POL111H5 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1-2: David Easton, Policy Analysis, Ethnic Nationalism
Document Summary
Textbook notes - politics, power and the common good. There is no single generally accepted definitions for the concepts of politics,power and the common good or ways about talking about these facts. Politics: a feature of all organized human activity especially those involving power. Decisions that relate to the governing of a political community or allocation of values (david easton). Official definition- activity related to influencing, making or implementing collective decisions for a political community. Collective actions concerning problems in a society can be political even if action does not influence the government. Power: the ability to achieve an objective by influencing the behavior of others, particularly to get them to do what they otherwise would not have done. It is not easily quantifiable and changes based on the objective being pursued. Coercion: using fear of threats of harmful consequences to achieve an outcome. Inducements: achieving an outcome by offering a reward or bribe.
