Basic Concepts

of Political
Science
(Power, Authority, Legitimacy,
Nation & Nationalities)
 Table of Context
1) Basic Concept of Pol-Science.
2) Power & its Sources.
3) Characteristics of Law.
4) Law & Ethics.
5) Kinds of Law & their Scope.
6) Sources of Law.
7) Constitution.
8) Kinds of Constitution
 (1) Basic Concepts of
Pol-Science
 Political science focuses on the theory and practice
of government and politics at the local, state,
national, and international levels.
 The expression “political concepts” refers to a set of
concepts essential to any serious reflection on
political life. This set includes authority, democracy,
equality, freedom, justice, power and further concepts
that represent fundamental political values and
 (2) What is Power ?

 "Power is defined as a possibility to

influence others." The use of power
has evolved from centuries.
 Gaining prestige, honor and
reputation is one of the central
motives for gaining power in human
nature.
Power as a measure of influence or
control over outcomes, events,
actors and issues; Power as victory
in conflict and the attainment of
security; Power as control over
resources and capabilities; Power
as status, which some states or
actors possess and others do not.
Power is the ability to get things
done, sometimes over the resistance
of others.
 Leaders have a number of sources
of power, including legitimate power,
referent power, expert power, reward
power, coercive power, and
informational power.
 (3) What is Authority?
 In the fields of sociology and political
science, authority is the legitimate power of a
person or group over other people.
 In a civil state, authority is practiced in ways
such a judicial branch or an executive branch
of government.
 In the exercise of governance, the terms
authority and power are inaccurate
 (4) Power vs. Authority
 Power is a ability to command &  Authority is institutional right
influence behavior to others. to command.
 it rests with person in their
individual capacities.  It lies in managerial position.
 It doesn’t follow any hierarchy.  It doesn’t follow any hierarchy.
 Power being personalized attribute  Its is hierarchal in natural.
cannot be delegated.  It can be delegated.
 Emerges because of personal  Institution & originates from
factors. structural relationship.
 May exists between any two  Superior-subordinate
persons. relationship.
 (5) What is Legitimacy ?
 Rightfulness to act, to do, to rule.
 A legitimate government can only demand
obedience from its citizens.
 Max Weber’s three ideal types of authority:
- Traditional Authority
- Charismatic Authority.
- Legal-rational Authority.
 (6) Sources of Legitimacy
 Traditional: inheriting the throne.

 Religion: commitment to religious institutions

(Iran).

 Elections: open free and fair elections.

 Ideological: wisdom from a party (China).

(7) Differences
 (8) Definition of Nation

Nation comes from the Latin world

“natio” means set of people

A nation is a community of a person

living together bounded by common
traits, tradition, values, & processes a
common goal and destiny
(9) State vs. Nation
 (10) What is
Nationalities ?
Everyone has a gender, race, sexual
orientation & a nationality.
 A person's nationality is where they are a legal
citizen, usually in the country where they were born.
People of the same nationality usually share
traditions and customs, and they might look a little
alike, too.
 Nationality is one of many qualities that bring
people together.
 Any
Question???
The End
Thanks