PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND

GOVERNANCE
The Concepts of Politics and Governance Week 1

COURSE OUTLINE: PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE

LESSO TOPICS LEARNING REFERENCES

N OBJECTIVES
 articulate definitions
of politics https://www.studocu.com/ph/document/
 differentiate the polytechnic-college-of-botolan/statistics-
and-probability-1/ppg-module-1-politics/
Introduction: The various views on 33089856
1 concepts of politics politics
and governance:  explore the https://www.unescap.org/sites/default/
files/good-governance.pdf?
connection between fbclid=IwAR3AzSHajg763rIH-
1.1 The meaning the phenomenon RxGnnhw4WGa5Rh1YkgrJ_KbYiskmnRygZf
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of politics (politics) and the
1.2 How politics method of inquiry
can be studied (Political Science)
1.3. The meaning  recognize the value
of governance of politics
 differentiate
governance from
government

his module introduces to

you the basic
concepts and vital
elements of politics,
government and
governance. Specifically, it
will help you understand
the diverse
meanings of politics and
the different ways of
viewing it. The part about
government and
governance will make it
clear to you the
differences between the
two concepts and
explain their
interconnectedness. At the
end
of the module, you will be
able to relate the
concepts that you have
learned with your
everyday life by identifying
a specific political
phenomenon and how it
can be studied.
The module is divided into
two lessons, namely:
• Lesson 1 – The Meaning
of Politics and How it can be
Studied
• Lesson 2 – Government
and Governance
After going through this
module, you are expected
to:
1. explain the definition of
politics;
2. differentiate the various
views on politics;
3. recognize the value of
politics; and
4. differentiate governance
from government.
This module introduces to you the basic concepts and vital
elements of politics, government and governance. Specifically, it
will help you understand the diverse meanings of politics and the
different ways of viewing it. The part about government and
governance will make it clear to you the differences between the
two concepts and explain their interconnectedness. At the end of
the module, you will be able to relate the concepts that you have
learned with our everyday life by identifying a specific political
phenomenon and how it can be studied.
Defining Politics

Here are some of the definitions of

politics offered by subject matter
experts:

- in broadest sense, it is the activity

through which people make, preserve
and amend the general rules under
which they live. (Heywood, 2007)

- activity or process by which groups

reach and enforce binding decisions. (Hague & Harrop, 2013)

- activity by which different interests within a given unit of rule are

conciliated by giving them a share in power in proportion to their importance
to the welfare and the survival of the whole community. (Crick, 2005)

- set of activities that organizes individuals, systematically resolves disputes,

and maintains order in society through creation and enforcement of rules
and government policy. (Barrington et al. 2010)

- activity through which human beings attempt to improve their lives and
create the Good Society. (Aristotle in Heywood, 2007)

Studying Politics - The Different Views About Politics

(Heywood, 2007)

This topic will help you gain a deeper understanding about politics.

A. Politics as the art of government

Politics is viewed as an art or practical application of knowledge for the

achievement of a particular objective. This is considered the classical
definition of politics: the art of government or the exercise of control within
society through the making and enforcement of collective or group decisions.

Here are the additional features of this view about politics:

 This view was developed in Ancient Greece. Remember, the word

politics is derived from the ancient Greek word polis, which literally
means city-state.
 Politics can be understood to refer to the affairs or concerns of the
polis or its modern meaning what concerns the state.
 If you are studying politics, you are studying the government. Two
aspects are under this setting: Government personnel or the people in
government and government machinery or the different government
departments, offices, or agencies.
 Politics happens in cabinet rooms, legislative chambers, government
departments.
 To study politics is to study the exercise of authority defined as
legitimate power. Legitimate means it is acceptable for the people.
 Politics is engaged in by a limited and specific group of people, notably
politicians, civil servants and lobbyists.

B. Politics as public affairs

This second view considers politics as what happens in the public sphere of
life. It is important that you remember the distinction between the political
and the nonpolitical. It coincides with the division between what is public
and what is private. If it happens in the public sphere, it is political. To clarify,
the distinction between the public and the private conforms with the division
between the state and civil society. The institutions of the state (the offices
of government, the courts, the police, the army, and so forth) can be
regarded as public because they are responsible for the collective
organization of community life. Moreover, they are funded at the publics
expense or out of taxation. In contrast, civil society consists of institutions
such as private businesses, trade unions, clubs, community groups and so on
that are private in the sense that they are set up and funded by individual
citizens to satisfy their own interests, rather than those of the larger society.

C. Politics as compromise and consensus

The third view about politics refers to the way in which decisions are made.
Politics is seen as a particular means of resolving conflict: that is, by
compromise, conciliation and negotiation, rather than through force and
naked power.

The description of a solution to a problem as a political solution implies

peaceful debate and arbitration, as opposed to what is often called a military
solution. It is based on the belief that society is characterized by consensus
rather than by irreconcilable conflict. In other words, the disagreements that
exist can be resolved without resort to intimidation and violence. This view
of politics has a positive character. People should be encouraged to respect
politics as an activity, and should be prepared to engage in the political life
of their own community.

D. Politics as power

The fourth view sees politics to be

present in all social activities. Politics
takes place at every level of social
interaction; it can be found within
families and amongst small groups of
friends just as much as amongst nations
and on the global stage. The presence
of power makes a particular social behavior or activity distinctively political.
Politics under this view is in essence power or the ability to achieve a desired
outcome, through whatever means. Politics is seen as a struggle over limited
resources, and power can be seen as the means through which this struggle
is conducted. In politics, power is usually thought of as a relationship: that is,
as the ability to influence the behavior of others in a manner not of their
choosing. It is referred to in terms of having 8power over9 people.

Remember, politics may be defined as: the art of government, public

affairs, compromise and consensus, and power.

The Government and its Purposes

Government is the term generally used to describe the formal institutions

through which a group of people is ruled or governed. The term extends to
include the persons and organizations that make, enforce, and apply political
decisions for a society. (Mendoza n.d.) Government is created for the benefit
of the people governed. It performs services or functions that are beyond
the capabilities of any individual or enterprise. The important purposes of
government are: (1) the maintenance of peace and order; (2) the protection
of persons and property; (3) the administration of justice; (4) the promotion
of education; (5) the preservation of the state from external danger and; (5)
the advancement of the physical, economic and social and cultural well-
being of the people. (Leon 1991).

Governance

Governance is commonly defined as the exercise of power or authority by

political leaders for the well-being of their country9s citizens or inhabitants. It
is the complex process whereby some sectors of the society exercise power,
and create public policies which directly affect the members of society.
Governance is broader than government in that other sectors are included in
it. The government (also called the public sector) is always the main actor in
governance but it is not the only actor. Governance is based on the
realization that the government alone cannot do everything for the people.
The main role of the government is to provide an enabling environment for
the other actors of governance to participate and respond to the mandate of
the common good. All actors other than the government are called the <civil
society. The civil society includes non-governmental organizations, and other
community-based and sectoral organizations, such as association of farmers,
charitable institutions, cooperatives, religious communities, political parties,
and research institutes. These organizations are private in nature but have
public functions or objectives.

Indicators of Good Governance

Good governance is understood through its eight indicators or

characteristics: (1) Participatory; (2) Rule of Law; (3) Effective and Efficient;
(4) Transparent; (5) Responsive; (6) Equitable and Inclusive; (7) Consensus
Oriented; and (8) Accountability.

1. Participatory

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. It requires an enabling environment.
Governance should no longer be government monopoly but government
management or inter-sectoral participation.

2. Rule of Law

Good governance is fundamentally adherence to the rule of law. Rule of law

demands that the people and the civil society render habitual obedience to
the law and the government acts within the limits of the powers and
functions prescribed by the law. Rule of law also requires that laws are
responsive to the needs of the society.

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. Public service delivery, especially of front-line
agencies, must promptly and adequately serve the needs of the citizens.
Doing so requires simplified government procedures and inexpensive
transaction costs.

4. Transparency

Transparency means that people are open to information regarding decision-

making process and the implementation of decisions. Information on
matters of public concern is made available to the citizens or those who will
be directly affected.

5. Responsiveness

Responsiveness means that institutions and processes serve all stakeholders

in a timely and appropriate manner. The 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 the members of the society,
especially the most vulnerable ones must be taken into consideration.
Everyone has a stake in the society and no one should feel alienated from it.
Those who have less in life should have more in law. Good governance
demands that the actors must give preferential attention to the conditions of
the poor.

7. Consensus Oriented

Governance is consensus oriented when decisions are made after taking into
consideration the different viewpoints. Mechanisms for conflict resolution
must be in place because inevitably conflict will arise from competing
interests of the actors. Governance is based on the partnership of the actors
of the society in providing public services.

Cite a recent political phenomenon or event and select the view about politics that
can be used in studying it. Explain how that view can help you understand the cited
political event.

Political Phenomenon View About Politics View About Politics