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Raising a new Generation of Leaders

UNDERSTANDING MAN IN
THE POLITICAL CONTEXT
TMC311
MRS. NCHEKWUBE EXCELLENCE-OLUYE
Department of Political Science and International Relations
Opening Remarks
“Knowing yourself is the beginning
of wisdom.” -Aristotle
“The unexamined life is not worth
living” – Socrates
“O man, know thyself” - Socrates
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Definition of terms

Who is Man?

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Definition of terms

What is Politics?

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Definition of terms
Politics
• Politics, in the broadest sense, is the
activity through which people make,
preserve and amend the general
rules under which they live.

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Definition of terms

• “Politics
is who gets what, when,
and how.” Harold
Lasswell (American political
scientist).
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Definition of terms
Politics
• Politics is the resolution of
conflict
• Politics is the competition
among individuals, groups, or
states pursuing their interests
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Definition of terms
• According to Ponton and Gill,
politics is the way in which
social affairs are understood
and ordered, and by which
people acquire greater control
over the situation.
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Definition of terms

• Eastondefines politics as the
“authoritative allocation of
value”

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Definition of terms…contd
Value here is anything significant
and important for one’s wellbeing,
ranging from resources to ideology,
human rights, respect, social
amenities etc.
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Definition of terms…contd
It involves the process through
which the government skillfully
addresses the needs of the society
by carefully allocating benefits,
rewards, and penalties.
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Definition of terms…contd
Politics is the science of government.
That is a systematic body of knowledge
that deals with the government,
regulation, maintenance, development,
defense and augmentation of the state

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Definition of terms…contd
It also deals with the protection of the
rights of its citizens, safeguarding and
enhancement of morals, and harmony
and peace of human relations.

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Definition of terms…contd
Politics is also seen as the art,
rather than the science, of
government.

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Definition of terms…contd
It is an art because it involves the
exercise of control or authority within
the society through the creation and
enforcement of consensus arrived at by
the leaders.

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Definition of terms…contd
Politics is the realm of public affairs or
the state.

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Definition of terms…contd
Politicsis the creation, maintenance,
and amendment of societal norms or
rules.

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Definition of terms…contd
Politics as conflict resolution aims at
establishing order in the society

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Definition of terms…contd
Politics denotes a social activity. It
is in essence the interaction of
individuals.

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Definition of terms
Political System
• "A political system is any persistent
pattern of human relationships that
involves ... power, rule, or authority."
(Robert Dahl).

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Definition of terms
Political System
A political system is the totality of social
actions that in any way
influence the making of binding
value allocations for a collectivity.

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According to Easton, political
systems are maintained by specific
sorts of interactions between people.

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Politics can be summed in the following
categories:
• Government
• Management of public affairs
• Conflict, compromise, consensus, resolution
• Influence
• Allocation of resources
• Power
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POLITICS AND MAN
Man is a political animal…Aristotle
(that man is naturally inclined to live
in a society. Aside from his private
life, man must have a public life, for
this perfects his essence and gives
him the “good life.”)
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POLITICS AND MAN
Man is naturally social, so
therefore he is naturally
political

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POLITICS AND MAN
Man is a social creature with
the power of speech and
moral reasoning, interested in
social and political issues
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POLITICS AND MAN
Politics is about developing
the virtue of the citizen

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 Politics is linked to the phenomena of conflict and
cooperation.
 Conflict: Competition between opposing forces,
reflecting a diversity of opinions, preferences,
needs or interest.
 Cooperation: Working together, achieving goals
through collective action.
 Disagree: How they should live, Who should get
what? How should power and other resources be
distributed?

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Man must interact and have social
relationships. Therefore conflict is
inevitable. It is the means of resolving
conflicts that is politics.
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MAN’S PERSPECTIVES ABOUT
POLITICS
POSITIVE VIEW A natural process for
resolving differences among groups
Goal: To benefit the majority

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• NEGATIVE VIEW A self-serving activity to
promote ones self.
Goal: To benefit a minority

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Power corrupts and absolute power
corrupts absolutely…

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Conflict and Conflict Resolution
• Compromise
• Reconciliation
• Negotiation
• Consensus

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COMPROMISE
• UYGHYUG

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CONSENSUS
• HJBNJFNHL

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• Since conflict is inevitable, rules and
regulations guide behavior in a society

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WHY RULES AND REGULATIONS?
• To maintain peaceful coexistence.
• To preserve man’s existence.
• To guide man’s interaction with
society.
• To model man’s behaviour
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WHY RULES AND REGULATIONS?
• From the beginning, God gave man
rules.
Genesis 2:15-17

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CLASS ACTIVITY

What are some of the rules (laws)


guiding man’s interaction in your
environment?

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Citizenship

National Citizenship
International Citizenship

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CIVIC RESPONSIBILITIES
 Taking appropriate actions if they are not adhering
to constitutional principles
 Participating in elections
 Participating in civic groups
 Performing public service.
 Serving in the Armed Forces when called upon.

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Some other Issues man encounters
in his political environment
 Societal Power
 Societal Pressure
 Societal Influence

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Conclusion

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HOW SHOULD MAN MAXIMISE THE
POLITICAL SYSTEM

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Build Coalitions (Politics is a game of
coalitions).

• Networking: Build a broader base of


support that goes beyond your coalition
group.
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• Enhance your legitimacy through your
expertise & skills.

• Control decision premises – Setting


agendas, leading meetings, selective
information
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• Make preferences explicit, but keep
power implicit.
“Power works best when it is used
quietly.” – Be aggressively persuasive but
not offensive.
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