Politics is one of the major world issues that affect us all. Whether you come from a country with a right-wing government or a country with a left-wing government, the same goes for you. But what exactly is going on in the political world that we live in? How does the government operate? How do I affect change? These are some of the important questions that we will try to answer in this blog post.
Political Science
“Political science” is the study of politics and how government operates. It focuses on analyzing the social, political, and economic issues that shape a country. While it doesn’t offer many concrete answers, it can tell us a lot about the topic!
Here’s some of what we learned from studying political science in college:
- Even though there are globally agreed-upon rules and regulations for government, politics, and society in general, there is still plenty of room for individual interpretation and change
- You need to be a part of a group to have any chance of changing society for the better
- Groups can be formed based on many different identities, such as race, gender, and class, and you must respect and accommodate each other’s differences
- Everyday decisions that you make (e.g. what food you eat, what products you buy, etc) have an effect on the world at large. Be conscious of this and try to make better decisions!
- If you believe in social justice, you should fight for it!
- There are many famous quotes that embody these ten points, but here’s one that’s been popularized by the political science major Yoda: “Take nothing for granted. Especially other people. People will surprise you. Especially yourself.”
Theory Of Change
Theory of change is a concept that was first developed in the 1960s and focuses on systematically investigating the processes that lead to social change. It’s been around since before most of us were even born, making it one of the most important ideas in politics and social change. It’s also one of the most complicated concepts, which is why understanding it can be so challenging!
To learn more, check out this short video by The New York Times:
Or, for those of you who are just itching to dive into the details, here’s the original text:
“A theory of change is a formal idea that guides your strategy towards achieving a specific goal. It’s an abstract notion that helps you see past the complexity of the world we live in and helps you develop solutions and make decisions. A theory of change is more than just an idea or a set of guidelines; it provides the framework for your strategy. It gives you a clear sense of why you’re doing what you’re doing, as well as an objective measure for your progress.
In order to put into practice what you know, and to avoid wasting time and effort, it is essential to develop a theory of change. Having a theory of change is like having a compass in your strategy toolbox — it helps you keep your head in the right place while you’re navigating the storms and currents of change that surround you.
Developing a theory of change involves first identifying the key elements that will enable you to successfully reach your goal. To take the environmental movement as an example, one of the first goals that individuals and groups working to protect the environment have often set for themselves is to ban plastic water bottles. Identifying this as the key to the movement’s success allows the theory of change to be developed and enables individuals and organizations to set reasonable timelines for reaching this goal. To put this into practice, activists have organized beach clean-ups and worked to enact legislation that would place a tax on plastic water bottles. They’ve also lobbied the government to provide more funds for recycling.
Once you’ve established the key elements that will enable you to successfully reach your goal — in this case, eliminating plastic water bottles — you can start to develop a theory of change. It might be helpful to write down your goal and the key elements that will help you to achieve it. Now that you have a clear idea of what you’re aiming for, you can start to put into practice the changes that you believe will make a difference. And, above all, you must be patient — it can take a while to see measurable results from your efforts!
Theories Of Governance
Theories of governance are similar to theories of change in that they focus on the governance of a country or area. They were first developed in the 1800s to try and understand the structural causes that led to the French Revolution. It wasn’t until the early 1900s that theories of governance started to become a significant part of political science.
Some of the more prominent theories of governance include:
- Theory Of The Family Firm: The Patriarchs & The Revolutionaries
- Functionalism: Government of the Absolutist Sort
- Neo-functionalism: The Breakdown Of The Biggest Government Project
- The Military-Industrial Complex
- Sovereignty: The Naval Arms Race
- Oligarchy
- The Clash Of Cultures: The Invention Of Ethnic Cleavage
- Social Darwinism: The Survival Of The Fittest
The Modernization Of Power
The modernization of power is one of the biggest factors that have changed the way we think about politics. Before the 20th century, power was a simple concept: you had either got it or you didn’t. There were no rules or regulations regarding who had access to power and how they used it. This is why, when many countries and regions were “torn apart by ethnic and religious strife” in the late 1800s and early 1900s, it was widely accepted that a “strongman” could keep order and become dictator.
However, during this same time period, the industrial revolution brought with it a number of changes that undermined the idea that “strength” alone could guarantee a country’s stability. As countries started to become more technologically advanced and as mass production started to happen, the need for strongman rule began to decline. In addition, during this time period, people started questioning the benefits of a strongman-led government. Finally, countries started to break down traditional barriers between the religious, political, and social spheres, resulting in a greater role being played by intellectuals and elites.
The modernization of power is one of the most significant developments in political science. It not only changed the role that power plays in a country or region but also how we as a society view power and those who wield it.
Here’s a video by The New York Times that explores this concept in-depth:
Or, for those of you who are just itching to dive into the details, here’s the original text:
“Power is now a key component of most social science models. Political scientists are only just starting to understand the implications of this development. Theories of modernization often include an analysis of how societal structures and institutions have changed over time and the impact that this has had on politics and government. Power is now a significant element of this research and is seen as a crucial variable that affects social structures and how society functions.”
Powerful And Influential People
While it was once common for “great men” and “strongmen” to have absolute power, this is not the case anymore. Thanks to centuries of political and social progress, today, a great many powerful and influential people do not have absolute power over others. This changes the way we view them.
Instead of viewing these people as someone to be feared or respected, we now understand their roles in society and politics, and we try to see the good that they do. This in no way diminishes the significance that they have in the grand scheme of things but instead makes us more appreciative of their gifts and talents.
How Do I Affect Change?
The best thing that you can do for your community, your country, and your world is to vote! It may seem like an obvious answer but, nonetheless, it’s important to stress the point. Voting is one of the most effective ways of influencing change because it allows for a level of participation that is otherwise denied to many. In other words, while you may be reading this blog post, you are, in fact, making a difference already!