PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND
GOVERNANCE
COURSE OUTLINE: PHILIPPINE POLITICS AND GOVERNANCE
LESSON TOPICS LEARNING OBJECTIVES REFERENCES
• articulate definitions of
politics
• differentiate the various
Introduction: The concepts of views on politics
1 politics and governance: • explore the connection
between the phenomenon
1.1 The meaning of politics (politics) and the method of
1.2 How politics can be studied inquiry (Political Science)
1.3. The meaning of governance • recognize the value of
politics
• differentiate governance
from government
Introduction: The Concepts Of Politics And Governance:
I. Meaning
Man is a social animal. He cannot live in isolation, because he is not self-sufficient and the natural instinct to survive
compels him to live a collective life. According to Aristotle, this collective life necessitates a political mechanism of
rules, regulations and leadership. An organized society needs some system to make and enforce rules for orderly
behavior in society. This led to the evolution of a political system with elaborate governmental institutions &
procedures in each society. Therefore, man is also a political animal. Political science is one of the oldest subjects of
study of this political life of man.
I. Nature
Politics is not only a mere institution of governance but also a mechanism for achieving societal goals. Political science
is a social science concerned with the theory and practice of politics and the description and analysis of political
systems and political behavior. It includes matters concerning the allocation and transfer of power in decision making,
the roles and systems of governance including governments and international organizations, political behavior and
public policies.
Political science is thus a study of the state in the past, present and future; of political organization, political
processes and political functions; of political institutions and political theories.
Political science has several subfields, including: political theory, public policy, national politics, international
relations, human rights, environment politics and comparative politics.
Origin : The term `politics‟, is derived from the Greek word `Polis‟, which means the city state According to Greek
Philosophers, Politics was a subject which dealt with all the activities and affairs of the city state. Their City States
were known as `Polis‟. City state was an all inclusive term, as the ancient Greeks made no distinction between the
state and the Government on one hand, and State and Society on the other. They never differentiated between personal
life and social life. Hence according to them Politics was a total study of man, society, state, morality and so on.
a. The antecedents of Western politics can trace their roots back to Greek thinkers Socrates, Plato (427–347 BC) and
Aristotle (384–322 BC). The studies were philosophy oriented. Plato wrote The Republic and Aristotle wrote the
Politics. Aristotle is known as the Father of Political Science. He is famous for his statement “Man is a political
animal”. The word ‘politics’ is derived from the Greek word ‘polis’, which means a city-state
b. During the height of the Roman Empire, famous historians documented the rise of the Roman Republic, and the
organization and histories of other nations, while statesmen like Julius Caesar, Cicero and others provided us with
examples of the politics of the republic and Rome's empire and wars. The study of politics during this age was oriented
toward understanding history, understanding methods of governing, and describing the operation of governments.
During the Middle Ages, the study of politics was widespread in the churches and courts. Saint Thomas Aquinas was
an important political thinker of this period.
c. During the Italian Renaissance, Niccolò Machiavelli established the emphasis of modern political science on direct
empirical observation of political institutions and actors. His famous book, ‘The Prince’ is a guide to modern realist
politics. Other famous men of this period were Thomas Hobbes, John Locke & Rousseau (Social contract theory).
Important figures in American politics of this period were Alexander Hamilton, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas
Jefferson.
d. In ancient India, the antecedents of politics can be traced back to the Rig-Veda, Samhitas, Brahmanas, the
Mahabharata and Buddhist Pali Canon. Chanakya (c. 350-275 BC) was a political thinker in Takshashila. He wrote
the Arthashastra, a treatise on political thought, economics and social order, which can be considered a precursor to
Machiavelli's The Prince. It discusses monetary and fiscal policies, welfare, international relations, and war strategies
in detail, among other topics. Manusmriti, dated to about two centuries after the time of Chanakya is another important
political treatise of ancient India.
Stages of Evolution
(1) philosophical: concerned with ends and purposes
(2) institutional: concerned with political organization
(3) behavioural: concerned with motivations and mechanism of human behavior
(4) pluralistic: concerned with the interaction among groups and organizations
(5) structural: concerned with the connection between the individual and the community
(6) developmental: concerned with the process of growth, industrialization and change and the
impact on government forms and policies.
How Politics Can Be Studied
Politics as the study of the state: Traditionally Political science is a science of state. Political thinkers like R.G.
Gettel, J.W. Garner, Bluntschli and many others were of the view that political science was the study of the state. R.G.
Getlel defined “Political Science as a study of state in the past, present and future and of Political institutions and
Political theories”. J.W.Garner States, “Political Science begins and ends with the state”
Politics as the study of the Government: Some Political Scientists like Paul Janet,George Catlin, Hans Eulan have
accepted the view which states that politics deals with the state and government. Paul Janet writes “Political Science
is concerned with the foundations of the state and principles of government. George Catlin states “Politics means
either the activities of political life or the study of these activities. And these activities are generally treated as activities
of the various organs of government.”Prof Hans Eulan considers in his definition of politics that the study of formal
government is a fundamental concern of politics.
Politics as the study of National Institution : Bridal expressed the view that “Political Science is, above all,
descriptive study which brings together the description of national political institutions, their history, their ideological
principles, their working, the forces that direct them, the influence they undergo, the results they obtain and their effect
on the life of the country and its relations with neighboring states “.
Traditional Approach : The concept of Political Science as a study of State, Government and national Institution is
not considered adequate today. This aspect of above definitions emphasizes the legal structure only. They do not pay
attention to what is happening withing the State. Political Science must include the study of informal structures, facts
and reality of Politics. Hence ,modern Political thinkers defined Political Science differently and taken modern
approach.
Political Science as a Study of Power : Modern Political thinkers like Lasswell, Robert Dahl have defined politics
in terms of power, influence, and authority. According to these thinkers Power has acquired prominent position in
political thought. Harold Lasswell considers, “Politics is the study of shaping and sharing Political powers” Robert A.
Dahl defined that, “A Political system is any persistent pattern of human relationship that involves, to a significant
extent power, rule or authority.”
The Meaning of Governance
The concept of "governance" is not new. It is as old as human civilization. Simply put "governance" means: the process
of decision-making and the process by which decisions are implemented (or not implemented). Governance can be
used in several contexts such as corporate governance, international governance, national governance and local
governance.
Since governance is the process of decision making and the process by which decisions are implemented, an analysis
of governance focuses on the formal and informal actors involved in decision-making and implementing the decisions
made and the formal and informal structures that have been set in place to arrive at and implement the decision.
Government is one of the actors in governance. Other actors involved in governance vary depending on the level of
government that is under discussion. In rural areas, for example, other actors may include influential land lords,
associations of peasant farmers, cooperatives, NGOs, research institutes, religious leaders, finance institutions political
parties, the military etc. At the national level, in addition to the above actors, media, lobbyists, international donors,
multi-national corporations, etc. may play a role in decision making or in influencing the decision-making process.
All actors other than government and the military are grouped together as part of the "civil society." In some countries
in addition to the civil society, organized crime syndicates also influence decision-making, particularly in urban areas
and at the national level.
Similarly formal government structures are one means by which decisions are arrived at and implemented. At the
national level, informal decision-making structures, such as "kitchen cabinets" or informal advisors may exist. In
urban areas, organized crime syndicates such as the "land Mafia" may influence decision-making. In some rural areas
locally, powerful families may make or influence decision-making. Such, informal decision-making is often the result
of corrupt practices or leads to corrupt practices.
Government vs. Governance
Governance is the act of governing or ruling. It is the set of rules and laws framed by the government that are to be
implemented through the representatives of the state. The difference between “government” and “governance” may
be clarified using an example of a business which is run by a group of people. Governance is from the Greek words
kybenan and kybernetes, meaning ‘to steer’ and ‘pilot’ or ‘helmsman’. It is the process whereby ‘an organization or
a society steers itself, and the dynamics of communication and control are central to the process’ (Rosenau and
Durfee, 1995, p. 14). Of course, you could read these words as a pretty sound definition of government but that
would be missing the point.
Government describes a more rigid and narrower set of activities among a narrower set of participants (usually civil
servants, elected politicians and some influential or privileged interests). The word ‘governance’ is often used in this
course because it is a better fit for the issues of global environmental change addressed. It has spread like wildfire
through debates on a range of issues, but particularly around environment and development issues, because it
acknowledges that there is a range of institutions, rules and participants, both within and beyond the nation state, who
are involved in making decisions. This is happening at both national and international levels, but also in
innovative new forms of organization that cut across government boundaries. The state is seen as having progressively
lost its monopoly over the control of citizens and the regulation of business and other institutions. It is still a player,
but commentators have to take into account a range of other participants and scales. Political scientists are having
to think in terms of webs or networks of governance. They have to consider these as being both horizontal and
vertical, and as representing new ways of distributing the business of managing societies' concerns across local,
national, regional and international scales. Involvement of a wider circle of stakeholders is seen as central. Although
this is true of all discussions of new patterns of governance, it has been particularly true of environmental
governance. This is probably best demonstrated by the gradual emergence of environmental and social NGOs as
major players in international negotiations, such as around climate change. They can claim to represent a global
movement, yet can also draw on very local voices as ‘witnesses’ to environmental problems. They can also keep
watch on individual national delegations to underpin their commitment to action. Increasingly, there are instances
of NGO representatives being invited to join national delegations, both to represent environmentalist strands within
civil society and on account of their expert knowledge of the negotiation processes.
Good Governance
Good governance has 8 major characteristics. It is participatory, consensus oriented, accountable, transparent,
responsive, effective and efficient, equitable and inclusive and follows the rule of law. It assures that corruption is
minimized, the views of minorities are taken into account and that the voices of the most vulnerable in society are
heard in decision-making. It is also responsive to the present and future needs of society.
Participation
Participation by both men and women is a key cornerstone of good governance. Participation could be either direct or
through legitimate intermediate institutions or representatives. It is important to point out that representative
democracy does not necessarily mean that the concerns of the most vulnerable in society would be taken into
consideration in decision making. Participation needs to be informed and organized. This means freedom of
association and expression on the one hand and an organized civil society on the other hand.
Rule of law
Good governance requires fair legal frameworks that are enforced impartially. It also requires full protection of human
rights, particularly those of minorities. Impartial enforcement of laws requires an independent judiciary and an
impartial and incorruptible police force.
Transparency
Transparency means that decisions taken and their enforcement are done in a manner that follows rules and regulations.
It also means that information is freely available and directly accessible to those who will be affected by such decisions
and their enforcement. It also means that enough information is provided and that it is provided in easily
understandable forms and media.
Responsiveness
Good governance requires that institutions and processes try to serve all stakeholders within a reasonable timeframe.
Consensus oriented
There are several actors and as many view points in a given society. Good governance requires mediation of the
different interests in society to reach a broad consensus in society on what is in the best interest of the whole
community and how this can be achieved. It also requires a broad and long-term perspective on what is needed for
sustainable human development and how to achieve the goals of such development. This can only result from an
understanding of the historical, cultural and social contexts of a given society or community.
Equity and inclusiveness
A society’s well being depends on ensuring that all its members feel that they have a stake in it and do not feel
excluded from the mainstream of society. This requires all groups, but particularly the most vulnerable, have
opportunities to improve or maintain their well being.
Effectiveness and efficiency
Good governance means that processes and institutions produce results that meet the needs of society while making
the best use of resources at their disposal. The concept of efficiency in the context of good governance also covers the
sustainable use of natural resources and the protection of the environment.
Accountability
Accountability is a key requirement of good governance. Not only governmental institutions but also the private sector
and civil society organizations must be accountable to the public and to their institutional stakeholders. Who is
accountable to whom varies depending on whether decisions or actions taken are internal or external to an organization
or institution. In general, an organization or an institution is accountable to those who will be affected by its decisions
or actions. Accountability cannot be enforced without transparency and the rule of law.
