Evolution of Political Theory Political Science I

Copyright and Terms of Service Copyright © Texas Education Agency, 2011. These materials are copyrighted © and trademarked ™ as the property of the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and may not be reproduced without the express written permission of TEA, except under the following conditions: 1)  Texas public school districts, charter schools, and Education Service Centers may reproduce and use copies of the Materials and Related Materials for the districts’ and schools’ educational use without obtaining permission from TEA. 2)  Residents of the state of Texas may reproduce and use copies of the Materials and Related Materials for individual personal use only, without obtaining written permission of TEA. 3)  Any portion reproduced must be reproduced in its entirety and remain unedited, unaltered and unchanged in any way. 4)  No monetary charge can be made for the reproduced materials or any document containing them; however, a reasonable charge to cover only the cost of reproduction and distribution may be charged. Private entities or persons located in Texas that are not Texas public school districts, Texas Education Service Centers, or Texas charter schools or any entity, whether public or private, educational or non-educational, located outside the state of Texas MUST obtain written approval from TEA and will be required to enter into a license agreement that may involve the payment of a licensing fee or a royalty. Contact TEA Copyrights with any questions you may have.

What are the major political theories of the classical political theorists?

Natural Rights Natural rights are inherent in human beings, not dependent on governments, which include life, liberty, and property The concept of natural rights was central to English philosopher John Locke’s theories about government and was widely accepted among America’s Founders

John Locke’s Theory of Natural Rights People exist in a state of nature in which there are no formal laws or governments; instead, laws of nature govern people, laws determined by people’s moral sense Natural law Brings natural rights, which include life, liberty, and the right to property Can justify a challenge to the rule of a tyrannical king because it is superior to manmade law

John Locke’s Theory of Natural Rights (continued) Became the basis for the concept of the “consent of the governed” This concept was adopted 100 years later by the Founding Fathers of the United States of America while writing the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution

John Locke’s Theory of Natural Rights (continued) Adapted from other classical political theorists Plato Had a concept of “natural law” One of the first philosophers to write about the concept of natural rights We live in an orderly universe which we call “nature” “Laws should guide by an order that is natural and rational” Plato’s important question: “What is just?” Aristotle Wrote mainly about a “natural Aristocracy,” but was greatly admired by the Founding Fathers Believed that the characteristics of other types of governments were also important to support the “natural rights” of citizens Considered natural rights to also be the rule of God

Popular Sovereignty The notion that ultimate authority in society rests with the people Adapted by John Jacques-Rousseau from John Locke’s “social contract theory” Rousseau stated that each individual possesses the God-given right of self-determination and the ability to be governed Rousseau’s theory on government was belief in a true democracy He compared representative government to slavery

Popular Sovereignty (continued) The only legitimate government is one that promotes the interests of the people and governs with their consent Government is the instrument for carrying out the people’s will Sparked the American Revolution in 1776 The concept of individual rights is eventually what led to the creation of a capitalist economy in the US The concept of capitalism is the exact opposite of classical political theorist Karl Marx Marx believed that government should control all means of production and remove any sort of social class in society

What caused these classical political theories to evolve into contemporary political theories?

Belief in Universal Foundations Schools and universities The Age of Enlightenment (1600s–1700s) – a cultural movement of intellectuals that began in Europe in the 17th/18th century and eventually spread to the US Before the Age of Enlightenment, education was a privilege for only the most wealthy citizens in society Schools and universities allowed citizens to share ideas and philosophies about subjects like politics, government, and religion

Belief in Universal Foundations (continued) Schools and universities (continued) During the Age of Enlightenment, education was provided to citizens of all classes Literacy rates in Europe rose to around 60 percent by the 18th century (Melton, p.81) The increase of literacy rates led to an increase in College/university attendance Printing educational materials

Belief in Universal Foundations (continued) Books The increase in literacy rates Created a higher demand for books in Europe Caused a change in the content of the books Most printed books prior to this time were religious books By 1790 only 10 percent of books printed were of religious content (Melton, p.82)

Belief in Universal Foundations (continued) Books (continued) The Age of Enlightenment ushered in a new type of literature Citizens became more interested in the writings of political and scientific thinkers This allowed citizens to learn and share ideas about different subject, including politics, philosophy, and government

Ending Oppression Expansion of rights to citizens The expansion of education in society allowed citizens to become more educated about social issues When the Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence the rights they spoke of only applied to white, male property owners As education progressed in the US and social ideas were exchanged, oppression of the people began to subside There have been several historical events in American history during which rights were expanded to an oppressed group of people

Ending Oppression (continued) Ending oppression in the US Although the Declaration of Independence states, “All men are created equal,” this only applied to white, male property owners until 1850 This was the first time that evolving political theory in the US expanded rights to a group of people, ending their oppression in society This occurred several more times in the US and continued to shape political theory among American citizens Ending oppression in the US was the result of social events like war and large social movements

What historical events in the US caused a change in political theory?

1700s–1800s The Founding Fathers wrote the Constitution and Declaration of Independence which expanded rights to citizens following the American Revolution Victory against the British ushered in new concepts of political rights and freedoms As political parties began to form in the US, and citizens became more educated, political theory in the US evolved Although the US expanded rights to all males, they excluded any rights to slaves

1700s–1800s (continued) The issue of slavery became a polarizing issue in the US by the mid-1800s By 1861 in the US, the issue of slavery was one of the reasons that caused the division of the states into the US and the Confederate States The Civil War was fought over issues such as slavery The 15th amendment extended the right to vote to African-American males, but still excluded all females in the US

1900s By the 1900s, women were the only citizens in the US who were still not afforded the right to vote Women organized and petitioned political leaders that they too deserved the right to vote under the concept of “all men are created equal” As more and more people became involved in the political process, politics began to change in the US

1900s (continued) By World War II, the US began to see the change from classical political theory, to contemporary political theory The Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s

2000s Social Networking Has changed the political process since the creation of social networking 2000s Allows candidates to cheaply and effectively send information to voters using social networking and video sharing sites Considered an example of David Easton’s Post-Behavioralism Theory by some

2000s (continued) Scientific Research New technology has opened up several new career fields in political science Politicians now hire researchers who use scientific research to predict voter trends and turnout This information is crucial to a candidate’s campaign because it can determine areas to which campaign money should be directed

How will political theories continue to evolve in society?

Constant Change of the Needs and Wants of Citizens Systems Theory An abstract way of examining the political process today Helps predict how the political landscape will change in the future There will always be competition in society, which in turn will always create a demand for change

Constant Change of the Needs and Wants of Citizens (continued) Systems Theory (continued) Issues are cyclical and will always be in a continuous cycle of social and political change Will continue to be the model for decision making for years to come because there are a wide range of topics that are highly controversial and polarizing As society creates demand over issues the political agenda will evolve

Political Parties Must Win Office to Survive Rational Choice Theory Explains how candidates are elected in contemporary politics Now that the concept of “natural rights” has expanded to all groups of people in the US, there are many different opinions in society and all groups can influence elections Candidates must try and influence all groups in society in order to gain votes Because candidates often shift their opinions to a more centrist position so that it will appeal to more voters May become obsolete in the future

Political Parties Must Win Office to Survive (continued) In order to influence the decision making process, political parties must win offices on the local, state, and national levels Voting rights were expanded to all citizens ages 18 and older, which broadened the voting base The 26th Amendment to the US Constitution expanded these rights to citizens Political theories will continue to evolve throughout society as opinions change and citizens become more involved in the political process

What career opportunities will be available as political theory changes?

Political Consultant Plays many different roles during a political campaign Most often requires a bachelor’s degree in a field such as political science, public relations, or communications Requires strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work in a flexible environment Must also be up-to-date on current political trends and political platforms

Political Consultant (continued) Continue to be an important part of the political process Can be a very profitable career, depending on the level of consulting

Lobbyist Must persuade politicians to vote on legislation that favors the interest(s) they represent Most have college degrees with majors such as political science, journalism, law, communications, public relations, or economics Very influential when it comes to legislation Cannot personally give money to politicians but can help to raise money from outside sources for their campaigns Corporations and organizations pay lobbyists substantial salaries to influence legislation

Resources Bertram, Christopher, "Jean Jacques Rousseau", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2012 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2012/entries/rousseau/ Bose, Meena, John Dilulio, and James Wilson. American Government: Institutions and Policies. 13th. Boston: Wadsworth Cenage Learning, 2013. Ch. 4. Print Edwards, George, Robert Lineberry, and Martin Wattenberg. Government in American: People, Politics and Policy. 15th. New York City: Pearson Education, 2011. Ch. 1, Ch. 11. Print Harrison, Brigid, and Jean Harris. American Democracy Now. 2nd. New York City: McGraw Hill, 2011. Ch. 1, Ch. 9. Print Kraut, Richard, "Plato", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2012 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2012/entries/plato/ Mathews, John Mabry. Legislative and Judicial History of the Fifteenth Amendment. Union, N.J.: Lawbook Exchange, 2001

Resources (continued) Melton, James Van Horn. The Rise of the Public in Enlightenment. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2001. Print. O'Conner, Karen, Larry Sabato, and Alixandra Yanus. American Government: Roots and Reform. 11th. New York City: Pearson Education, 2011. Ch. 1. Print. Patterson, Thomas. The American Democracy. 9th. New York City: McGraw Hill, 2009. Ch 1. Print. Shields, Christopher, "Aristotle", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2012 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2012/entries/aristotle/ Wolff, Jonathan, "Karl Marx", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Summer 2011 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/sum2011/entries/marx/ Alexander Keyssar, The Right to Vote: The Contested History of Democracy in the United States (2nd ed. 2009) "Career: Lobbyist." Princeton Review. 2013: n. page. Web. 13 May. 2013.