Politics and Governance

Introduction: The
Concepts of
Politics and
Governance
POLITICS
-denotes a social activity.
-is the creation, maintenance, and

amendment of social norms or rules.
-an art and science of the government.

POLITICS
-It is also the strategy for maintaining cooperation among
people with different needs and ideals in life, or for resolving
the conflict within the group, whether this is a family, a tribe,
a village or a nation-state. (Amable G. Tuibeo)
POLITICS IN THE
PHILIPPINES
It takes place in an organized framework of a presidential,

representative, and democratic republic. It revolves around the three
separate and sovereign yet interdependent branches: the legislative
branch (the law-making body); the executive branch (the law-enforcing
body); and the judicial branch (the law-interpreting body).
HOW IS POLITICS STUDIED?
DIFFERENT APPROACHES
1. TRADITIONAL APPROACH
The traditional approach to political science is a
combination of views on and orientations to politics in
philosophical, ethical, and institutional terms. Since the
time of Plato and Aristotle, the great issues of politics
have revolved around the organization and functioning of
the state.
THE TRADITIONAL APPROACH IS FURTHER DIVIDED INTO VARIOUS
FORMS:

1. Philosophical-this approach firmly believes that values cannot be

separated from the study of politics and political system. Therefore, its
main concern is to judge what is good or bad in any political society.
2. Historical-as the name of this approach is related to history, it
emphasizes on the study of history of every political reality to analyze
any situation.
3. Institutional-this approach is concerned with the study of formal
structures and institutions like legislature, executive, judiciary, political
parties, etc.
4. Legal- this approach is concerned with the legal process, legal bodies
or institutions, justice and independence of judiciary.
DIFFERENT APPROACHES
1. BEHAVIORAL APPROACH
The behavioral approach to political science mainly
emphasizes on scientific, objective and value free study of
political phenomenon. This approach stresses upon the use
of empirical as well as scientific methods of study political
behavior. This approach shifts its emphasis from the study of
the state and government to the day-today problems,
activities and behavior of individuals and groups.
CHARACTERISTICS OF BEHAVIORISM:

1. Regularities -believes that there are certain uniformities in political behavior which can be
expressed in generalizations or theories in order to explain and predict political phenomena.
2. Verification -emphasizes testing and verifying everything. According to the behaviorists,
what cannot be verified is not scientific.
3. Techniques -put emphasis on the use of those research tools and methods which generate
valid, reliable and comparative data.
4. Quantification -after collecting data, the researcher should measure and quantify those
data.
5. Values -believe that to do objective research one has to be value free.
6. Systematization -research in political science must be systematic. Theory and research
should go together.
7. Pure science -believes that the study of political science should be verified by evidence.
8. Integration -political science should not be separated from various other social sciences like
history, sociology and economics, etc.
GOVERNANCE
Governance has been defined to refer to structures and
processes that are designed to ensure accountability, transparency,
responsiveness, rule of law, stability, equity and inclusiveness,
effectiveness and efficiency and broad-based participation.
ELEMENTS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE
1. Participation -good governance essentially requires participation of
different sectors of the society. Participation means active involvement
of all affected and interested parties in the decision-making process.
2. Rule of law -democracy is essentially the rule of law. It is through the

law that people express their will and exercise their sovereignty. That
the government is of law and not of men is an underlying democratic
principle which puts no one, however rich and powerful, above the
law. Not even the government can arbitrarily act in contravention of
the law.
3. Effectiveness and efficiency - good governance requires that the
institutions, processes, and actors could deliver and meet the
necessities of the society in a way that available resources are utilized
well.
4. Transparency - as an indicator of good governance, transparency means
that people are open to information regarding decision-making process
and the implementation of the same. In legal terms, it means that
information on matters of public concern is made available to the
citizens or those who will be directly affected.
5. Responsiveness - means that institutions and processes serve all
stakeholders in a timely and appropriate manner. It also means that
officialls and structures of governance easily give genuine expression to
the will or desire of the people.
6. Equity and inclusiveness -equity and inclusiveness means that all the
members of the society, especially the most vulnerable ones or the
grassroots level, must be taken into consideration in policy-making.
Everyone has a stake in the society and no one should feel alienated
from it.
7. Consensus-oriented -governance is consensus-oriented when decisions are
made after taking into consideration the different viewpoints of the
officials of the society. Mechanisms for conflict resolution must be in place
because inevitably conflict that will arise from competing interests of the
people. To meet the consensus, a strong, impartial, and flexible mediation
structure must be established.
8. Accountability -accountability means answerability or responsibility for

one’s action. It is based on the principle that every person or group is
responsible for their actions most especially when their acts affect public
interest.
Thank you!

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Introduction: The

-is the creation, maintenance, and

-an art and science of the government.

It takes place in an organized framework of a presidential,

1. Philosophical-this approach firmly believes that values cannot be

2. Rule of law -democracy is essentially the rule of law. It is through the

8. Accountability -accountability means answerability or responsibility for

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