Government, Politics, & Effectiveness

What is government?
That thing that can mess with your life.
Institution that has the power to institute policy of people living within a certain territory.
Power is used to implement your vision of what is right.

What is politics?
Process of resolving conflict and allocating resources of people living within a certain territory.
The game that is played in the struggle for power.

Is the government effective?
If not, it will soon find itself absolved of its power.
Ask these questions...
Does the government provide security for the people?
How much liberty do the people have?
Does the government have authority?
Do the people view the government as legitimate?

What is the difference between a nation and a state?
Nation - group of people sharing similar ethnic or cultural backgrounds
State - political unit with the power to execute policy over people living within a defined territory

Is the United States a nation or a state?

Theories of origin of the state
If you really want to get into it...

Otherwise...
4 basic theories of origin of the state
- Divine Right Theory
- Evolution Theory
- Social Contract Theory
- Force Theory

Various forms of government
- anarchy
- autocracy
     - monarchy
     - dictatorship
- oligarchy
     - dictatorship
     - aristocracy
     - technocracy
- democracy
     - direct democracy
     - republic