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Poli Sci Exam 1
Exam 1
28
Political Studies
12th Grade
09/29/2013

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Cards

Term
PLATO
Definition
Noble Lie (government must sometimes lie to us for our own interests).
Myth of Metals (different metals in our veins pertain to what we are supposed to be; people are predetermined to be in a particular class).
Allegory of the cave (large cave that represents society)
World of the Forms (Perfect world up ahead that can only be tapped into by high-powered/non-elected people...argument against democracy)

Ideal govt: Monarchy (philosopher-king)=peace, Polity is also ok. Does not like democracy.
Term
ARISTOTLE
Definition
Political Participation, Regime as Partnership, Alternating Rule, Natural Law

Ideal government: Polity, all rulers must be citizens (restricted to men of means, white male property-owning). Monarchy is best that can be hoped for.
Term
THOMAS HOBBES
Definition
All-powerful sovereign, tyranny, avoid state of nature, natural law (redefines from Aristotelian sense), no noble lies, social contract, EVERYONES A BITCH, man's natural state was war

ANYTHING to keep the people from killing each other (even the most extreme measures). Living in state of nature is worse.

Ideal govt; all-powerful sovereign (aka tyranny). Government must secure peace
Term
JOHN LOCKE
Definition
Indirect democracy, property rights, minimal state, majority consent
Human nature is good

Inconveniences of state of nature

Ideal govt; Aristocracy (consent of the governed), rulers are there to secure the peace. Minimalist government (Lockean).

Like Plato (World of Forms), used myth of God's wishes of order, society and government.

Masses lack intelligence and competence; don't trust them.
Term
JEAN JACQUES ROUSSEAU
Definition
Rousseau: philosopher from enlightenment. State of nature: peaceful and abundant but sectioning of property rights leads to division, greediness, inequality, deprivation, violence.
Believes that people are naturally good but have been corrupted by institutions.

Ideal govt: Direct democracy (based on the general will of the people), common good, but not necessarily majority vote.

Be patient, at some point in time things will get sorted out.

Private property owners created governments to protect their interests, thus the social contract actually favors the wealthy few (man was born free and he is everywhere in chains).

Purpose of government ought to be to restore "true" freedom and equality... new social contract if needed.
Term
KARL MARX
Definition
Historical materialism/production relations, class struggle, proletariat (workers, have nots), Bourgeois (owners, haves), socialism

~~Ideal form of social order is communism (no govt, state, country, alienation or class division). Based on common ownership of the means of production.

Dictatorship of the proletariat is the intermediate political system between capitalism and communism.
Term
RAWLS
Definition
Original position, Veil of Ignorance (when entering society, you want justice and fairness)

-Ideal govt: representative democracy based on justice and fairness.
Political equality=each person has equal opportunity to participate in government

4X principle: If the highest pay is $100, the lowest should be $25. Economic and social inequality are justified only when a rising economic/social tide lifts all boats upward.
Term
Social Contract Theory
Definition
Because we are all equal under God, and have the god-given right to do so, we must give our consent to be governed.
Term
What is political science? Why study it?
Definition
Political science is the study of government and politics, which includes an analysis of institutions (Congress), behavior (voting), and policies (Medicare). Using normative and objective methods, political scientists study power, or who gets what, when, and how from the political state.
Term
Five subfields of political science
Definition
American politics (AP), Comparative politics (CP), International Relations (IR), Public Theory (PT), Public Administration (PA).
Term
Define ideology
Definition
A collection of ideas, a comprehensive view of how things are and ought to be. It carries both normative and objective aspects. It is a set of values by the dominant class of society that inspires people to think about government and politics. Every society has a dominant ideology that forms the basis of public opinion. Dominant ideology claims to be neutral, but actually proclaims other ideas to be silly.
Term
Define political ideology
Definition
The coherent set of values and beliefs about the purpose and scope of government held by groups and individuals. One's political ideology is greatly influenced by their political culture, which is defined as the commonly shared attitudes. Political ideology is split into normative and objective methods.

Largely concerns itself with how to allocate political power and to what ends it should be used. Is a set of political values often promulgated by the dominant class of society.
Term
Normative methods
Definition
A set of ideas that explains how government and politics should work in society (ought statements, goals).

"A philosopher-king ought to rule society because he is well-trained in the art of statecraft."
Term
Objective Methods
Definition
A cultural blueprint (or set of rules) for obtaining the order that the political ideologies want us to consider (methods). These are "is" statements.

Increasing the speed limit from 55 mph to 65 mph reduced statewide fatality rates by 3.4%.
Term
Liberalism
Definition
It emphasizes the individual. Greater government intervention in the economy and provision of social services. Takes activist role in the rights of women, environment, elders, minorities.
Term
Conservatism
Definition
Government is best that governs least. Big government infringes on individual, personal and economic rights.

A) Economic/Fiscal: limited government intervention in economic affairs
B) Social/Religious: Government should support and further traditional moral teachings.
Term
Libertarianism (classical liberalism)
Definition
Emphasizes the individual. Not anarchists, but government is best that governs nearly not at all. Free market economy with no government interference in personal liberties.
Term
Socialism
Definition
An economic/political term. Created by Marx. Emphasizes collectivity and religion.
-Favors economic cooperation over economic competition.
-Feudal/Capitalist Societies benefit the elite not the common good, state economic planning, state ownership of the means of production, associated with rise of organized labor.
Term
Statism
Definition
One who believes in extensive government control of personal and economic liberties.
Term
Communism
Definition
A political/economic term. Emphasizes collectivity and class struggle, emphasizes religion.
-Favors a future classless stateless social organization, based upon common ownership of the means of production and the absence of private property. People are free from oppression and scarcity, interests of all are given equality.
Term
Anarchism
Definition
Emphasizing the individual.
-Any political view opposed to all manifestations of rule or domination.
-Favors voluntary/freely established social relations.
-Advocates elimination of the state.
True on the exam: Range of views about means of change in society: violent? peaceful protest?
True on the exam: No agreement about the type of government system.
Term
Marxism
Definition
-Bourgeois freedom is anti-social and alienating.
-proletariat and bourgeois
-Supports socialism and communism.
-Capitalism is antisocialist
Term
Feminism
Definition
-concern for women and their rights
-eradicating gender inequality while promoting women's rights in political, economic, social etc.
-Issues: abortion, equal pay, domestic violence, sexual harassment etc.
Term
Environmentalism
Definition
seeks to influence government/politics/public policy trough lobbying, education and activism to protect Earth's natural resources.

Ex: pollution, climate change, waste reduction, etc

-Anyone can be an environmentalist.
Term
What do political idealists do?
Definition
1) Explanation 2) Evaluation 3) Orientation/identity
4) Political program/public policy choices
Term
Political realism (Hobbes)
Definition
-raw power is (objective) and/or ought (normative) to be the primary end of government in domestic and international affairs.
-Might makes right (bully wins). Survival is key where there is no world government (UN is not world govt).
Term
Public (rational) choice theory
Definition
From Econ- from the study of taxation and public spending in the late 1940s.
Begin with the analysis that people are selfish until they prove you otherwise.
-Roots in positive analysis (what is)
-politics without romance.

-No such thing as the common good (or public interest). This is a myth designed to manipulate the masses.

-Voters are ignorant and that is rational because they don't really count (not like buying a car cause you have control there).
Term
Food Fo thought
Definition
-Where's the post office? (people help others without self-interest in mind UNLESS THEY'RE ASSHOLES.
-Tragedy of the commons (sheep herding and global warming)
-Prisoner's Dilemma (whether or not to rat out friend for your own self-interest.
-"to study political science is to study life." -Prof Fields
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