INTRO TO INTRODefining politics and government

WHAT IS POLITICS? WHAT IS GOVERNMENT?

Everyday uses of “politics” and “political” – what do they have in common?

Standard PSC definition (circa 1960s): the process of “authoritatively allocating values”(Definitions of authoritative, allocation and “values”)

The political process includes--selecting rules for decisionmaking--selecting leaders to make decisions--selecting decisions--enforcing and applying decisions (implementation)

Definition of government: institutions with preponderance of force and legitimacy in society that make authoritative decisions

DEFINING POLITICS & GOVT. CONT’D Where does government’s “legitimacy”

come from? Ancient and modern ideas Easton’s model of the political system

Inputs – demands, support, resourcesOutputs – policies (authoritative allocation decisions)Government: the institutions that produce policiesFeedback: effects of policies on future inputs and the environment

WHY IS GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS NECESSARY? 1.) Scarcity (both material and moral)

--as scarcity increases, the intensity of conflict increases, and the need for (and difficulty of) political resolution increases

2.) Govt. solves collective action (“free rider”) problems that exist even in the absence of overt conflict

3.) Govt. solves coordination problems that exist even in the absence of overt conflict

WHY NOT JUST LET THE “FREE MARKET” ALLOCATE VALUES? Adam Smith’s Wealth of Nations 1776—

reaction against mercantilism Advantages of a “free market” allocation Assumptions underlying successful free

market: competition, reliable information, enforcement of property rights, enforcement of contracts-- govt’s role in supporting FM

How does the FM handle moral conflicts?Allowing people to “vote with their feet”?