politics sb chapter 1

Unit 1

1.1 What Is Politics?There are many different ideas about what politics is. At the most basic level, politics is about how people make decisions in a community. According to one thinker, politics is about “who gets what, when and how”. But people disagree about the reasons and ways that people make these decisions. Read the three ideas of politics below and answer the questions.

1. What does the word ‘politics’ mean to you?

2. Look at the pictures. Which ones best represent 'politics' to you? Why?

3. Explain you choice to a partner.

Preview...

1.1.1 - Politics as ConflictThis definition of politics says that there will always be conflict when people have to make decisions about, “who gets what, when and how”. In larger communities it is not possible for everyone to take part in every decision. Instead, communities make rules about “who gets what, when and how” that apply to every member of the community. This means that political conflict in larger communities is often related to making, changing or breaking rules.

Some of the most important areas of conflicts in a community include:

• ConfliCt over resourCes: because of scarcity, different groups will say that they should get a bigger share of the community’s resources. These resources might be physical like money, land or goods, or non-physical such as respect, freedom or safety.

• ConfliCt over opportunities: having access to education, employment or the ability to make decisions are areas over which members of a community might be in conflict with each other.

What is the relationship between conflict and politics?

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ChaPter 1: PolItICsCooperation

for

Development

Cooperation

for

Security

Cooperation

for

Peace

6 Politics - student’s Book

Ideas

Chapter 1

Conflict over

Opportunities

Conflict over Ideas

Conflict over

Resources

1.1.2 - Politics as CooperationDifferent opinions, different wants, competing needs and opposing interests mean that people will disagree about the rules of a community. On the other hand, people understand that in order to change these rules or make sure that they are enforced, they have to work with others. Some other important reasons for cooperation in a community are:

• peaCe: In order for a community to be safe and peaceful. Individuals and groups need to have a way of resolving conflict. If conflict leads to violence, then the security of the whole community is in danger. This means that politics is a way of avoiding violent conflict.

• Development: Cooperation is necessary because people can accomplish goals and solve problems by working together action they could not achieve alone. Important examples include the social and economic infrastructure such as roads and waterways, or a reliable currency.

• seCurity: Individuals and groups would not be safe without the forces organized for public security provided by cooperation. Collective defence against aggression from outside the political community (i.e. a military) is one example. Another is defence against aggression or exploitation from criminals (i.e. a police force).

What is the role of cooperation in politics?

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• ConfliCt over iDeas: diversity of beliefs about what is right or wrong can lead to conflict in a society, different political views, religious beliefs or values can also be a source of conflict in a society.

Look at the timeline of events on page X and put some of the conflicts into the right place in the Venn diagram. Exercise

What is this cartoon suggesting about cooperation?

Exercise

Politics - student’s Book 7

Unit 1

Equality doesn't mean JusticeEquality Justice

Look at the timeline of events on page XX and put some of the events into the right place in the Venn diagram.

Exercise

Cooperation for

Development

Cooperation for

Security

Cooperation for

Peace

1.1.3 - Politics and the search for JusticeInstead of people seeing politics as either unavoidable competition or a necessary cooperation, some people believe that politics is about making a just community. This view sees politics as being related to justice - with treating everyone as they deserve according to that community’s idea of justice. Justice can be seen in many ways, it can be related to:Some of the most important areas of conflicts in a community include:

• What people get (how resources and opportunities are distributed);

• What they are allowed, and not allowed to do (rights and responsibilities);

• What should happen to people if they disturb or damage the community (rules and laws)?

What is the relationship between justice and politics?

Preview...

Look at the cartoon. How does this relate to the idea of politics as a search for justice?

Exercise


Ideas

Chapter 1

According to this view, communities make rules to make sure that all members of a society are treated fairly and justly. However, because people’s beliefs about what justice is are not always the same, this view of politics raises some difficult questions. Some of these questions include:

• Does justice mean treating everyone exactly the same?• Is it ok to use unjust methods to achieve a just situation? • Is it ok to treat a small number of the community unjustly so

that a larger group are treated justly?

After you read 1.1.3:

Choose one of these questions and try and think of a real life example to illustrate that issue.

Activity

1.2 Important and Controversial Ideas in PoliticsThere are some very important concepts that different people will value more, less, or differently. Three of the most important ones are rights, liberty and equality.

1.2.1 - rights“Rights” are a very important idea in politics. To understand different ideologies it is important to look at the different kinds of rights that they talk about. There are three kinds of rights that are important in politics: civil and political rights, social, economic and cultural rights, and solidarity rights.

a. Civil and Political rights (first generation rights)

Civil and political rights guarantee that each person has the same rights to take part in the politics of their community. This means that they have the right to elect, and be elected to political office and also that they are free from political discrimination. People started talking about these rights during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. They claim that there are things that the rulers should not be allowed to do and that people should take part in making the political decisions that affected them.

What different kinds of rights are there?

Preview...

Discussion 1. Which of these three views do you agree with most? Why?2. Do you agree that political conflict is unavoidable in every

society?3. Do you think that a diverse community can agree on one

idea of justice? What kind of political problems can this cause? Try and think of a real life example to illustrate that issue.


Unit 1

Civil and political rights are based on the ideas of personal liberty, and “natural” (human) rights. Civil and political rights include rights such as the right to participate in government, the right to form or join political organisations and the right to freedom of speech.

B. social, economic and Cultural rights (second generation rights)

These rights are related to how people live, work and the basic necessities of life. People started talking about them during the start of industrialisation and the rise of a working class. At that time, some claimed that human dignity required more than just civil and political rights. They claimed that people had rights to certain social and economic conditions such as adequate housing, education and employment.

Social, economic and cultural rights try to guarantee access to goods, services, and opportunities in order to achieve social and economic equality. Social rights include the right to education, health care, an adequate standard of living and housing. Economic rights include the right to work and the right to a pension if you are old or disabled.

C. solidarity rights (third generation rights)

Solidarity rights have partly come about as a response to changing ideas about human dignity, and partly as a result of new threats and opportunities emerging. The idea at the basis of the third generation of rights is that of solidarity; and the rights embrace collective rights of society or peoples, such as the right to sustainable development, to peace or to a healthy environment.

Occupy is an international protest movement. It argues that 1% of the people in the world control most of the wealth and power. It wants a fairer share of the world's wealth for "the 99%" of poorer people in the world. These images are from an Occupy protest in Malaysia.


Ideas

Chapter 1

MyanmardoesnothaveaBill ofRights. Instead, there isachapter in theconstitutionwhichdescribestherightsofcitizensinMyanmar.Theserightsinclude:

1. non-discrimination(basedonrace,birth,religion,status,officialculture,sexandwealth)

2. equalopportunity(inpublicemployment,occupation,trade,businessetc)

3. equalitybeforethelaw

4. equalrightsformothers,childrenandpregnantwomen

5. non-discriminationinthecivilservice(exceptfor“positionsthataresuitableformenonly”)

6. righttolifeandpersonalfreedom(“exceptinaaccordwithexistinglaws”)

7. freedomofexpression,assemblyandassociation(“ifnotcontrarytolawsenactedforUnionsecurity…communitypeaceandtranquilityorpublicorderandmorality”)

8. protectionofproperty(“accordingtothelaw”)

9. privacyandsecurityofhome,property,correspondenceandothercommunication(“subjecttoprovisionsofthisconstitution”)

10.prohibitiononenslavingandtraffickinginpersons

11.prohibitiononforcedlabour(excepthardlabourforconvictsandpublic-interestduties)

12.freedomofconscienceandreligion(subjecttopublicorder,morality,healthandnotextendingtosecularactivitiesassociatedwithreligiouspractice;the“abuseofreligionforpoliticalpurposesisforbidden’)

13.therighttoeducationandtoreceivefreecompulsorybasiceducation

14.therighttohealthcare(“inaccordwithhealthpolicylaiddownbytheUnion”)

15.therighttoelectandbeelectedtoHluttaws(subjecttoConstitutionandrelevantlaws)

16.therighttofreelyconductbusiness;therighttoprivateinventionandpatent

17.therightofanaccusedtoadefense

18.prohibitiononanypersonbeingheldincustodyformorethan24hourswithoutpermissionofaCourt(except“precautionarymeasurestakenforthesecurityoftheUnionorprevalenceoflawandorder…”)

19.therighttoseekprotectionoftheUnioninrelationswithforeigncountries

20.therightredressbydueprocessoflaw(exceptintimeofforeigninvasion,insurrectionoremergency)

21.equalityofsalaryandrightsatworkforwomenandmen

Focus on MyanmarRights in Myanmar

Civil,political Social,economic,cultural

Put the rights into the correct column in the table:

Exercise


Unit 1

ReflectionReflection 1. In pairs, make a ‘rights pyramid’ that ranks these in importance.

2. Join with another pair. As a group, make a values pyramid you all agree on.

3. Join with another group and make a values pyramid. Continue joining groups and making pyramids until there is only one (class) group. Make a values pyramid that the whole class agrees on.

4. What does your class pyramid tell you about the values of the class?

5. What difficulties did you experience in this exercise? 6. How did you overcome them?


Ideas

1.2.2 - equalityPolitical equality means that everyone has the same amount of political power in society. This is seen in the democratic idea that every person gets one vote, and only one vote, and that everyone has the same right to “run for office” (try to be chosen for a position in the government). However there is a lot of disagreement about what exactly political equality really means.

What different kinds of rights are there?

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B. equality of outcomeThis problem highlights why the idea of equality is so problematic in politics. Some people believe that as long as laws affect people in the same way, then they are equal. Others disagree by saying that if social and economic conditions are ignored, then there is no way of achieving equality with civil and political rights alone.

“Equality of outcome” means that everyone has the same opportunities and the same resources. Supporters of “Equality of outcome” say that the government has a responsibility to give people the resources and opportunities (money, houses, education, jobs etc.) that people need to make use of the opportunities they are legally given.

a. equality of opportunity“Equality of opportunity” means that everyone has the same political opportunities. Everyone has the same opportunity to say what they think, everyone has the same opportunity to vote, and everyone has the same opportunity to run for office.

However, saying that a very rich, well-educated person and a very poor, uneducated person are politically equal might be true when we talk about voting, but not always true when we talk about running for office. This is because the resources and opportunities that the rich person has are much greater than the poor person. For example, they are more likely to be successfully elected because of their resources (money for posters and speeches etc.) and opportunities (powerful friends, good education etc.).

After you read 1.2.2.A:

What kind of equality are most civil and political rights trying to achieve?

Exercise

What kind of equality are most social, economic and cultural rights trying to achieve? Exercise

Chapter 1

What is this cartoon suggesting about justice?

Exercise


Unit 1

1.2.3 - libertyLiberty (or freedom) means that people can do what ever they want without anyone else stopping them from doing it. It involves concepts such as free speech, free assembly, freedom of religion, and other civil liberties. Some even say that liberty is only based on the fact that equality of opportunity is legally guaranteed. They argue that when governments force the people to pay taxes, send their children to government schools, or do military services that violates their liberty.

However, not everyone agrees with this idea of liberty. They say that without a job, money or an education (equality of outcome) people will be very limited in what they are able to do, and so they are not free. They claim not everyone is equally free in societies where there is a big difference between the lives of rich and poor people.

Look at the chart and answer the following questions.

1. Is equality or liberty more popular in the US?

2. Is equality or liberty more popular in Spain?

3. How do you think people would respond to these questions in your country?

Exercise

Source : http://www.pewglobal.org/2011/11/17/the-american-western-european-values-gap/?src=prc-number

THE REVOLUTIONARY COUNCIL OF THE UNION OF BURMA believes that man will not be free from social evils as long as there are destructive economic systems in the world. In these systems, man exploits man. The Council believes that only a socialist economy based on justice can free all people from all worries over food, clothing and shelter... Only then can we reach a stage of social development where all people are happy and healthy in mind and body.”

Read the text and answer the questions.Exercise

- HSOB D62

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

The state should make sure that nobody is in need above all else

It is most important for people be free to pursue their life’s goals without interference

from the state

Americans

Spanish

What does the word "freedom" mean to you?

Preview...


Ideas

Ideas in Action

DiscriminationandAffirmativeActionDiscriminationmeansthatsomegroupsofpeoplearetreatedlessfavourablythanotherpeopleareinasimilarsituation.Peoplemaybediscriminatedagainstbecauseoftheirage,disability,ethnicity, origin, political belief, race, religion, sex or gender, sexual orientation, language,cultureandonmanyothergrounds.

In countrieswhere people have been discriminated against in the past, attempts have beenmadetopromoteequalitybyusing"affirmativeaction".Affirmativeactionmeansmakingrulesor policies that favour those groups who have been (or still are) discriminated against.Affirmativeactiontakesplacemostofteninemploymentoreducation,butcanalsobeseeninpoliticssometimes.

Supporters of affirmative actionprogrammes say that they arenecessary to overcome the effectsofpastdiscrimination,andthatonlystrong action will bring about theneeded changes. They say thatcommunitiesthathavebeenunfairlytreated for so long, need specialhelp to achieve the same equalityasdominantgroups.

People who oppose affirmativeactionsay that it isanother formofunreasonable discrimination andviolatespeople’sliberty.Theyarguethatsex,colour,languageorreligionshould not be used as a basis forchoosing who gets opportunities insociety. They say that if everybodygets equal opportunity, affirmativeactionisnotneeded.

Is there a conflict between equality and liberty? Discussion

A picture from a campaign in India, raising awareness of the inequality between men and women in Indian society.

Source : Think Equal/World Bank.

1. What kind of equality is discussed in the text?2. According to the text, what is necessary to achieve

liberty?3. What is the relationship between equality and justice in

the text?4. Do you agree with the ideas in the text? Why?

Chapter 1


Unit 1

Malaysia

Despite the fact that Malaysian politics is dominated by the Malay ethnic group, Chinese and Indian communities in Malaysia have historically been wealthier and more economically successful than the Malay population. This has causes inter-communal tension and even lead to race riots in 1969.

After these riots the president of Malaysia Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, said "After the race riots, the government quickly recognized that closing the gap between the Malays and other ethnic groups would be essential for the long-term stability and prosperity of the country."

In order to address this problem, the Malaysian government started the New Economic Policy (NEP) that was designed to increase the economic situation of Malays. Government loan programs were established to offer credit to Malays and educational opportunities for Malays were also greatly increased.

Some people complained that this was unfair since the benefits have gone disproportionately to those who were already more powerful. However, many people agree that the NEP has been successful in limiting inter-communal conflict in Malaysia and contributed to a peaceful and multicultural society.

CASE STUDY

Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, about 70% of the population is Sinhalese (92% of whom were Buddhists and almost all speak Sinhalese) and 23% were Tamil (about 86% of whom were Hindus and most of whom spoke Tamil). At Independence in 1948, there had been no riots or any other form of collective violence between Sinhalese and Tamils for hundreds of years before Independence.

When Sri Lanka achieved its independence in 1948 positions of power, wealth and prestige were largely in the hands of an educated, English speaking (often Christian), elite, who were both Sinhalese and Tamil.

In 1956, Bandaranaike was elected in a landslide victory. He started a specific program of preferential treatment of the Sinhala language— which entailed preferential access of the Sinhalese population to jobs and education.

In 1955, 26% of the members of the government were Tamils. By 1979 this figure had been cut in half. Declining prospects for education and employment now facing many Tamils led to protests, communal violence and civil war.

CASE STUDY

Former Malay president, Mohamad Mahathir

A tank belonging to the "Tamil Tigers" resistance movement


Ideas

Affirmative Action in South Africa

Until 1994, the Apartheid government favoured whites. The Aprtheid government made laws that highly restricted the blacks' employment opportunities. They also made laws that limited the ability of blacks to own property and land.

One of the top ANC objectives adopted at their National Conference in May 1992 was the question of addressing inequality. This meant that employers were now compelled by law to employ previously disenfranchised groups (blacks, Indians, and Coloureds). The Employment Equity Act and the Broad Based Black Economic Empowerment Act aim to promote and achieve equality in the workplace by advancing people from designated groups.

Under the apartheid system, blacks were allowed to own land in only the 13 percent of the country allocated to the black “homelands.” Between 1960 and in 1980, the white government forcibly removed 3.5 million blacks to these squalid reservations.

Naturally, blacks want the stolen lands back, and the new owners, who are white, want to keep it. The ANC promised land reform by giving back land to blacks from whom it was confiscated and the redistribution of land to those who have none. At the same time, the bill of rights in the constitution protects private ownership of land and guarantees “just and equitable compensation” to any owner whose land is expropriated.

CASE STUDY

Look at the table and answer the question.

What does this table show you about the levels of equality between these two communities?

ExerciseEthnicity: Sinhala Tamil

Percentagewhostronglydisagreethat"everyoneenjoysequalrights." 9% 32%

Percentagewhostronglydisagreethat"peoplearefreetospeaktheirmindwithoutfear."

6% 25%

Perceptions of Discrimination by Community in Sri Lanka, 2005

Source : SDSA 2005, CSDS, Delhi, Sri Lanka dataset; questions A-10, C-2ob.

Answer the questions.1. What kind of conflict

is there in the ANC's policy of redistributing land and respecting property rights?

2. Do you think this kind of policy is just?

3. Do you think this kind of policy increases or decreases equality?

Exercise

1. Do you think it is fair that the Malaysian government provides more opportunities to the political majority?

2. For each case of the case studies, do you think it is an example of discrimination or affirmative action? Why?

Exercise

Nelson Mandela, South Africa's first black president

Chapter 1


Unit 1

In what ways is affirmative action in the three countries the same? In what ways is it different?Exercise

An Indian worker on a plantation said the following about affirmative action in Malaysia:

“Just like the axe marks on the trees, the Malaysian government inflicted countless wounds on the Indian minority by denying them jobs, preventing them from getting education, removing freedom of religious expression and most importantly by stripping them of their dignity.”

Is the worker’s view of affirmative action is correct or incorrect? Why?

Discussion

N a t i o n a l B u d g e t , i t e m s :

- We l f a r e ( s o c i a l w e l f a r e )

- S e c u r i t y ( n a t i o n a l s e c u r i t y )

- J u s t i c e ( s o c i a l j u s t i c e )

- S o c i a l h a r m o n y ( l a w a n d o r d e r )

- H u m a n r i g h t s

- P r o s p e r i t y ( d e v e l o p m e n t )

If I were president...1. In groups, look at the items in the list and decide how

you would spend your budget of 1 million dollars.2. Make a presentation to the class with your budget and

explain how you made these decisions. See if you can all agree on one budget for the whole group.

3. What do these budgets tell you about your group's basic ideas on politics discussed in this chapter?

Activity


Ideas

politics sb chapter 1

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