Lecture Notes

Chapter 1 - An Introduction to Political Life

5 min read

Introduction

  • The Image of Politicians:
    • Politicians generally suffer from an image problem and a lack of public trust.
    • The Cycle: Lack of trust cynicism apathy.
    • Ranking: Politicians are often ranked low in respect (e.g., below car salespeople), whereas professions like firefighters and nurses rank highly.
  • The Nature of Politics:
    • Politics is inherently “messy.”
    • It involves balancing competing interests and views in society.

What is Politics?

  • Scarcity: Politics arises from the fundamental fact of scarcity (resources are limited).
  • Power: While definitions vary, there is agreement that politics is about power. Disagreements arise over which power relations count as political.
  • Public vs. Private:
    • Political conflict often concerns where to draw the line between the public realm (matters for collective debate/decision) and the private realm (matters left to the individual).

Power

Definition: The ability to influence what happens. This ability is not restricted to the government.

The Three “Faces” of Power

People obey power for three primary reasons:

  1. Coercion: Force.
  2. Influence: Persuasion.
  3. Authority: Legitimacy (the recognized right to rule).

Coercion in Democracy

  • Democracies rely primarily on influence and authority, but coercion is still used (e.g., courts, police, prisons).
  • Example of State Coercion: The 1970 FLQ Crisis in Quebec.
    • Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau invoked the War Measures Act.
    • Famous quote: “Just watch me.”

State vs. Government

It is critical to distinguish between the state and the government.

  1. The State: A broader concept than government. It includes the permanent structures of authority, the regime, and the community.
    • Who does it serve? Theories vary: Pluralism, Class Analysis (Marxism), Feminism.
    • Includes the “Deep State” concept.
  2. The Government: Refers to the specific people elected to power.
    • In a democracy, governments are chosen and removed through elections.
    • Politics in a stable democracy is typically about changing the government, not transforming the state.
  • Legitimacy: In a democracy, one may oppose the government (unpopular leaders) but still accept the state’s decisions and rules as legitimate (maintaining stability).
  • Challenging Authority:
    • Civil Disobedience: Defying the law in defense of a cause, principle, or oppressed group.
    • Philosophical Basis: Henry David Thoreau argued that if the “machine of government” requires you to be an agent of injustice to another, you should “break the law.”
    • Examples:
      • Idle No More (2013).
      • The “Freedom Convoy” (2022).
      • Extinction Rebellion (Climate Change Protests).
  • Violence: There is debate over whether violent protest is effective.

Cultural Hegemony

  • Legitimacy and consent may be viewed as illusions.
  • Theory: The dominant class gets its values accepted as “normal” (“false consciousness”).
  • They control the creation and spread of ideas/information to maintain this control.
  • Disinformation: A modern challenge (e.g., “Fake News,” The Online Harms Act).

Democracy

Democracy is a contested concept. It is claimed by diverse regimes (Canada/US, but also North Korea, Russia, Iran).

Dimensions of Democracy

  1. Representative Democracy:
    • The people do not govern directly.
    • Citizens elect representatives to make laws and hold them accountable via elections.
    • Challenge: Citizens may be poorly informed or indifferent.
  2. Direct Democracy:
    • US and Switzerland mix representative with direct democracy.
    • Mechanisms:
      • Plebiscites/Referendums: Direct votes on public issues.
      • Recall Elections: Removing an official before their term ends.
      • Citizen Assemblies.

Key Features

  • Basics: Government by consent, one person–one vote, competitive elections.
  • Minority Rights: Democracies protect minorities from the majority (though Populism often argues the majority needs protection from elites).
  • Rule of Law:
    • No one is above the law.
    • Public officials must exercise power only as granted by law.
    • Independent judiciary checks abuses of power.

Democracy and Inequality

  • Legal vs. Political Equality: Legal equality does not guarantee political equality.
  • Socio-economic Influence:
    • Wealthy individuals and corporations have greater access to decision-makers (“money talks”).
    • The poor participate less in political life.
    • Quote: “The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread” — Anatole France.

Process vs. Outcome

  • Process View: Democracy is about the procedure (voting, elections, accountability).
  • Outcome View: Democracy is about the result (fairness, rights).
    • Implication: If you believe in the outcome view, you may support non-elected judges making decisions on controversial issues to ensure the “right” outcome.
  • Canadian Context: Generally a mix of both.

Definitions

Politics The activity of balancing competing interests and views, arising from the reality of scarcity.

Power The ability to influence what happens. It can manifest as coercion, influence, or authority.

Coercion A “face of power” relying on force or the threat of force (e.g., police, prisons).

Influence A “face of power” relying on persuasion.

Authority A “face of power” relying on legitimacy; the recognized right to make decisions.

The State The permanent structures of authority, regime, and community within a country (distinct from the temporary government).

Government The group of individuals elected to power who manage the state for a limited time.

Legitimacy The popular acceptance of a governing regime’s right to rule.

Civil Disobedience The act of willfully defying the law to defend a cause, a principle, or an oppressed group.

Cultural Hegemony The theory that the dominant class maintains power by making their values and beliefs appear “normal,” creating a “false consciousness” among the population.

Social Capital A feature of stable democracies involving a strong sense of civic duty, social trust, and networks of reciprocity.

Rule of Law The principle that all individuals and institutions, including the government, are subject to the law.

Representative Democracy A system where citizens elect officials to make laws and decisions on their behalf.

Direct Democracy A system where citizens vote directly on laws and public issues (e.g., referendums).

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