Philippine Politics and Governance Quarter 1 –
Politics, Governance, and other Key Concepts
Let Us Learn
This material was designed and written with you in mind. It is here to help you master the topic
about Politics, Governance, and other Key Concepts. The scope of this module permits it to be
used in many different learning situations. The language used recognizes the diverse vocabulary
level of students. The lessons are arranged to follow the standard sequence of the course. But the
order in which you read them can be changed to correspond with the textbook you are now
using.
The learners: (based on MELCs)
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. explain the concept, relationship, and importance of politics, governance, and government.
After going through this module, you are expected to:
1. define politics, governance and other key concepts of Political Science;
2. explain the relevance of politics and Political Science; and
3. enumerate the relationship or similarities of politicians and political scientists; and
4. illustrate how a government should be governed by politicians. This module focuses on the
topic Politics, Governance, and other Key Concepts, which will be your task for the whole week.
Let Us Study
Introduction Politics is as old as ancient Greek civilization. Thus, it can be traced in the
philosophical ideas of Plato’s Republic and Aristotle’s Politics. Yet, it is Aristotle who clearly
defines the term Politics as “the best method of investigation is to study things in the process of
development from the beginning” (Klosko, 2012, p. 8).
Aristotle also called “man (woman) as a political being” (Levin, 1979, p.529). If and only if,
he/she prioritizes the divine order (divine perfection) as the model of the polis or the city-state.
However, it is not always be the case that political players would like to consider the divine
perfection as the best example of a perfect society.
Politics is everywhere and everybody’s concern. It “happens in the workplace, in families,
and even in the classroom. It is the ongoing competition between people, usually in groups, to
shape policy in their favor. To do so, he/she may seek to guide policy indirectly by shaping the
beliefs and values of members of their society” (Roskin, et.al. 2017, p. 3).
Definition of Key Concepts
A. Politics
As the definition of the term ‘politics’ encompasses the politics of government, it can also
encompass the political dynamics in other contexts. While this text will largely focus on politics of
governments, it is important to understand that politics is more fundamental than governments
but occurs wherever human competitions play out (Roskin, et.al. 2017, p. 3).
B. Political Power
Politics is about power, specifically the power to shape others’ behavior. Power in politics is
getting people to do something they wouldn’t otherwise do—and sometimes having them think
it was their idea. Aristotle called politics “the master science.” He meant that almost everything
happens in a political context, that the decisions of the polis (the Greek citystate and root of our
words polite, police, and politics) governed most other things. (Roskin, et.al. 2017, p.9
Power in politics is getting people to do something they
wouldn’t otherwise do—and sometimes having them think
it was their idea. Some people dislike the concept of
political power. It smacks of coercion, inequality, and
occasionally brutality. Some speakers denounce “power
politics,” suggesting governance without power, a happy
band of brothers and sisters regulating themselves through
love and sharing. Communities formed on such a basis do
not last; or, if they do last, it is only by transforming
themselves into conventional structures of leaders and
followers, buttressed by obedience patterns that look suspiciously like power. Political power
seems to be built into the human condition.
C. Government
The term ‘government’ came from classical Greek thought.
Generally, it is used to “describe both the body that has
authority in a given unit— whether national, regional or
local—and the whole constitutional system. There are
many different forms of government, such as democracy,
autocracy and dictatorship. The first systematic study and
classification of the methods of government was probably
that undertaken by Aristotle, and since that time political
scientists have been involved in distinguishing the different
features of government and politics.
D. Political Science and like the subject matter that being studied. According to Harold D. Lasswell in his book
As an academic discipline, Political science is a entitled: Politics: Who Gets What, When, How, ‘the study of politics is the study of influence and
very old endeavor. Aristotle “considers it as the the influential. The science of politics states conditions; the philosophy of politics justifies
‘queen of sciences.’ It is one of a number of preference” (Merelman, 1981, p. 471).
titles for the academic study of politics and
political behaviour. Generally, it is the study of
the nature, distribution, and dynamics of
power, usually at the national or international
level, but sometimes at a very ‘micro’ level.
The techniques of the discipline range from
highly mathematical and statistical analyses of
objective data (most commonly found in
political sociology), via rather journalistic descriptive accounts of political institutions, or almost
ethnographical accounts of foreign political cultures, to logical and conceptual analysis of political
morality” (Robertson, 2002, p. 388- 389).

Relevance and Relationship or Comparison of Politics and Political Science

A. Relevance of Politics and Political Science
Roskin, et.al (2017) identifies some importance of political science. First, it is a method of how to
study Politics. Though, it is not similar to politics. Second, it is not necessarily training to become
a practicing politician. Yet, it is to educate the learner in a calm and objective analysis of politics,
which may or may not aid working politicians (p.8). Third, as Aristotle defines political science as
‘the master science,’ it means almost everything happens in a political context, that the decisions
of the polis (the Greek city-state and root of our words polite, police, and politics) governed most
other things. Fourth, political scientists may opt to become like natural scientists; they quantify
data and manipulate them statistically to validate hypotheses. Their works have to be scholarly,
which should be reasoned, balanced, supported with evidence, and a bit theoretical. Fifth,
Political science can contribute to good government, often by warning those in office that all is
not well (pp. 9-13).

B. Relationship or Comparison of Politicians and Political Scientists (according to Roskin (2017),

et.al)

Some people may consider politics as dirty and distasteful. Either it is the cause of corruption and
immorality or development and morality, political scientists have to endure the political scenario