Approaches to study of politics (based on word document to create Notes, 26th lecture) 4 ways of studying Politics, then we go to others

later! Skeptical approach: presumes its beyond comprehension of why politics exists; or how it affects us! Holistic/ Globalistic & Molecular/ Partial approach: uses Case Studies of political systems or of some institutions; or political system to study politics. Consecutive, Concurrent and Fortuitous approach: Consecutive is a dogmatic approach and does not allow its method to be disputed! Concurrent recognizes other approaches that it sees as credible and works with them. Fortuitous approach is made by accident. Now lets look at other approaches for studying Politics. Please remember that this is not the same as the Goals or reason why we study politics!!! But how! The Goals will be briefly commented upon finally! Theleological approach: (for studying Politics!) states that rationality directs society towards a higher goal!! This idea came down form Greek philosophy, and it can create conflict in society when we try to decide what this Goal should be! Statist/ Etatist approach: proposes that the State is greater than all other interests in politics. This approach can lead to authoritarianism as was found in FACISM. Remember Benito Mussolini of Italy! Cratological approach: studies politics as the concentration of power in some political or economic group. This usually leads to dictatorships by theses groups who rule in their interest! Elitist approach: studies politics from their belief that Ancestry, Educational training, or intellectualism is the qualification to rule and direct society. It is usually criticized, but such criticism does not study or consider that there are wider political institutional processes beyond the Elites. Interest Groups approach: of studying politics, examines the competitive actors who try to influence social policy in their groups interest. Social Classes approach: of studying politics, examines economic and class struggle as problems in society. This is found in Marxism! Integrating/ Stabilizing approach: of studying politics, explores the Maintenance of Peace, as; resulting in stability and giving politics legitimacy! There is no need for strict following of any ideology or kind of political system!!

Developmental approach: to study politics, follows the development of former Colonies or States in their development in politics; since the 1960s. Fuctionalist approach: in studying politics, examines the functional distribution of scarce values. Marxist approach: in studying politics, proceeds to view the politics as world systems, where Industrialist States (Nations), keep periphery States economically underdeveloped!! ***Please remember Social Class approach above! Here Marxist approach takes economical inequality to an international level!! Institutional/ Neo-Institutional approach: studies politics from Institutional frameworks which it perceives to be responsible for sustaining democratic structure. It offers that human interactions via institutions lead to rules, norms, and shared strategies. Decisionistic approach: to study politics view Conflicts of interests in society as leading people see the other as an opponent of their ideas or interests. This soon transforms into a political nature or phenomena. I think what this means is that we have decided by our different interests to be politically in competition! and Decisionistic approach presupposes this! Please correct me if Im wrong!! Quickly!! .. Goals, of studying politics are: Cultural & Educational, Adaptive!!, Creative, Democratic & Participative, Rational & Practical, and Professional!!! Like us! Political System Solomon: Jun, what makes up a political system? Jun : Institutional, Behavioral and Normative aspects or parts are what makes up a political system! Solomon: thank you Jun!! Solomon: can anyone explain what these aspects of political system mean? Jelena : legislatures, the Presidency, parties, courts, and civil service, are examples of Institutional aspect of a political system. Bojana : .and!! the behavior of political actors within institutions or Government in the political process is the behavioral aspect!! Jun : lastly, the Normative aspect of political systems is societys values. Their values affect how institutions are created. Their values also determine if they will accept the political system as legitimate!

Professor Zoran asked me to inform you ladies that there are, 6 Types of Political Actors 1. political parties 2. traditional actors: Church, Ethnic groups, tribe, Monarchy! 3. parliamentary institutions 4. functional socio-economic actors : working class, intellectuals, managers (Jelena) 5. person(alistic) or charismatic leaders 6. bureaucratic actors; like civil service, police, military. Questions from Note. Q.1.. same as Q.1 above! (from slides) Q.2 Which approach do you prefer? Why? (meaning approach to studying politics) The Concurrent Approach of studying politics is my preferred approach because it recognizes and uses incorporates other approaches which already have existing knowledge. This existing framework can be built upon by sampling them or building upon them. (what am I talking about!!...help me here!) Q.3 What would be your objections towards functionalist approach? Functionalist approach is deterministic, as it tries to determine who gets what? How? and When? This approach will need a form of authoritarianism for it to function properly. It does not answer the question who is to decide who decides? Q.4 What do you think about marxist approach? Are the economy and the nature of ownership really determining the structure and form of a political system? The Marxist approach does not hold true today. Some countries today like Saudi Arabia have a Capitalist system, yet it has a Sharia political system. And China has what appears to be a capitalist system but operates like a centralized socialist system.