Module 1 and 3

unit 1: The basics of political science and Philippine politics
Some individuals would usually link politics to corrupt politicians and an ineffective government. But politics
is more than just about these problems of government officials and their inefficiency. Politics also involves
relationships in everyday life-in the family, in school, in the streets, and even in the most personal relations. In a
typical Filipino family, for instance, power determines who gets what, when, and how (Lasswell 1936).
Likewise, the question of who decides for the family is by itself a function of politics. This unit thus intends to
address these misconceptions.
Module 1: The Concepts of Politics and Governance

“ Man is by Nature a Political Animal”
- Aristotle (father of Political Science)
The inclination and interest of people toward anything political is based on the fact that individuals are
inherently social. Unlike other species, humans rely on social interactions to survive. Politics is a by-product of
human interactions in society.
Heywood (2013) defined politics as an activity that involves the interaction of people, whose relationship is
characterized by conflict and cooperation, and who come together to solve such disagreements through binding
solutions.
The study of politics involves two levels of human interactions within a community. Politics is experienced
through personal relationships with the family, friends, and school. It is also evident when the government
administers social policies to achieve social order among individual interactions.
The study of politics concerns the life of every individual in the community. The individual is affected by
policies and rules created and implemented by the government. He or she exercises power in forming
relationships with the government and other people, and also in making decisions in life. The value of politics is
embedded in the way the individual conducts his or her daily life.
Study the following pictures. How do you think is politics manifested, characterized, or symbolized in each of
these illustrations? Share your thoughts with the class.
What Is a Government?
Political science is a social science discipline that explains the state and the government. The state is a political
community that involves four important elements, namely, people, territory, sovereignty, and government.
The government is an instrument of the state through which the will of the people is expressed, carried out, and
formulated. Thus, the government serves as the bridge that connects the people to the state. The terms state and
government are commonly used interchangeably, but in strict political science terms, they definitely have two
different meanings.
At present, the concepts of government and governance are often used with confusion to a certain extent. As an
institution, it is the government which concretizes the policies and addresses the problems of the state. On the
other hand, good governance arises when the government involves the people in its agenda and in the process of
policy making. The extent, therefore, to which democratic participation is encouraged determines whether or not
governance exists. Governance may also mean how well the government performs its functions (e.g., delivery of
basic services).
Governance is an innovative and ideal product of reforming modern states. It requires the interaction among
the government, civic organizations, and citizens in managing the public arena. The government should not be
left alone in assuring the achievement of human welfare.
The Study of Politics

There are several ways by which politics can be studied. Political science is an exciting discipline because it
embraces an array of theoretical and methodological perspectives and a variety of analytic frameworks. In his
book, Heywood (2013) summed up these major schools of thought in political science.
The philosophical tradition, otherwise known as political philosophy, is regarded as the traditional approach to
politics. The Greek philosophers, Plato and Aristotle, are usually associated with this tradition as they asked
what "should" or "ought" instead of what “is.” This tradition underscored the analytical study of doctrines that
have become the major focus of political thought.
Politics can also be studied through empirical tradition. Political scientists who advocate this approach believed
that any account of political reality must be impartial and should be tested through observations of reality. Those
who work in this tradition therefore seek to analyze and explain, and not to offer recommendations, as in the
philosophical tradition. Mainstream political analysis has also been dominated by the scientific tradition. This
tradition promotes objective and quantifiable ways of studying politics. The scientific tradition was further
pushed with the rise of behavioralism, or the belief that social theories should arise from observation and
quantifiable data.
MODULE
Module 3
What is Power?
Definition
of power
in its broadest sense, power is one's ability to achieve a desired outcome. However, in political terms, power is
the ability to influence another the way one thinks or behaves in a manner not of his or her own choosing
(Lasswell 1936). It thus involves one's capacity to get things done, and to make someone do something he or she
would not otherwise do.
Political power involves three interrelated concepts:
Legitimacy
Authority
Sovereignty
According to Roskin et al. (2012), legitimacy refers to the people's perception that their government rules
rightfully and thus must be obeyed.
Sovereignty, on the other hand, speaks of the ability of a national government to be the sole leader, which has
the lastword of law in that society.
Last, authority is seen as the political leader's ability to command respect and exercise power.
Power comes in different faces or dimensions. It can be considered as decision-making, agenda setting, or
thought control

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unit 1: The basics of political science and Philippine politics

Module 1: The Concepts of Politics and Governance

- Aristotle (father of Political Science)

The Study of Politics

Political power involves three interrelated concepts:

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