POLITICS, GOVERNANCE AND

OTHER KEY CONCEPTS

HUMSS 2 (PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE)
 POLITICS POLITICAL SCIENCE
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 POLITICS VS. POLITICAL SCIENCE
Politics:
• Focuses its study on the actual actions or decisions of the state.
• Politics is concerned with issues, problems and activities of the state
while political science is concerned on how the state originated, its
nature and its functions.
Political Science:
• An academic discipline deals with the theoretical study of the
state and government.
• A political scientist observes how to state makes decision, and
how the state’s decision affects people. In the modern
perspectives, political science studies politics. The state and
government are the key factors in the study of political science
and politics. Thus, political science cannot be differentiated from
politics.
 WHAT IS POLITICS?
POLITICS is derived from the Greek word polis which
means “city-state”, a small independent self- contained
political society. Considered as “the heart of political science”
which means it is the activity of people where they create,
preserve and amend laws under which they live.
POLITICS AS THE ART OF GOVERNMENT
Politics is what defines the activities of the government and of
the state. All government officials and all those working in
government are participating in politics.
 POLITICS AS PUBLIC AFFAIR

Politics is played by everybody, politicians or not. In politics,

Aristotle said that “man by nature is a political animal;” this means
that it is only within a political community that human beings can live
the good life. Thus, politics becomes necessary to create a just
society.
POLITICS AS COMPROMISE AND CONSENSUS

Politics is meant to resolve conflict. In politics, compromise,

conciliation and negotiation become necessary. It is through these
means that issues and problems are being resolved. Thus, politics
becomes the process of conflict resolution.
 POLITICS AS POWER

Politics happens in all human interactions: within the family,

among friends, among officemates, etc. Politics can, therefore, be
seen as struggle over scarce resources, and power can be seen as
the means through which struggle is conducted.
 5 REASONS TO STUDY POLITICS

1. Politics will help you to know your rights.

2. Politics clarifies what you yourself believes.
3. Politics is a living, breathing subject.
4. Politics helps you to understand our nation’s parties.
5. Politics prepares you for adult life.
 HOW POLITICS CAN BE STUDIED?
1. Normative vs. Positive Approach
Focuses in answering the questions:
• (What is?) Positive approach
Example: “the department of education documented more than 1,700 cases
of child abuse and bullying in school year 2013-2014.”
• (What should be?) Normative approach
Example: “bullying and other forms of violence in schools should be viewed
not just a school problem but a societal problem as well.”
2. Behavioral Approach
• Focuses on the study of the individual (voter, leader, party leader,
etc.) Particularly the actors of the political system, their emotions,
biases and predispositions.
• Behaviorists, therefore, study the political process by looking at how
it relates or influences the individual’s behavior, motivations,
personalities or feelings of human actors (orji, 2009).
3. Rational Choice Approach
• Focuses on the study of human behavior, wherein individuals are
motivated by their wants, their self-interest or goals which will
explain their preferences.
• Furthermore, according to this approach, humans act to maximize
their outcome, that is, to get the most benefit and profit from their
actions.
 WHAT IS GOVERNANCE?
• It is the action of the government and called as “the process of decision-
making and the process by which decisions are implemented.” (Sheng,
UNESCAP). It’s the government’s ability to make and enforce rule and
to deliver services, regardless of whether the government is democratic
or not.”
• Moreover, world bank (2007) defines governance as “the manner in
which public officials and institutions acquire and exercise the authority
to shape public policy and provide public goods and services.” Decisions
should not be influenced by interest of the few, values and preference.
CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE

1. Participation – active involvement of all affected and interested parties

in the decision- making process.
2. Rule of law - legal frameworks should be fair and enforced impartially.
3. Transparency - free flow of information.
4. Responsiveness - serve all stakeholders.
5. Consensus oriented - mediates differing interests.
6. Equity and inclusiveness - all its members have opportunities
to improve or maintain their well-being.
7. Effectiveness and efficiency - produce results that meet needs
while making the best use of resources.
8. Accountability - accountable to the public.