Summary
The author challenges theories of political science that define politics as "a struggle for competitive advantage." Political Elasticity (PE) theory is introduced as a way of seeing political power more in terms of a relationship between leaders and the public - as a form of social energy instead of a resource to be pursued for personal gain. Case studies are presented in this light to show why More Developed Countries (MDCs) tend to be more dynamic than Less Developed Countries (LDCs).
Keywords: Politics defined; Social Energy; Political power manifestations; More Developed Countries; Less Developed Countries; Political Elasticity theory; Solid Waste Management; Tokyo and Lagos; Agricultural Productivity; The Netherlands and Ghana.See the full content of this document
Extract
Political Power As Social Energy: Why Are Mdcs More Efficient Than Ldcs?
Introduction
On the American Political Science Association Web site, it is recognized that there is more than one definition of politics. Yet the only definition provided, presumably derived from Harold Lasswell's 1936 book, is "who get what, when, and how." This is explained as follows: "Almost always the political process involves competition for scarce resources." However, I regard this unidimensional definition of politics, emphasizing partisanship rather than statesmanship or governance, to be inadequate and counterproductive. Above all, it distorts our understanding of such concepts as democracy, corruption and decentralization of power, and prevents us from linking political science to public administration.Ask a political scientist what he or she means by "politics." The reaction is likely to be a mixture of irritation and confusion. Introductory political science textbooks frequently use such definitions of politics as "the authoritative allocation of values" and "the pursuit of power" without indicating the relationship between these concepts (Norquist 1998). Yet values cannot simply be imposed (behavior, yes; values, no) and power cannot be pursued within an empty framework. The process of inculcating values requires a strong relationship between leaders and followers. Such a relationship cannot develop unless the struggle for power is carried out within an acceptable framework.Imagine watching the Olympics and seeing it only as the competitive struggle for victory. How many gold, silver, and bronze medals an individual or nation wins then becomes most important. However, if there is no consensus on every aspect of the competitive process (rules, officiating, equipment, facilities, etc.), the competition is meaningless. How to build consensus to maximize the competitive process is, of course, the...See the full content of this document
Sponsored links
