P O L I T I C S

G O V E R N M E N T
 Lesson 1

POLITICS,
GOVERNANCE, AND
OTHER KEY
CONCEPTS
?
POLITICAL SCIENCE

- deals with the study of power in

society, politics, and government.
The dynamic character of human
society and the differences in
contexts of different states have
resulted in different views, theories,
and definitions on the concepts of
politics and governance
• Having a basic knowledge on
political science can be
empowering for every citizen,
especially in a democratic country
like the Philippines. The various
theories in political science, but
we only have to study the
concepts in Philippine context.
 Political Science
- is the academic discipline that deals with
key issues and concepts in politics. Niccolo
Machiavelli is widely accepted as the father
of modern political science because of his
discussion on maintaining power of his
books “The Prince” and “Discourses”.
But even before Michiavelli, both Plato
and Aristotle had already provided
broad discussions on the central
concepts in politics such as the concept
of justice (what and who is morally and
politically right), power (source of
authority), the right types of
constitutions and governments
(different types of governments and
states), the right and virtuous
leadership (who should lead in a
certain political system)
 Political Science has been divided in
different fields of interests:
• Political Theory
deals with the different perspectives and ideas
regarding politics and governance of different
political philosophers from the ancient times like
Aristotle and Niccolò Machiavelli, to the time of
Industrial Revolution through Karl Marx and
contemporary political philosophers like
Hannah Arendht.
 Political Science has been divided in
different fields of interests:
• Political Methodology
more concerned upon the application of
political concepts into research and policy
making almost similar to the applied nature
of public administration (Roskin et al. 2007)
 Political Science has been divided in
different fields of interests:
• Comparative politics
is about comparing various political
systems and different constitutions among
different constitutions among different
countries through time.
 Political Science has been divided in
different fields of interests:
• International relations
bear resemblance to comparative politics; but
instead of comparing, it concentrates on
establishing and maintaining relations among
countries through time. And by relations, those
who are studying this field attempt on
maintaining peaceful and diplomatic relations
among countries (Roskin et al. 2007)
 LAW
• is another central concept in politics and
governance. Law is basically any written
statement that limits or guides the behavior of a
certain group/