Philippine Politics and

Governance

1 1
 PCSS Defining
Characteristic:
Distinguished by a
culture of excellence
LESSON 1: The Concepts and Views of
Politics and its Connection to
Political Science

What I Need To Know

At the end of the lesson, you are expected to:
a. Explain the concept, relationship and importance of politics, governance and government
Activity 1: Semantic Web Map

Directions: List down some significant words which you think best
describes the term Politics

Processing Questions:
1. How do you find the activity?

2. Why do you have an inherent inclination toward politics?

Can something good ever come out of politics? This is a question that often comes up
when people discuss politics. Politics has acquired a very negative connotation such
that for some, it has become synonymous to political activity done to further one’s own
personal interests, and not to help other people.

If politics is indeed a bane to society, why has it remained as important today as it was
more than a century has passed?

Here are the things for you to learn about the meaning and concept of politics including
the various views of politics and its connection to Political Science.
What is Politics?

“Man is by nature a political

animal.”– Aristotle (Father of Political Science)

“Politics,” in Greek philosopher Aristotle’s world, was politikê, the short form of politikê
episteme, or political science. This pertained to a practical science concerned with the
noble action or happiness of the citizens. The adjective “political” also traces its
roots to the Greeks. It comes from politikos, which means “of, or pertaining to, the
polis” or city-state (Miller, 2012).

One of the most widely used definitions of politics is that of American political
scientist David Easton, who identified the political system with the “authoritative
allocation of values for a society” (Easton, 1965). Easton described politics as
human activity concerned with the authoritative decision-making and action by the
government which results in an authoritative allocation of values for society. By
“value”, Easton meant anything that is useful or important in life and is therefore
sought after – any object, activity, idea, principle, goal, or other phenomenon which
many individuals and groups within the political community consider to have
measurable importance. As such, anything of political
value is considered useful,
desirable, good, attractive, beneficial, advantageous and rewarding.

Another widely used definition of politics came from American political

scientist Harold Lasswell (1958), who defined it as “who gets what, when, and how.”
Politics, he wrote, is concerned with how official government decision-making and
action identifies (1) who in political society receives how much of what benefits,
rewards, and advantages, (2) when they receive such, and (3) the methods by which
they receive such. Viewed negatively, politics pertains to how official governmental
decision-making and action ascertains (1) who will be denied which benefits,
rewards, and advantages, (2) the period of deprivations, and (3)
the manner by
which such deprivations are to be implemented (Way, 2014). 6

Politics (from Greek: Polis definition "affairs of the cities") is the process of
making decisions that apply to members of a group. This refers to achieving and
exercising positions of governance — organized control over a human community,
particularly a state. It is the study or practice of the distribution of power and
resources within a given community (this is usually a hierarchically organized
population) as well as the interrelationship(s) between communities.

Politics concerns the state. It focuses on the personnel and machinery of the
government. It is the conduct and management of public interest and therefore,
political affairs. It attempts to resolve conflict through discussion, compromise,
bargaining, and consensus, wherein people arrive at a binding decision. It involves
the exercise of authority in the production, distribution, and use of resources.

What Politics Involves

Politics includes the decision-making and decision-enforcing processes in any
group that makes and enforces rules for its members. It is the process by which
policy-makers choose which actions they will and will not take (Ranney, 1999).
These actions often lead to disagreements. What is good for A may not be good for
B and what is good for B may not be good for A. The task of political scientists is to
consider how people resolve these disagreements.

In its broader sense, politics involves the public issues which give rise to
conflict (Harris, 1997). There is conflict because people strive to achieve opposing
goals and needs. As achieving these goals and needs involve competition for scarce
resources, not all goals and needs could be achieved at the same time. Conflict thus
becomes inevitable.

Politics is viewed differently by people, depending on a number of factors,

including economic status, educational attainment, and social milieu. A
neighborhood barber may see politics as a never – ending struggle between
politicians who support subsidies to power utilities to lessen the barber’s electric bill
and politicians who favor less government spending on subsidies to reduce the
country’s budget deficit, unmindful of its effects on the barber’s daily budget. A taxi
driver, on the other hand, may view politics as a fight between politicians who
advocate fuel price controls which would lessen the driver’s expenses for fuel and
politicians who argue that there should be no regulation in fuel prices even as this
may decrease the driver’s take – home pay. The wealthy may look at politics
indifferently, while the educated elite may treat it with disdain. For the masses,
however, politics translates to food on the table, or the lack of it: politics has such an
impact on their day-to-day existence.
In summary, politics involves:
1. an official allocation of things, activities, ideas, and other phenomena which
society gives importance to;
2. a determination by government of who should get what benefits, when,
and how; and
3. an analysis of public issues giving rise to conflict which requires resolution.
Politics can be studied through political science, a major social science
dealing with political and governmental structures and processes.

What Political Science Is

As a social science, political science centers on the systematic study of
political and governmental institutions. In this field of knowledge, the principles,
processes, and structures of political and governmental institutions are given
importance.

For example, in a political science class, students learn the functions of the
three branches of the Philippine government. They also conduct research on how to
improve the country’s electoral processes.

Moreover, political science students are made to analyze the nature of power,
types of political leadership and systems of government, examples of constitutions
(for instance, the 1987 Philippine Constitution), and public policy and its impact to
society.

Early on, political science for the Greek philosopher Aristotle involves the
study of the work or function of a politician or statesman. The politician’s most
important task is that of a lawgiver. In this capacity, the politician plans the
appropriate constitution for the city-state, undertakes measures to keep it in place,
institutes necessary reforms, and avoids situations that might erode the political
system (Miller, 2012). By “constitution”, Aristotle meant the essential structure of an
organization; in this sense, of the polis. The structure defines the organization’s parts,
the functions of each, and their relationship to each other. Each type of constitution
embodies ideas of those who rule and for whose benefit they rule.

Later, the scope of political science was confined to law. In the 16 th century,
French philosopher Jean Bodin coined the term Science Politique that gave the
discipline a name, but limited its application to law because he was a lawyer. French
philosopher Montesquieu for his part, expanded the concept to mean all the
functions of government are carried out through legislation, execution, and
adjudication. Another French philosopher, Paul Janet, defined political science as a
social science which deals with the foundations of the state and the principles of
government. He focused on two political bodies, the state and government,
considered as the primordial foundations of political institutions (Costales, et al.,
2010).

How to Study Politics

In as much as there is no universal definition of politics (or political science),
how do we go about studying it?

There are various ways by which one can study politics. One involves the
study of what is believed to be universal in politics, such as power, justice and force.
Another involves the study of the institutions and processes of politics (Harris, 1997).

In the Philippine setting, politics can be studied through the exercise of power
by local political leaders, and the effectiveness of government institutions and official
action. It can also be studied through the prism of everyday life. Politics is deeply
ingrained in Filipino culture, and it is manifested everywhere: from appointments to
executive and judicial positions, crafting of economic policies, lawmaking, processing
of applications for government permits and licenses, to treatment of high-profile
prisoners. This is not to say that politics is evil: on the contrary, it can be used for the
greater good of the greater number. Otherwise stated, politics can be used as a tool
to advance pubic welfare and
Activity 2: Four pics, One word!

Analyze the photos and identify the word that connects to the pictures. Write
your answer in the blank provided.
Activity 3: PolitiKonek!

Explain the connection or relationship of politics and political science. Why do

you think it is necessary for students who aspire to be lawyers to take Political
Science? Discuss your answers in 5 sentences.
_____________________________________________________________________
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David Easton defines politics as “human activity concerned with the

authoritative decision-making and action by the government
that results in an authoritative allocation of values for society.” By contrast, Harold
Lasswell states that politics is concerned with “who gets what, when, and how.”

Although viewed differently by people, politics generally involves the public issues that
give rise to conflict.

Political Science is a social science concerned chiefly with the description and analysis
of political and governmental institutions and processes. Studying politics may involve
the study of concepts that are universal in politics, such as power, justice and force; or
the study of institutions and processes of politics.
LESSON 2: THE VALUE OF POLITICS
AND THE DIFFERENCE OF
GOVERNMENT FROM GOVERNANCE

Let us continue your journey in learning more on politics, government and

governance. I am sure you are ready and excited to answer the Pretest. Smile and
cheer up!

Direction: The following statements enable you to reflect on or figure out your level
of understanding about Politics. You are required to agree or disagree on each of the
following statements. Please put a check mark (✓) if you agree and a cross mark (✗)
if you disagree.

Repeat the same process after completing the module. Can you see any
changes or differences in your answers? What new knowledge have you acquired
about Politics?
Activity 2: Photo Analysis

Direction: Analyze the photo and answer the questions below.

Guide Questions:

1. Identify and analyze the symbols used and relate it to politics,

government and governance.
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__________________________________________________________________________.
2. How does the photo explain the value of politics?
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The Concept of Governance

A concept integral to the study of politics is governance. It can be broadly
defined as the action of sovereign authority; specifically, the exercise of authoritative
direction or control, over a particular political unit or organization (Webster). In this
sense, governance involves the application and proper implementation of policies as
well as the continuous monitoring of the organizations’ state, which is typically done
through or by the organization’s governing body composed of government officials.
These government officials perform the task of governance.

Governance also deals with the way power is exercised in managing the country’s
economic and social resources. Central in the study of governance is how the
administrative, economic, and political authority of the government is used to promote
development and manage the country’s economic, political, and social affairs.

In other words, governance involves (1) how governments are selected, monitored, and
replaced; (2) the capacity of the government to effectively formulate and implement
sound policies; and (3) the respect of citizens and the state for the institutions that
govern economic and social interactions among them (World Bank Group, 2014).
Ideally, citizens and various groups, such as the civil society and private
sector, should also be given a voice in governance. Governments should have
mechanisms that allow people and groups to express their interests, settle their
differences, and exercise their legal rights, among others.

Measuring Good Governance

Intertwined with the concept of governance is the dictum “public office is a

public trust.” To the layman, adherence to this dictum is tantamount to practicing
good governance. Government officials are expected to be accountable to the
people, implement the laws faithfully, and serve their constituents selflessly. To
organizations and governments, however, good governance will be a more relevant
concept if it could be measured empirically. Seeking to come up with an operational
definition, advocates of good governance in different countries have identified
important elements of good governance. To them, good governance is the exercise
of authority that encourages citizen participation, ensures transparency, requires
accountability, advances efficiency, and supports the rule of law, among others.

Beyond identifying its elements, some organizations have formulated formal

measures of good governance. The WBG, through its Worldwide Governance
Indicators (WGI) project, formulated six aggregate indicators of good governance, 16
with two indicators corresponding to each of the three areas of governance. The
WGI component measures are at best “a tool for broad cross-country comparisons
and for evaluating broad trends over time” and are intended to be used to
complement more detailed measures at the country level (World Bank Group, 2014).
On the local level, our National Statistical Coordination Board’s Good
Governance Index (GGI) covers three areas, each measured by an index which
serves as a component index of the overall GGI: Political Governance, measured by
the Political Governance Index, Economic Governance, measured by the Economic
Governance Index, and Administrative Governance, measured by the Administrative
Governance Index. The index was developed as part of efforts to “come up with
objective, comprehensive, and comparable measures of good governance to guide
policy makers and stakeholders in the country in assessing local and national
performance” which could lead to policies which are more in
touch with reality (De Costo, et al., 2011). The GGI is an example of a country-level
index which the WBG believes the WGI could ideally complement.
The WGI and GGI, together with other indices, serve as barometers through which
governments assess their performance in the field of governance, and as guide
in making pertinent policy adjustments. Using data from various indices, for
example, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) in 2011
asserted that efforts to address governance issues “have at best created ‘islands of
good governance’ in some sectors, some national agencies, and local government
units. But these have failed to translate into improvements in the country’s overall
state of governance, nor have any significant social impact” (NEDA, 2011). This was
one of the premises on which part of the Philippine Development Plan 2011-2016
was predicated.

The plan adopted the overarching theme “Good Governance and Anti-
corruption” and identified good governance as a key factor in the broad strategy of
equalizing “ access to development opportunities across different income and social
spectra” (Id.). As such, “transparent and responsive governance”
was listed as one of the plan’s five key strategies. 18

To sum up, governance:

1. involves the exercise of power in the management
of the country’s economic
and social resources;
2. entails observance of certain rules and norms in the formulation and
implementation of administrative, political, and economic policies; and
3. can be measured objectively using various indices formulated by local and
international organizations.

POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE: SOME IMPORTANT LINKS

American political science professor Michael Johnston (n.d.) observes that

good governance embodies “partnerships between state and society, and among
citizens.” Such partnerships, he writes, are ‘sustained not by good intentions alone
but by lasting, converging incentives and strong institutions.” Among the incentives
he mentions are for leaders to have “the opportunity to take credit” and for citizens to
have “a credible chance for …a better life.” To this we could add the opportunity for
leaders or elected government officials to live up to their election promises. Consider
a city mayor deciding to act on complaints regarding the red tape-hampered and
corruption-tainted process of securing a business permit. The significant change
resulting from the mayor’s act of setting up a one-stop shop will provide incentives
not only to him, but also to his constituents. Surely, a one-stop city business
licensing office will result in more efficient and transparent service – a manifestation
of the government performing its role to ensure the greater good. This project will
become a bright spot on the mayor’s track record and improve his reputation as a
leader. At the same time, it will spare his constituents the burden of going through a
complicated process. This, aside from giving them some sense of satisfaction at
having made the right decision at the voting booth.

Politics and governance are shaped by institutions of a country. “Institutions,” according

to Johnston (n.d.), are significant practices needed to ‘sustain and restrain
orderly competition” in the field of politics. American economic historian Douglas
North (as quoted in Tiihonen, 2004) talks of institutions as ‘the rules of the game” or
more formally, as “the human devised constraints that shape human interaction.”
The “formal rules (political constitutions, economic laws and regulations, and
contracts) and informal constraints (conventions, norms of behavior and self-
imposed codes of conduct and of their enforcement characteristics)’ that make up
institutions structure incentives that come about from political, social, and economic
exchange.

A more encompassing definition of institutions, or institutional arrangements,

would also take into account established organizations and informal norms.
According to the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the
Pacific (UN-ESCAP) (1990), institutions are “formal government organizational
structures as well as informal norms” that provide government “with the framework
within which to formulate and implement policies.” The intricate relationship between
processes and norms on one hand, and the different branches, offices, agencies,
and instrumentalities of government on the other, become apparent. These offices
implement both formal processes and informal norms. 19

In the above context, we can identify democratic elections, separation of powers, and
presidential succession – and the offices which oversee or supervise
them: the Commission on Elections (COMELEC), the judiciary, and the executive
branch, respectively – as among the important institutions in Philippine politics and
governance.

Politics, in the sense that it involves ventilating and resolving public issues
that could give rise to conflict, is often seen as being inconsistent with good
governance. This is because, among others, politics could lead to inefficient use of
time and other government resources. Johnston, however, emphasizes that “politics
is a part of governance.” While he recognizes that open political debate may cause
problems, he also cautions against shunning public sector involvement and viewing
governance as a mechanical task which needs citizen participation only as a
formality. Citizens, according to him, must be given the
chance to participate in crafting policies that lead to credible governance.

That politics is intricately related to governance can be seen in the indicators

of good governance identified by the WBG. The first area, which involves
government selection, monitoring, and replacement, is clearly political in nature.
Elections serve as an avenue for people to directly take part in choosing their
government. Politicians reveal their platforms and make promises
during election time, and their ability to implement them serves as a barometer by which
their performance is measured.
Every transaction with a government office could in fact become an
opportunity to assess the kind of governance the people are subjected to. A watchful
and critical citizenry is expected to take government officials to task for failing to
perform their roles satisfactorily. Elective officials may be subjected to recall or
dumped by voters at the next elections. Appointive officials may be disciplined
administratively and dismissed or suspended from the service
in accordance with law.

By recognizing the essential link between politics and governance,

government officials and citizens could have a clear idea of the kind of political
activity essential for good governance. With strong institutions to temper the pursuit
of political self-interest, government could more effectively contribute to efforts to
advance the general welfare of the citizenry.

Activity 3: The World with Politics

Instructions: You are going to show how politics is valued in each group or
organization. Write your answers in not less than 2 to 3 sentences.

a. Family

b. Classroom/School

c. Peers (barkadahan)

d. barangay

e. Workplace

Processing Question: How does politics affect you as a member of society

and the world?
Activity 4: Reflecting and Relating

Directions: Complete the sentence below and write your answers on the
space provided.
The big idea of politics is _________________________________________
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_____________________________________________________________.

The most important feature of the link between government and governance
is ____________________________________________________________
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