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Importance of studying political science
Impact of political ideologies on american policy and polities
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Politics is a blood sport and many of us detest it, yet politics and political systems have an immense influence on the modern human experience and our capability of achieving the good life. This is why political science is my major of choice. Individuals in society have many different philosophical beliefs, religious beliefs, languages, historical backgrounds, and ways of celebrating the human experience. The humanities study these human conditions, while political science seeks to turn that understanding into action that can directly alter the human condition and experience. Political scientists do this by researching which political systems allow society to function properly and promote the good life for its citizens. Political science can
Martin Luther King Jr. wrote “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed” (Letter from a Birmingham Jail). Political scientists can advocate for systems that make it easier for oppressed groups to stand up to their oppressors. A democracy that includes the rights of freedom of speech and freedom of assembly is one such example supported by political science. Martin Luther King Jr. also wrote “One has not only a legal, but moral responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely, one has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws” (Letter from a Birmingham Jail) Political scientist can try and ensure that unjust laws are not put in effect, to begin with. If the governmental system represents the citizens accurately and the right to protest unjust laws is ensured then oppression can be more easily be avoided. Political science can help us understand and implement the types of laws needed for misfitting minority groups to be protected. The minority groups shouldn’t be subject to unfair laws that the majority don’t have to follow. The study of the humanities can tell us what is wrong with how minorities and misfitting people are treated. Political scientists can take this information and advocate for systems that allow the minority groups to be valued and
Politics and its inner working can be described as the activities that determine the governance of a specific area, country, or continent. Imagine living in the United States during the 1800’s when there were two political parties, namely Federalists and Democratic-Republicans. Personally, I would choose to join the Democratic-Republican Party. As compared to the Federalist Party, the Democratic-Republicans had their policies centralized. They emphasized on agrarian interests that protected the rights of every single individual living in the United States of America. I would be very focused on promoting these facts to my best friends.
“Dehumanized” by Mark Slouka explores the issue of our nation’s education and how science and math are being used to primarily teach students about business and capitalism. Although I believe that students should have a good understanding of economics for the sake of their future. I, like Mark Slouka, believe that the humanities should be taught and accepted in our schools to help students further their education.
When discussing the new science of politics laid out in the Federalist papers, it is imperative to understand that proponents of the Constitution had various reasons for writing these papers, not the least of which was convincing critics that a strong central government that would not oppress but actually protect individual freedoms as well as encouraging the state of New York to agree to ratify the Constitution.
In a democracy, people choose representatives to lead and govern. However, these representatives might take unpopular steps. In such instances, the people may show their disapproval of a policy and vent their grievances through acts of civil disobedience. Henry Thoreau said, “It is not desirable to cultivate a respect for the law, so much as for the right.” It is both the right and responsibility of a person to fight an unjust law, and civil disobedience allows one to convey his thoughts and ideas in a passive, nonviolent way.
Racial discrimination is a pertinent issue in the United States. Although race relations may seem to have improved over the decades in actuality, it has evolved into a subtler form and now lurks in institutions. Sixty years ago racial discrimination was more overt, but now it has adapted to be more covert. Some argue that these events are isolated and that racism is a thing of the past (Mullainathan). Racial discrimination is negatively affecting the United States by creating a permanent underclass of citizens through institutional racism in business and politics, and creating a cancerous society by rewriting the racist history of America. Funding research into racial discrimination will help society clearly see the negative effects that racism
Danziger, James N. Understanding the Political World: A Comparative Introduction to Political Science. New Jersey: Pearson, 2013. Print.
Clegg, expanding on the expense of discrimination towards scholars, displays how discrimination has a single benefit: diversity. Likewise, Abigail Fisher, plaintiff in the recent case Fisher v. University of Texas, has better grades than the average needed to gain admission for African-American and Hispanic students, yet was rejected from the University of Texas. Fisher, who is white, was forced to attend the l...
Political efficacy refers to the degree in which an individual believes he or she has an ability to influence the government (Chan 2014). The decision to engage with politics is usually a result of one’s attitudes towards participation, in the sense that there cannot be a political action without some prior thought about a political issue. One of the common attitudes related to political participation is political efficacy (Caprara et al., 2009). Political efficacy is individual's faith and trust in government and their belief that they can understand and influence political affairs. it is commonly measured by surveys and is used as an indicator for the broader health of civil society. When an individual has low efficacy, he does not have faith in his
Throughout history there have been a variety of theories on human nature proposed by intellectuals from different time periods. A general idea of human nature is defined as the characteristics, emotions and behavioral traits shared by all humans. During the different time periods of each philosopher, human nature varied due to its involvement in politics. Political theories and morals derive from historical imprints and observations. The precise ways to rule or govern a constitution have been questioned and emphasized through many philosophers and theorists. It is history that indicates what a long-term, obligating government may need to prosper. In order to understand a theory particular to a specific time, one must look at the author’s history and society. For example, Machiavelli, Aristotle and Frederick Douglass each come from different time periods where the structure of society differ. Societies reflect the morals and ideals that are correlated to its generation and highlight the structure and nature of the people. Thus, when looking closely at political theories, one must first observe the author’s society and history. A particular theory may influence many governments and political organizations, whether because of its validity or its rejection, both play a part in structuring a society. Human nature within each society also played a role the desire for justice. For example, during the era of the Jim Crow laws there was a clash between the beliefs of those who opposed discrimination and segregation and those who supported the laws in society. Overall, human nature plays a key role in political theories from a variety of time periods.
A logical starting point in an investigation of legitimate government would seem to be an account of the original purpose of government. Problems arise, though, in discovering this original purpose; any and all attempts seem to consist of mere speculation. Government is a social convention created by man.* It is doubtful whether or not there can ever be an empirically accurate account of the creation of government. Without this crucial information, a search for the original purpose of government appears futile. I had once thought that an account of human nature may provide insight into this enigma; I now believe that it is equally doubtful that there can be a true account of human nature. So where does this leave the political theorist?
Political Philosophy is typically a study of a wide range of topics such as, justice, liberty, equality, rights, law, politics and the application of a codified law. Depending on what the philosophy is, it usually tends to be a very sensitive and a personal ideology that an individual holds within the reality of their existence. Several of the fundamental topics of political philosophy shape up the society that we live in as these specific topics and their implementation by the state ensures a legitimate government. In Political Philosophy, the aforesaid concepts or topics are evaluated and analyzed with tremendous depth in context to their history and intent. Furthermore, in a rather colloquial sense, political philosophy is generally a point of view which after some deep thinking asks questions such as, what are the government’s duties? Is it legitimate? What makes it legitimate? What are the duties of its citizens? What are their rights? Are they protected? So on and so forth. In the following paper, I will canvass my political philosophy and elaborate on my reasoning behind it.
The political-pedagogical use of history is a deliberate comparative, metaphorical or a symbolic use. The main purpose is to summon history as an aid in attacking what are felt to be severe and concrete political and social problems in a later era. The main point is to transfer a part of history considered relevant in order to reach special goals. History is used politically if its relevance is used to guide political decisions or to assist in securing political advantage (Karlsson, 2010, p. 13).
There is a push and pull relationship between race as an independent and dependent variable within the social sciences which creates a cyclical overarching sense of idealism. The social sciences study human society and the relationships which make that up. Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology combine within the social sciences, they work together on the broad topic of race to from both analytical perspectives and individual understandings of what constitutes race and how that changes the way society as a whole respond to it. By evaluating the broad topic of race from four disciplines, the social sciences attempt to cover how individual perspectives and understandings of race changes the way society as a whole respond to
Comparative politics is an important aspect of political science in that instead of studying how this country functions, it studies why other countries around the world are the way they are. There must be some medium for finding the differences and similarities between one county and another in order discover what can effect such aspects as economic strength, military strength, and the structure of the regime in power. One reason to compare countries is to help ourselves by allowing us to learn about other countries while escaping the ethnocentric fallacy many of us have. The Unites States may have a good government but is not necessarily a perfect government; certain countries may have aspects of their own government that we could learn from and perhaps improve upon our own system. Another reason to compare countries is to understand how countries evolve, discover patterns, and why they evolve in the way they do. Another very important reason to study comparative politics is to better understand how certain regimes work for purposes of international relations and foreign policy. In order to create policy regarding other countries and in order to give aid to these countries we must know how these countries function so that we can work with the countries instead of blindly trying to change them in a way that we seem fit. This is especially important in the modern age with the evolution of a global cooperation between many countries and the fact that the United States has become the watchdog, big brother, and teacher for many of the less developed countries of the world.
Politics is the means for attaining valued things. Although, valued things are different in every society, the means of securing those things has never changed. The competition for power, authority and influence will always be the backbone of politics. Applying power, authority and influence to the valued things that support the public good, will produce the quality of life a society desires. In the present day, citizens in the United States demand certain valued things such as welfare, education, safe streets and healthcare. Through politics, citizens can apply their power in many different ways to get the things they want. Power is the ability to get someone to do something they may or may not want to do. Through the use of or the application of coercion, persuasion, manipulation and negotiation, power is used to influence the system.