Introduction to

Political Theory
Day 2 – Lecture Notes – July 8, 2023

Politics
Politics is the struggle for power.
 Whenever there is a struggle for power, there is politics.
 It is political if there is a struggle for power.
 You cannot speak about politics if you cannot speak about power.

Science
When we try to understand things in an empirical way.
 Science is the pursuit and application of knowledge and understanding of the natural
and social world following a systematic methodology based on evidence.

Political Science
The application of empirical analysis and scientific method to understand the struggle of
power/certain political phenomena.
 When rigorous methodologies, empirical evidence, and systematic analysis are used to
study political phenomena, develop theories, and generate reliable knowledge about
political processes and institutions, politics becomes a science.

Theory
Theories are well-supported explanations or frameworks for explaining and predicting
phenomena based on evidence, observations, and logical reasoning.
 Theories may appear plausible, but they all contain a higher degree of uncertainties
and can be untrue at times.
 Laws (scientific laws) can be applied to all, while theories can only be applied to certain
situations.
 When we are uncertain of things, we apply theories.

Political Theory
Political theory explores the fundamental questions and principles that shape the organization,
power dynamics, and governance of societies.

Justice
Refers to giving someone what is due to them.
 In the struggle of power, there is death, sin, and injustice.
 Justice is defined as the fair and equitable treatment of individuals, as well as the
distribution of resources, rights, and opportunities in a society based on moral, legal, and
social norms.
 Equality means having the same opportunities regardless of circumstances, while justice
means the concept of fairness and lawfulness.

Freedom
In a political sense, freedom is the capacities to exercise our rights without restrictions from
anyone.
 The only restriction to freedom is the rights of others.
 In freedom, just because you can do it, doesn’t mean it’s necessary.