INTRODUCTION:

THE CONCEPTS OF
POLITICS AND
GOVERNANCE
DEFINING POLITICS
The great Greek philosopher Aristotle once said,
Man by nature is a political animal. For
Aristotle, this made politics the ‘master science’:
that is, nothing less than the activity through
which human beings attempt to improve their
lives and create the good society.
DEFINING POLITICS
To study politics is in essence to study
government or more broadly, to study the
exercise of authority. Politics is the art of
government, the exercise of control within the
society through the making and enforcement of
collective decisions (Heywood, 1997).
DEFINING POLITICS
Politics came from the word polis meaning “of or
pertaining to state” in Greek. It is also the root word
for polites meaning people or citizens and politikos
meaning “of, for, or relating to citizens” which also
translates to “affairs of the state.” It involves
decision-making, law-making, and governance. It is
the study of practice and distribution of powers.
DEFINING POLITICS
The word moved into the Latin language as
politicus, with additional meanings of "city" and
"civics."
DEFINING POLITICS
In ancient times, city-states like Athens and Sparta were
relatively small and cohesive units, in which political,
religious, and cultural concerns were intertwined. The Greek
philosopher Aristotle's word for ‘politics’ is politikê, which
is short for politikê epistêmê or ‘political science.' Politics is
a practical science since it is concerned with the noble
action or happiness of the citizens (although it resembles a
productive science in that it seeks to create, preserve, and
reform political systems).
MEANING OF POLITICS BY
EXPERTS
- in broadest sense, it is the activity through
which people make, preserve and amend the
general rules under which they live. (Heywood,
2007)
- activity or process by which groups reach and
enforce binding decisions. (Hague & Harrop,
2013)
MEANING OF POLITICS BY
EXPERTS
- activity by which different interests within a given unit
of rule are conciliated by giving them a share in power
in proportion to their importance to the welfare and the
survival of the whole community. (Crick, 2005)
- set of activities that organizes individuals,
systematically resolves disputes, and maintains order in
society through creation and enforcement of rules and
government policy. (Barrington et al. 2010)
MEANING OF POLITICS BY
EXPERTS
- activity through which human beings attempt
to improve their lives and create the Good
Society. (Aristotle in Heywood, 2007)
Studying Politics - The
Different Views About
Politics
A. POLITICS AS THE ART OF
GOVERNMENT
Politics is viewed as an art or practical
application of knowledge for the achievement of
a particular objective. This is considered the
classical definition of politics: the art of
government or the exercise of control within
society through the making and enforcement of
collective or group decisions.
 A. POLITICS AS THE ART OF
GOVERNMENT
➢ This view was developed in Ancient Greece. Remember, the word politics is derived from
the ancient Greek word polis, which literally means city-state. Politics can be understood to
refer to the affairs or concerns of the polis or its modern meaning what concerns the state.
➢ If you are studying politics, you are studying the government. Two aspects are under this
setting: Government personnel or the people in government and government machinery or
the different government departments, offices, or agencies.
➢ Politics happens in cabinet rooms, legislative chambers, government departments.
➢ To study politics is to study the exercise of authority defined as legitimate power.
Legitimate means it is acceptable for the people.
➢ Politics is engaged in by a limited and specific group of people, notably politicians, civil
servants and lobbyists.
B. POLITICS AS PUBLIC AFFAIRS
This second view considers politics as what
happens in the public sphere of life. It is
important that you remember the distinction
between the political and the nonpolitical. It
coincides with the division between what is
public and what is private. If it happens in the
public sphere, it is political.
B. POLITICS AS PUBLIC AFFAIRS
To clarify, the distinction between the public and
the private conforms with the division between
the state and civil society. The institutions of the
state (the offices of government, the courts, the
police, the army, and so forth) can be regarded
as public because they are responsible for the
collective organization of community life.
B. POLITICS AS PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Moreover, they are funded at the public9s expense
or out of taxation. In contrast, civil society consists
of institutions such as private businesses, trade
unions, clubs, community groups and so on that are
private in the sense that they are set up and funded
by individual citizens to satisfy their own interests,
rather than those of the larger society.
C. POLITICS AS COMPROMISE AND
CONSENSUS
The third view about politics refers to the way in
which decisions are made. Politics is seen as a
particular means of resolving conflict: that is, by
compromise, conciliation and negotiation, rather
than through force and naked power.
C. POLITICS AS COMPROMISE AND
CONSENSUS
The description of a solution to a problem as a
political solution implies peaceful debate and
arbitration, as opposed to what is often called a
military solution. It is based on the belief that society
is characterized by consensus rather than by
irreconcilable conflict. In other words, the
disagreements that exist can be resolved without
resort to intimidation and violence.
C. POLITICS AS COMPROMISE AND
CONSENSUS
This view of politics has a positive character.
People should be encouraged to respect politics
as an activity, and should be prepared to engage
in the political life of their own community.
D. POLITICS AS POWER
The fourth view sees politics to be present in all
social activities. Politics takes place at every
level of social interaction; it can be found within
families and amongst small groups of friends
just as much as amongst nations and on the
global stage.
D. POLITICS AS POWER
In politics, power is usually thought of as a
relationship: that is, as the ability to influence
the behavior of others in a manner not of their
choosing. It is referred to in terms of having
power over people.
THE GOVERNMENT
AND ITS PURPOSES
GOVERNMENT
is the term generally used to describe the formal
institutions through which a group of people is
ruled or governed. The term extends to include
the persons and organizations that make,
enforce, and apply political decisions for a
society. (Mendoza n.d.)
GOVERNMENT
Government is created for the benefit of the people
governed. It performs services or functions that are beyond
the capabilities of any individual or enterprise. The important
purposes of government are: (1) the maintenance of peace
and order; (2) the protection of persons and property; (3) the
administration of justice; (4) the promotion of education; (4)
the preservation of the state from external danger and; (5) the
advancement of the physical, economic and social and
cultural well-being of the people. (Leon 1991)
GOVERNANCE
Governance is commonly defined as the
exercise of power or authority by political
leaders for the well-being of their country’s
citizens or inhabitants.
GOVERNANCE
It is the complex process whereby some sectors of
the society exercise power, and create public
policies which directly affect the members of
society. Governance is broader than government in
that other sectors are included in it. The government
(also called the public sector) is always the main
actor in governance but it is not the only actor.
GOVERNANCE
Governance is based on the realization that the
government alone cannot do everything for the
people. The main role of the government is to
provide an enabling environment for the other
actors of governance to participate and respond
to the mandate of the common good.
GOVERNANCE
All actors other than the government are called the
civil society. The civil society includes non-
governmental organizations, and other community-
based and sectoral organizations, such as association
of farmers, charitable institutions, cooperatives,
religious communities, political parties, and research
institutes. These organizations are private in nature
but have public functions or objectives.
GOVERNANCE
All actors other than the government are called the
civil society. The civil society includes non-
governmental organizations, and other community-
based and sectoral organizations, such as association
of farmers, charitable institutions, cooperatives,
religious communities, political parties, and research
institutes. These organizations are private in nature
but have public functions or objectives.
INDICATORS OF
GOOD
GOVERNANCE
Indicators of Good Governance
Good governance is understood through its eight
indicators or characteristics: (1) Participatory;
(2) Rule of Law; (3) Effective and Efficient; (4)
Transparent; (5) Responsive; (6) Equitable and
Inclusive; (7) Consensus Oriented; and (8)
Accountability.
Indicators of Good Governance
1. Participatory
Good governance essentially requires participation of
different sectors of the society. Participation means
active involvement of all affected and interested parties
in the decision-making process. It requires an enabling
environment. Governance should no longer be
government monopoly but government management or
inter-sectoral participation.
Indicators of Good Governance
2. Rule of Law
Good governance is fundamentally adherence to the
rule of law. Rule of law demands that the people and
the civil society render habitual obedience to the law
and the government acts within the limits of the powers
and functions prescribed by the law. Rule of law also
requires that laws are responsive to the needs of the
society.
Indicators of Good Governance
3. Effectiveness and Efficiency
Good governance requires that the institutions, processes,
and actors could deliver and meet the necessities of the
society in a way that available resources are utilized well.
Public service delivery, especially of front-line agencies,
must promptly and adequately serve the needs of the
citizens. Doing so requires simplified government
procedures and inexpensive transaction costs.
Indicators of Good Governance
4. Transparency
Transparency means that people are open to
information regarding decision-making process
and the implementation of decisions.
Information on matters of public concern are
made available to the citizens or those who will
be directly affected.
Indicators of Good Governance
6. Equity and Inclusiveness
Equity and inclusiveness mean that all the members of
the society, especially the most vulnerable ones must be
taken into consideration. Everyone has a stake in the
society and no one should feel alienated from it. Those
who have less in life should have more in law. Good
governance demands that the actors must give
preferential attention to the conditions of the poor.
Indicators of Good Governance
7. Consensus Oriented
Governance is consensus oriented when decisions are
made after taking into consideration the different
viewpoints. Mechanisms for conflict resolution must be
in place because inevitably conflict will arise from
competing interests of the actors. Governance is based
on the partnership of the actors of the society in
providing public services.
Indicators of Good Governance
8. Accountability
Accountability means answerability or responsibility for
one’s action. It is based on the principle that every
person or group is responsible for their actions most
especially when their acts affect public interest. The
actors have an obligation to explain and be answerable
for the consequences of decisions and actions they have
made on behalf of the community it serves.
Answer the following questions. Write your answer
on a separate sheet of paper.
1. Choose one purpose of the government and
explain its significance.
2. How is government related with governance?
3. What is the importance of good governance in the
lives of the people?
MEMORIZE THE PREAMBLE OF THE
PHILIPPINES’ CONSTITUTION OF 1987

DELIVERY : 50
MEMORIZATION: 50