Political Systems Norms and Laws

Study and practice of politicsThe political activities of the various nations involve the study and practice of government and the exercise of authority. Efforts are made to influence, gain, or wield power at various levels of government, internally and internationally, rather than in private settings and associations. Modes of political activity are highly diverse, varying from dispute resolution and formal elections to the threat or use of outright coercion or force. The degree to which people can engage in political activity also varies in different countries: in open societies, individuals have more freedom to participate in the exercise of political power than in closed societies, where such power is restricted to small groups.PersuasionPersuasion is the act of attempting to make people change their beliefs or behaviour. The rise of the mass media led in the mid-20th century to increased interest in the art of persuasion, especially in the fields of politics and advertising, marketing, and public relations. The art became big business, and sometimes the responsibility of new government departments. It was understood early on that a communicator's credibility depended on apparent expertise and disinterestedness, but less rational considerations, such as the communicator's demeanour, attractiveness, or familiarity may also play a major role. Sequence of information, amount of detail, and explicitness of conclusions also affect persuasion. Reference to negative effects of not acting as advocated can result in fear or resistance, and thereby reduce persuasion. Low self-confidence and good mood seem to make an audience more susceptible to persuasion. New ideas spread by conformity with persons whose views or status others respect. It is possible to 'inoculate' people against propaganda by giving them weak versions of an opponent's arguments and revealing their flaws.PowerPower (in political theory) refers to the capacity to achieve desired ends in the face of resistance. The study of human societies focuses on the power of an individual person, a group, or an institution such as a state vis-a-vis others; for example, the power of the US President over Congress, or the power of business over government. Power in this sense means the capacity to induce others to do things they would not otherwise have done; there is a range of ways of exercising power, from authority to force. There are two main views about the distribution of power in contemporary societies. On one view, elitism, power is concentrated in the hands of a relatively cohesive elite made up of the leading politicians, industrialists, financiers, military chiefs, and so on (see C. Wright Mills, The Power Elite, 1956). On the other view, pluralism, power is more widely dispersed among a variety of interest and pressure groups, each of which is able to wield influence in its own particular sphere of decision-making. The fact that both views have some plausibility illustrates how difficult it is to find an objective way of measuring power.DemocracyDemocracy is a system of government in which sovereignty rests with the whole people, who rule either directly or through representatives. In the contemporary world, democracy is closely associated with the idea of choosing governments by periodic free multiparty elections, but in the past it was understood more literally to mean the people gathering together in an assembly to debate political issues and enact laws.

Author: Andreas Sofroniou

Publisher: Independently Published

Publication Date: 44283

Number of Pages: 542 pages

Binding: Reference

ISBN-10:

ISBN-13: 9798729726288