Introduction to Politics

Crime in its Political and Historical Context

CRI4033
Emma Kelly
What IS Politics?!
(What is it
SUPPOSED to
be?!)
 Examples
Father seeks to influence soccer manager to give his
son a place on the team

Chancellor ignores claims for increased salaries

Oil prices continue to rise as war spreads in Middle

East

Thousands demonstrate in favour of climate change

measures

???
“Politics is a process that seeks to manage or resolve
conflicts of interest between people, usually in a
peaceful fashion. In its general sense it can describe
the interactions of any group of individuals, but in its
specific sense, it refers to the many and complex
relationships that exist between state institutions and
the rest of society” (Jones and Norton, 2014)
 Key Concepts
“A concept is more than a proper noun or the name of a
thing. There is a difference between talking about a chair,
a particular and unique chair, and holding the concept of a
‘chair’, the idea of a chair. The concept of a chair is an
abstract notion, composed of the various features which
give a chair its distinctive character- in this case, for
instance, the capacity to be sat upon” (Heywood, 1994)
 Democracy in Britain
In 1215, the tenants-in-chief secured Magna Carta
from King John, which established that the king may
not levy or collect any taxes (except the feudal taxes
to which they were hitherto accustomed), save with
the consent of his royal council, which gradually
developed into a parliament.

What IS democracy?
 Key Traits of Democracy
Participation

Party Membership

Knowledge

Funding

Lying in Politics

Media

Too much democracy – a bad thing?

 Next Week
Professor Emertius Steve Hall will be visiting to lecture
on:

What is Politics in Britain? Examination of the concept of

‘liberal democracy’ and how the British political system has
a long period of stability. Discussion of the nature of the
British constitution and the implications of this.

Prep:

Chapters 13 and 14 of Jones, B. and Norton, P. (2014)

Politics UK