of American democracyOrigins of American democracy, cont’d.Slide 19Founders of social contract theoryCitizenship in AmericaCitizenship in America, cont’d.James MadisonCitizenship in America today: Two viewsThemes of Keeping the Republic, 5th editionThemes of Keeping the Republic, cont’d.Slide 27Politics: Who Gets What,and How?Chapter 1In this chapter we will learn about•The meaning of “politics”•The varieties of political systems and the roles they endorse for the individuals who live in them•The historical origins of American democracy•The goals and concerns of the founders as they created the American system•The components of critical thinking and how the themes of power and citizenship will serve as our framework for understanding American politicsWhat is politics?•Politics: who gets what, when, and how; a process of determining how power and resources are distributed in a society without recourse to violence•Power: the ability to get others to do what you want•Politics arranges our lives into some kind of social order•How power is managed must be legitimate or there will be violencePolitics and government•Government: a system or organization for exercising authority over a body of people–Authority: power that people recognize as legitimate•Rules: directives that specify how resources will be distributed or what procedures govern collective activity–The “how” of who gets what, and how•Institutions: organizations in which government power is exercised–The “where” of the political strugglePolitics and economics•Economics: production and distribution of a society’s material resources and services•Both politics and economics focus on distribution of society’s resources•Economics was meant to be private, whereas politics was meant to be publicEconomic systems•Capitalism: market determines production, distribution, and price decisions–Regulated capitalism has government procedural guarantees, whereas laissez-faire capitalism doesn’t•Socialist economy: the state determines production, distribution, and price decisions; property is government owned–Few nations still claim allegiance to socialism•Social democracy is a hybrid of capitalism and socialismAdam SmithA portrait of Adam Smith, one of the foremost developers of capitalist economic theory. Source: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/adam_smithKarl MarxKarl Marx, the principal philosopher of socialist economics.Source: academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/history/virtual/portrait/marx.jpgAuthoritarian systems•The state holds all power •Several types:–Monarchy: government power vested in a king or queen (Saudi Arabia)–Theocracy: government claims to draw its power from divine or religious authority (Iran)Authoritarian systems, cont’d.•Types of authoritarian systems, cont’d.–Fascist government: policy is made for the ultimate glory of the state (Nazi Germany)–Oligarchy: rule by a small group of elites–Totalitarian government: a system in which absolute control is exercised over every aspect of life (North Korea)Nonauthoritarian systems•Anarchy: the absence of government and laws. In such a system, no one has true freedom because your rights can be usurped by anyone physically stronger than you or by anyone with a weapon.•Democracy: government that vests power in the people; based on popular sovereignty–Popular sovereignty: the concept that the citizens are the ultimate source of political powerTheories of democracy•Elite democracy: limits the citizens’ role to choosing among competing leaders•Pluralist democracy: citizen membership in groups is the key to political power•Participatory democracy: citizens should actively and directly control all aspects of their lives and participate in all aspects of lawmakingThe role of the people•Authoritarian systems: individuals are subjects of their state government–Subjects: individuals who are obliged to submit to a government authority against which they have no rights•Democratic systems: people are citizens–Citizens: members of a political community having both rights and responsibilities, which include obeying laws, paying taxes, owning businesses, participating in governmentOrigins of American democracy• Ancient Greek experience: Athenian democracy• Politics in the Middle Ages–The divine right of kings: the principle that earthly rulers receive their authority from God•Enlightenment theories discredited the divine right of kings•Western notions of citizenship as conferring both rights and responsibilities first became popular in the 1700s, as Europeans emerged from the Middle AgesOrigins of American democracy, cont’d.•Social contract theory: the notion that society is based on an agreement between government and the governed in which people agree to give up some rights in exchange for the protection of others•Hobbes: government not due to divine right; instead people agree to be governed for protectionOrigins of American democracy, cont’d.•Locke: people agree to give up some rights in exchange for the protection of other rights by the government•Legitimate government requires that people consent to it and if government breaks contract, people may form a new oneFounders of social contract theorySource: www.trincoll.edu/depts/phil/philo/philosophers.htmlThomas HobbesJohn LockeCitizenship in America•Madison feared “pure democracy” because people may create “factions” –Factions: groups that might pursue only their self-interest•Madison preferred a republic–Republic: a government in which decisions are made through representatives of the peopleCitizenship in America, cont’d.•Madison did not trust average Americans to act beyond their own interests•Madison’s view contrasted with the idea of “republican virtue” (citizens can put interests of community ahead of their own)•American citizenship today illustrates elements of both views of citizenshipJames MadisonA portrait of James Madison, our fourth president, coauthor of The Federalist Papers, and democratic theorist.Source: