PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE and amend the general rules under which
INTRODUCTION: THE CONCEPT OF POLITICS AND they live. (Heywood2007)
GOVERNANCE
• Activity or process through which groups
Module 1
reach and enforce binding decisions.
LESSON 1 – THE MEANING OF POLITICS AND
(Hague & Harrop 2013)
HOW IT CAN BE STUDIED
• activity by which different interests are
Politics and Political Science conciliated by giving them a share in
power in proportion to their importance
Aristotle, the Father of Political Science, once to the welfare and the survival of the
said, "Man is by nature a political animal". whole community.(Crick 2005)
Humans rely on social interactions to survive.
• set of activities that organizes
Individuals are not self-sufficing, so they find the
individuals, systematically resolves
need to group as a community. Politics is born
disputes, and maintains order in society
out of these social interactions.
through creation and enforcement of
rules and government policy. (Barrington
The word politics was formulated by the Greeks
et al. 2010)
during the 4th and 5th century. It came from the
word “polis” which means city state. It deals with • activity through which human beings
power in society in general. It is said to be the art attempt to improve their lives and create
and science of government. Politics was the Good Society.(Aristotle in Heywood
inseparable from life in the polis or a place or 2007)
state shared by a certain group of people.
Political Science is a social science discipline that
studies the state and the government. It is a
According to Plato and Aristotle, there are central
systematized body of knowledge based on facts
concepts in politics:
which deals with experimentation and
(1) Concept of justice – what and who is morally
observation. Based on the given definition, there
and politically right,
are four elements to become a science – a.) body
(2) Concept of power – source of authority,
of knowledge; b.) based on facts; c.) deals with
(3) Concept on the right types of constitutions
experiments; and d.) observation.
and governments – different types of
government and states, Aside from the above definition of Political
(4) Concepts on political structures – different Science and Politics, the following concept will aid
ideologies in a state, and you understand their differences.
(5) Concept on the right and virtuous leadership
– who should lead in a certain political system.
Politics
Defining Politics - is the actual process of how humans interact
in groups
• Politics as an activity that involves the
- constitutes man’s activities in the real world
interaction of people, whose relationship - is the practices of elective and non-elective
is characterized by conflict and political systems
cooperation, and who come together to - is the process by which people try to influence
solve such disagreement through binding the government
solutions. Heywood (2013) - is the process by which the government
decides which policies will be enacted
• In broadest sense, politics is the activity - is the practice of state and government
through which people make, preserve - deals with issues, problems, and activities
taking place in society
- is the day-to-day actual activities of the different government departments,
government - is relative (varying) - is where offices, or agencies.
everyone is involved
• Politics happens in cabinet official
meetings, legislative chambers, and
Political Science government departments.
- is the scientific study of politics – focuses on
the theory and practice of government • To study politics is to study the
- is a theory of state and government – seeks to exercise of authority defined as
study the origin, nature and functions of the legitimate power. Legitimate means it is
state, government and all its organs acceptable for the people.
- is universal - is studied by few
• Politics is engaged in by a limited and
specific group, notably politicians, civil
Importance of Politics servants and lobbyists.
1. Politics helps you to know your rights.
2. Politics clarifies what you yourself believe. B. Politics as Public Affairs
3. Politics is a living, breathing subject. • This second view looks at politics as what
4. Politics helps you to understand our nation’s happens in the public sphere of life. It is
parties.
important that you remember the
5. Politics prepares you for adult life.
distinction between ‘the political’ and ‘the
non-political’. It coincides with the
Studying Politics – The Different Views division between what is public and what
about Politics is private. If it happens in the public
sphere, it is political.
A. Politics as the art of government
C. Politics as compromise and consensus
• Politics is viewed as an art or practical
application of knowledge for • The third view about politics focuses on
attaining a particular objective. the way how decisions are made. Politics
Considered as the classical definition of is seen as a particular means of resolving
politics: the art of government or conflict: that is, by compromise,
exercise of control in society through conciliation and negotiation, rather
making and enforcement of collective or than through the use of force and naked
group decisions. power.
Here are the additional features of this view • Describing a solution to a problem as a
about politics: ‘political’ solution implies peaceful debate
and arbitration, as opposed to what is
• This view was developed in Ancient
often called a ‘military’ solution.
Greece. Remember, the word politics is
derived from the ancient Greek word
polis, meaning city-state. Politics can be
• D. Politics as Power
studied by referring it to the affairs or
concerns of the polis or its modern • The fourth view sees politics as something
meaning what concerns the state. that is present in all social activities, at
every level of social interaction; it can
• If you are studying politics, you are
be found within our families and
studying the government. Two aspects are
amongst our small groups of friends just
under this setting: Government
as much as amongst nations and on the
personnel or the people in government
international or global stage.
and government machinery or the
• Politics is viewed as a struggle over limited Governance is based on the reality that the
resources, and power can be seen as the government cannot do everything for the people
means through which this struggle is on its own.
conducted. In politics, power is usually The main role of the government is to set an
enabling environment for other actors of
thought of as a relationship: that is, as
governance to participate and respond to the
the ability to influence the behavior of
pursuit of the common good
others. It is referred to in terms of having All actors other than the government are called
‘power over’ people. Remember, politics the “civil society”.
may be defined as: the art of The civil society includes non-governmental
government, public affairs, compromise organizations, and other community-based and
and consensus, and power. sectoral organizations that are private in nature
but have public functions or objectives.
Indicators of Good Governance
PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE
INTRODUCTION: THE CONCEPT OF POLITICS AND Good governance according to Kio Sheng (2010) and
GOVERNANCE Tamayo (2014)is understood through its eight
indicators or characteristics:
Module 1
LESSON 2 – GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNANCE 1. Participatory
Good governance necessarily requires participation
GOVERNMENT AND ITS PURPOSE
of the different sectors of society. Participation
means active involvement of all concerned and
According to Mendoza(1999), government is interested sectors in the decision-making process. It
the term generally used in referring the formal requires an enabling environment. Governance
institutions through which a group of people is ruled should no longer be government monopoly but
or governed, and the term extends to include the government management or inter-sectoral
people and organizations that make, enforce, and participation.
apply political decisions for a society.
2. Rule of Law
Government as explained by De Leon (1991)is
created for the benefit of the people governed and it Good governance is fundamentally adherence to
accomplishes services or functions that are beyond the rule of law. Rule of law requires that the
the capabilities of any individual or enterprise. (1) people give habitual obedience to the law. The
the maintenance of peace and order; (2)the government acts within the limits of the powers
protection of persons and property; (3)the and functions prescribed by the law. Under this
administration of justice; (4) the promotion of indicator, laws should be responsive to the needs of
education; (5) the preservation of the state from the society
external danger and; (6)the advancement of the
3. Effectiveness and Efficiency
physical, economic and social and cultural well-
being of the people. Good governance requires that the institutions,
processes, and actors deliver and meet the needs of
Governance according to Tamayo (2014) is
society in a way that available resources are used
commonly defined as the exercise of power or
well. Service delivery in public sector, especially of
authority by political leaders for attainment of the
front-line agencies, must promptly and adequately
well-being of their country’s citizens or inhabitants.
serve the needs of the citizens instituting simplified
Anne Mette Kjaer(2004) as cited by Tamayo (2014) government procedures and inexpensive transaction
clarifies the following features about governance costs.
Governance is broader than government 4. Transparency
because other sectors are included in it: the
Transparency means that people can access
government(also called the public sector) is always
information regarding decision-making process and
the main actor in governance but it is not the only
the implementation of decisions. Information on
actor.
matters of public concern are made available to
the citizens or those who will be directly affected
5. Responsiveness
Responsiveness means that institutions and
processes should serve all the stakeholders in timely
and appropriate way. Interests of all citizens must
be well protected in a prompt and appropriate
manner so that each of them can appreciate and take
part in the process of governance.
6. Equity and Inclusiveness
Equity and inclusiveness mean that all members of
society, especially the most vulnerable ones must be
taken into consideration. Everyone has a stake in
society; no one should feel alienated from it. Those
who have less in life should have more in law.
7. Consensus Oriented
Governance is consensus oriented when decisions
are made after taking into consideration the
different perspectives. A procedure for conflict
resolution must be in place because it is possible that
conflict will arise from competing interests of the
actors
8. Accountability
Accountability refers to answer ability or responsibility
for one’s action, based on the principle that each
person or group is responsible for their actions
most especially when their acts affect public interest.
Actors have an obligation to explain and be
answerable for the consequences of decisions and
actions they have made on behalf of the society it
serves.
