POLITICS 101 (PTO 101) Study Guide

Dr FG Wolmarans

Basics of Politics (Part A)

2024

© Copyright reserved

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Table of Contents

1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 3
1.1 Welcome ...................................................................................................................... 3
1.2 Educational approach .................................................................................................... 3
1.3 Class attendance ........................................................................................................... 3
2 Administrative information........................................................................................ 4
2.1 Contact details .............................................................................................................. 4
2.2 Timetable ..................................................................................................................... 4
2.3 Study material and purchases ........................................................................................ 5
3 Module information .................................................................................................. 5
3.1 Purpose of the module .................................................................................................. 5
3.2 Module structure of PTO 101 (Part A) ............................................................................ 6
3.3 Credit map and notional hours ...................................................................................... 6
3.4 Study Themes and prescribed readings .......................................................................... 6
4 Assessment ............................................................................................................. 11
4.1 Plagiarism ................................................................................................................... 12
5 Bibliography ............................................................................................................ 13

PTO 101 is a year module and will run from February until December 2024. Its
content will however be divided into two parts, one per semester. Part A
(covered in this study guide) will serve as a broad introduction to the discipline
of Political Science. You will then receive a new study guide (Parts B) at the
beginning of the second semester (in July). Part B will be an introduction to
International Relations (IR).

Political Science and International Relations are the two academic disciplines
we study in the Department of Political Sciences here at UP.

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1 Introduction
1.1 Welcome
Welcome to the world of politics. We hope that you will find this module informative and interesting,
and that it will equip you academically and be of value in your eventual career. The (predominantly
theoretical) basics of politics is not always favoured by all, but any study of politics is incomplete
without it, and we believe that the student will soon realise that theory is not alien to practice, it
simply helps us to understand practice better. Since the basics of politics is related to practice
throughout, you will quickly appreciate that it is inextricably linked to our daily political life.

1.2 Educational approach

It is important for the student to remember that they play the central role in the process of education,
for the University of Pretoria follows a student-centred model of education, which implies a self-
directed model of learning. The lecturer will not feed the student with knowledge but will only guide
them to knowledge. Students will therefore have to take primary responsibility for their own studies
and will have to work accordingly.

The study themes indicated in this study guide will be discussed in the lectures that will take place as
scheduled in the university timetable. The PTO 101 group is a very large group of students. There will
be two compulsory lecture-sessions per week, one single period and one double period. In addition
to these there will also be a tutorial class every week.

The lectures presented by the lecturer are a key part of this module. In them the lecturer will comment
on, explain and integrate the various readings the students are expected to study. The lectures will
however not comprehensively cover all the readings (there simply is not enough contact time for this) but
will focus on providing the student with a necessary understanding of the themes under discussion and
will elucidation of problem areas in the work.

The attendance of tutorial classes, which are presented outside the scheduled lectures is compulsory.
These tutorial classes are not necessarily a repeat of the scheduled lectures, but a support service
aimed at building students’ academic capacity and understanding of the work. Tutorial classes are
arranged internally: the tutorial guide and schedule will be made available to students on clickUP once
venues have been finalised.

1.3 Class attendance

Class attendance is COMPULSORY for all modules in the faculty of Humanities. Class attendance will be
monitored in lectures via clickers. If, after monitoring class attendance in a specific module, students
are found to have been absent from more than 20% of the lectures (a double lecture, including a
scheduled semester test in class-time, counts as one lecture), they may be refused admission to the
examination regardless of the semester mark. Since a certain period of time is granted at the beginning
of each semester for the cancellation and/or changing of modules, the monitoring will only come into
effect on the 1st of March 2024 for the first semester.

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 Absenteeism because of illness, unforeseen circumstances, timetable clashes, etc. will be dealt with
as part of the 20% margin. Poor academic performance correlates with poor class attendance. You are
required to attend classes from the first day/lecture until the last day/lecture of each semester.

Students are not allowed to attend lectures in this module if they are not formally registered for it. The
monitoring of class attendance will include an auditing process through which the University will check
whether all those attending classes are actually registered for it.

Please note that the University of Pretoria is a residential university. The University thus expects students to
be available on a full-time basis. Any work/employment that students engage in should not interfere with
their lectures and studies in general (tests, exams, preparation time, etc.). Work schedules will thus not be
accommodated under any circumstances.

2 Administrative information
Most communication relating to this module will be conveyed in class itself. I will also make regular
use of ClickUP (via the announcements tool) to convey important information to students.

2.1 Contact details

Building
Telephone Consulting
Name and Email address
number hours
room nr
See
Lecturer (Q1) Dr FG Wolmarans HB 21-9 012420-2689 [Link]@[Link]
ClickUP
See
Lecturer (Q2) Prof C Wielenga HB 21-5
ClickUP
Departmental
Ms R du Toit HB 21-14 012420-2464 [Link]@[Link]
administrator
PTO Module See
Ms ZN Silinda HB 21-26 [Link]@[Link]
Coordinator ClickUP
Library
Librarian
Ms A Warricker level 6 012420-4795 [Link]@[Link]
(6-17)

2.2 Timetable
The module PTO 101 will run for the duration of the academic year (28 weeks) with two lecture times
per week (one single period and one double period), and one tutorial per week (see ClickUP for further
information on tutorials).

Lecture sessions Day Time Venue

Lecture 1 (Single) Wednesday 15:30-16:20 Thuto 3-2
Lecture 2 (Double) Friday 13:30-15:20 Roos Hall
Tutor class TBC TBC TBC

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2.3 Study material and purchases
The core of the knowledge presented in this module will be the class lectures and the accompanying
source material (mainly Heywood – see below). A broad outline of the class discussion will however be
made available in the form of PowerPoint slides. These will be posted on ClickUP. The slides will however
by spares in substance and should not be viewed as a substitute for actual private class notes. It is thus
very important that each student makes notes during the lectures based on the lecturer’s engagement
with and discussion of the work.

A significant portion of the material studied in this module will be based on the following textbook:
Heywood, A. 2019. Politics. 5th edition. London: Palgrave, Macmillan. It is expected that every student
should buy this textbook. Please make sure to get the 5th edition (the earlier editions are not applicable).

In addition to the textbook and lecture notes there may be a number of further sources for students to
read and study. This material will be made available in the Library Reserve Section on the clickUP page of
the PTO 101 module. The study will be guided in the use of the study material in this study guide (see 5
‘Bibliography’).

It is advised that each student acquires (i.e. buys) a good quality English dictionary for use alongside his
or her study material.

We also strongly recommended that, in addition to prescribed texts, you regularly read newspapers and
journals. Being aware of domestic and international current affairs will help your understanding and
performance in this course. Sources of news include: The Daily Maverick, News24, The Mail and Guardian,
The Sunday Independent, The Sowetan, New York Times, VOX, The Thinker, The Economist, and more.
Watching television news broadcasts on SABC, ETV, CNN etc. and quality youTube politics channels like
VisualPolitik EN can also be very helpful as will listening to new radio like 702 Talk Radio and SAFM. Make
sure to follow/read/watch a broad range of news sources to ensure you expose yourself to a diversity
of viewpoints and interpretations of events. Prioritise reputed news sources who will try to confirm
information and do some fact-checking. Do not just follow and read personal blogs and stories from news
aggregators which are often nothing more than knee- jerk opinions.

3 Module information
3.1 Purpose of the module
The purpose of this study in Politics is to provide the student with an introduction to the necessary
knowledge and comprehension to explain and understand political phenomena and events.
Consequently, this study is kept as broad as possible and attempts are made to concentrate on
principles, concepts and general ‘laws’ to prevent knowledge from becoming obsolete and
inappropriate.

This module will thus provide a basic introduction to those ideas, institutions, processes, and activities
that serve as focus areas of the scholarly study of politics. It will highlight the various understandings
of the activity of the political, and the way it relates to the broader field of human experience and

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human conduct in the contemporary world – both within and outside of the boundaries of states.
Some of the most prominent political concepts such as ‘state’, ‘government’ and ‘democracy’ will be
considered and evaluated. The focus of this module is on the general features of politics as it manifests
throughout the world and is thus not specifically aimed at its expression in South Africa, but the
knowledge gained in this study will be readily and directly applicable to our local context.

N.B. The subject matter discussed in this module is often of a historical nature. That is, constant reference
is made to historical events and persons. It is important for the student to engage with and study this
historical context. Thus, when a topic is addressed by the student in a test, assignment, or examination,
it is expected that he will make ample use of historical examples that will illustrate and demonstrate the
point(s) under discussion. Names, dates, events, places and states are important.

3.2 Module structure of PTO 101 (Part A)

The following themes will be covered during the first semester (February – June) in this module:

1. What is Politics and how do we study it?

2. Political Ideas and Ideologies
3. The State
4. Forms of Government (Regimes)
5. Democracy & Legitimacy
6a. Trias Politica: Constitutions, Law, and the Judiciary
6b. Trias Politica: The Political Executive and Assemblies
7. Political Culture and the Media

3.3 Credit map and notional hours

PTO 101 as a whole carries a weighting of 24 credits over the year, indicating that a learner should
spend an average of 240 hours to master the required content and skills. There are about 72 hours of
lecture time throughout the year and roughly 24 hours of preparation for the assignment and tests.
This leaves about 140 hours. This means that the student should devote an average of 5-6 hours of
study time per week throughout the year (excluding lectures, assignment and test preparation) to
this module if they want to complete it successfully. The student will need to use all this time to read
through, study and internalise the work indicated in the study guides.

3.4 Study Themes and prescribed readings

Study theme 1: What is politics and how do we study it?

Sub-themes / questions:

1) Discuss and clarify the necessary nature of politics within our lives: Why do we need politics?
Can we do without politics?
2) Identify a working definition of the concept politics.
3) Identify five possible, alternative answers to the question: What is politics?
4) Explain and clarify politics understood as:

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 i) a human activity (Oakeshott)
ii) the art of government;
iii) public affairs
iv) compromise and consensus;
v) power.
5) Identify and briefly discuss the six main approaches to the study of politics.
6) Discuss and explain the use of concepts, models and theories as tools of the study of politics.
7) Briefly discuss politics in the global age and its relation to the discipline of International
Relations.
8) Carefully read through and consider the options as presented in the ‘Debating’ box on ‘Should
students of politics seek to be objective and politically neutral?’ on p. 19.
9) Explain the following concepts: power, authority, legitimacy, conflict, cooperation, polis,
polity, governance, anti-politics, civil society, consensus, normative, objective, science,
empirical, positivism, comparative politics, behaviouralism, game theory, constructivism,
institution, postmodernism, post-positivism, discourse, deconstruction, ideal type, essentially
contested concept, model, theory, paradigm, transnational.

Sources:
Heywood 2019: 1-25
Class notes

Study theme 2: Political Ideas and Ideologies

Sub-themes / questions:

1. Provide a brief overview of the historical development of the concept ‘ideology’. Provide an
inclusive definition of ideology (see also the concept box on p. 27).
2. Discuss and explain liberalism and make a distinction between classical and modern
liberalism. (Pay special attention to the Key Ideas box on p. 31).
3. Discuss and explain conservatism as an ideology with specific focus on paternalistic
conservatism, the new right, neoliberalism and neoconservatism. (Pay special attention to the
Key Ideas box on p. 34).
4. Discuss and explain socialism as an ideology. Explain the various forms of Marxism (classical,
orthodox- , and neo-Marxism) and social democracy. (Pay special attention to the Key Ideas
box on p. 38).
5. Carefully read and consider the ‘Politics in Action’ box on ‘Socialism: a dead ideology?’ on p.
42.
6. Briefly discuss and explain the following ideologies: feminism, green ideology,
cosmopolitanism, and populism. (Pay special attention to the Key Ideas boxes on pp. 48 and
50).
7. Explain the following concepts: ideology; rationalism, pragmatism; meta-ideology; progress;
meritocracy; atomism; economic liberalism; big government; redistribution; ancien regime;
paternalism; noblesse oblige; toryism; natural aristocracy; Christian democracy; nanny state;
Third Way; permissiveness; revisionism; Leninism; Stalinism; dialectical materialism; historical
materialism; dictatorship of the proletariat; Perestroika; fundamentalist socialism; liberal

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 feminism; socialist feminism; radical feminism; sustainable development; anthropocentrism;
ecologism; fundamentalism; secularism; populism.

Sources:
Class notes
Heywood 2019: 26-45, 47-54

Study theme 3: The State

Sub-themes / questions:

1. Briefly discuss the origins and development of the state.

2. Briefly explain the idealist-, the functionalist-, the organisational-, and the international
approach to the state.
3. Briefly explain the following rival theories of the state: pluralist, capitalist, leviathan,
patriarchal.
4. Explain the following interpretations as to the role of the state: minimal states,
developmental states, social-democratic states, collectivised states, totalitarian states,
religious states.
5. Carefully read and consider the ‘Debating’ box on p. 70.
6. Discuss the impact of globalisation on the state as well as the more recent push-back of
states against some of its features.
7. Carefully read and consider the ‘Politics in Action’ box on Brexit on p. 76.
8. Explain the following concepts: the state; nation-state; idealism; civil-society; sovereignty;
pluralism; political obligation; state of nature; divine right; anarchy; neopluralism;
bourgeoisie; neo-Marxism; proletariat; patriarchy; rights; economic globalisation;
competition state; tiger economies; social justice; welfare state; statism; collectivisation;
totalitarianism; laicite; state religion; cultural globalisation; supraterritoriality; economic
sovereignty; governance; political globalisation; failed states; warlordism.

Sources:
Class notes
Heywood 2019: 56-78.

Study theme 4: Forms of Government (Regimes)

Sub-themes / questions:

1. Explain the purpose of the classification of political regimes.

2. Briefly discuss some famous classical typologies of regimes as well as the more recent ‘three
worlds’ typology.
3. Identify some of the criteria used in the more recent classification systems.
4. Discuss and explore the features of each of the following regime types: western liberal
democracies, illiberal democracies, East Asian regimes, Islamic regimes, and military regimes.
5. Carefully read and consider the various positions in the ‘Debating’ box ‘Is liberal democracy
the ‘default position’ for human societies?’ on p. 123.

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 6. Carefully read and consider the ‘Politics in Action’ box ‘Russia: the rebirth of autocracy?’ on p.
124.
7. Explain the following concepts: government; regime; political system; utopia; coup d’etat;
government gridlock; ethnocentrism; absolutism; demagogue; totalitarianism; republicanism;
gross domestic product; polyarchy; liberalization; Westminster model; the West; communism;
new democracies; consociational democracy; exceptionalism; democratization; transition
countries; authoritarianism; majoritarianism; Confucianism; Asian values; theocracy;
dictatorship; junta.

Sources:
Class notes
Heywood 2019: 109-129.

Study theme 5: Democracy & Legitimacy

Sub-themes / questions:

1. Explore the question of legitimate power (authority). Consider this in light of Max Weber’s
three ideal types of authority.
2. Carefully read and consider the ‘Focus on’ box ‘Direct democracy or representative
democracy?’ on p. 93.
3. Discuss the idea of democratic legitimacy and the various ways in which democracy is seen as
promoting legitimacy. Can democracy deliver on this?
4. Carefully read and consider the various positions in the ‘Debating’ box ‘Is democracy always
the best form of government?’ on p. 95.
5. Explore what we mean by assessing the quality of democracy.
6. Explore some of the current debates around democracy.
7. How might we think about the ‘failure of democracy’ in South Africa and on the continent?
8. Explain the following concepts: legitimacy; consent; performance legitimacy; liberal
democracy; political equality; majority rule; cosmopolitan democracy; totalitarian democracy;
radical democracy; economic democracy; plebiscitary democracy; Athenian democracy;
natural rights; general will; accountability; parliamentary democracy; deliberative democracy;
Leninist democracy; pluralism; pluralist democracy; Madisonian democracy; elitism,
neocorporatism; ruling class; global civil society.

Sources:
Class notes
Heywood 2019: 79-100; 106-108.

Study theme 6a: Trias politica: Constitutions, Law and the Judiciary

Sub-themes / questions:

1. Briefly discuss the nature and origin of constitutions.

2. Explain the different ways in which we can classify constitutions: written vs. unwritten; rigid
vs flexible; effective vs nominal.

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 3. Carefully read and discuss the ‘Focus on’ box ‘A Codified Constitution: strengths and
weaknesses’ on p. 297.
4. Discuss the purposes and significance of constitutions.
5. Explain the relationship between law, morality and politics.
6. Carefully read and consider the ‘Debating’ box ‘Is the central purpose of the law to protect
freedom?’ on p. 306.
7. Briefly explore the question of international law.
8. Explain place and role of the judiciary as one of the branches of government.
9. Are judges political and do they make policy?
10. Explain the following concepts: constitution; convention; codified constitution; statute law;
uncodified constitution; common law; parliamentary sovereignty; popular sovereignty;
constitutionalism; treaty; freedom; limited government; negative rights; positive rights; bill of
rights; state of emergency; human rights; rule of law; law; legal positivism; soft law; hard law;
reciprocity; war crimes; neutrality; judicial independence; judicial review; due process; judicial
activism; ultra vires.

Sources:
Class notes
Heywood 2019: 292-314

Study theme 6b: Trias politica continued - the Political Executive and
Assemblies

Sub-themes / questions (Political Executive):

1. Explain the doctrine of the separation of power, and the role of the executive as envisioned
by this and how it manifests in practice.
2. Discuss and explain the different functions of political executives.
3. Discuss the various manifestations and roles of presidents (presidential executives).
4. Carefully read and discuss the ‘Focus on’ box ‘Cabinet government: advantages and
disadvantages’ on p. 330.
5. Discuss the role and functioning of cabinets within political executives.
6. Explain the following concepts: executive; parliamentary executive; presidential executive;
heads of state; cabinet; presidential government; presidentialism; semi-presidential system;
patronage; imperial presidency; impeachment; cohabitation; Thatcherism; core executive.

Sources:
Class notes
Heywood 2019: 315-332

Sub-themes / questions (Assemblies):

1. Explain the role of assemblies (the legislative branch), especially as it relates to the
government (executive branch). Explain the differences between parliamentary-,
presidential-, and semi-presidential systems.
2. Describe and discuss the different functions of assemblies: legislation, representation,
scrutiny, political recruitment, and legitimacy.
3. Describe and explain the different possible structures of assemblies: unicameralism,
bicameralism, and the committee system.

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 4. Carefully read and consider the ‘Debating’ box ‘Are two legislative chambers better than one?’
on p. 353.
5. Carefully read and discuss the ‘Committees: advantages and disadvantages’ on p. 354.
6. Explain the role of assemblies in policy making.
7. Discuss the factors that are contributing to the declining role of assemblies. How is the role of
assemblies changing?
8. What is the structure of South Africa’s National Assembly and how are parliamentarians
elected in South Africa?
9. Explain the following concepts: parliamentary government; legislature; responsible
government; elective dictatorship; lobby fodder; immobilism; checks and balances;
separation of power; super-presidentialism; responsibility; pork barrel politics; standing
committee; rhetoric; unicameralism; bicameralism; bill; McCarthyism.

Sources:
Class notes
Heywood 2019: 341-363

Study theme 7: Political Culture and the Media

Sub-themes / questions:

1. Explain Almond and Verba’s three general approaches to political culture.

2. Discuss and explain the four media theories discussed in Heywood: the pluralist model,
the dominant-ideology model, the elite-values model and the market model.
3. Carefully read and consider the ‘Debating’ box ‘Does the wider use of digital media
enrich politics? on p. 211.
4. Carefully read and consider the ‘Politics in action’ box ‘Social media: purveyors of fake
news?’ on p. 215.
5. How might we think about the concept of ‘political culture’ more broadly?
6. Explain the following concepts: political culture; hegemony; communitarianism;
postmaterialism; political socialisation; mass media; political bias; E-democracy;
propaganda; spin; fake news

Sources:
Class notes
Heywood 2019: 194-217
Heywood 2019: 459-473

4 Assessment
There will be various assessments during the year. Following this there will be an examination in
November that will cover work from both semesters.

The assessments in the first semester will be: two written semester tests, (5 April 2024, 17:30-19:00 & 6
May 2024, 17:30-19:00), and a series of small class tests running throughout the semester. These class
test will be written in normal class time and will make use of the Clickers. A mark will also be awarded for
good class attendance.

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The detailed information on assessment in Semester two will be presented in the study guide of the
second semester of the year which you will receive at the beginning of the second semester (Jul 2024).

The year mark for PTO 101 will be compiled as follows:

Semester 1 (Feb-Jun 2024):

Semester Test 1 - 30%
Semester Test 2 - 30%
Class Tests (multiple) - 30%
Attendance - 10%

Semester 2 (Jul-Nov 2024):

Semester Test - 30%
Assignment - 30%
Class Tests (multiple) - 30%
Attendance - 10%
Year mark 200/2 = 100

(70% of year mark) + (30% of the exam mark) = Final mark for PTO 101.

If your year mark for PTO 101 is below 40% you will not be allowed to write the examination. The year
m= mark will be the total of all the assessments excluding the exam, final marks will be posted on the UP
Portal in November.

4.1 Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a VERY serious form of academic misconduct. It involves both appropriating someone
else’s work and passing it off as one’s own work afterwards. Thus, you commit plagiarism when you
present someone else's written or creative work (words, images, ideas, opinions, discoveries, artwork,
music, recordings, computer-generated work, etc.) as your own. Only hand in your own original work.
Indicate precisely and accurately when you have used information provided by someone else.
Referencing must be done in accordance with a recognised system. Indicate whether you have
downloaded information from the Internet. For more details, visit the library’s website:
[Link]

Please note that all submitted work in the Department of Political Sciences, including the assignment
of this module must be submitted via Turn-it-in (on the ClickUP page of the module) which will check
it for plagiarism. Any infringements will be decisively dealt with and students punished accordingly.

4.2 The use of AI in assessments

Working collaboratively with generative AI can enhance academic skills, particularly when thinking
critically about the prompts required to generate content. However, the purpose of study at a
University is for you to be able to develop and exhibit the ability to generate original ideas and engage
critically with all forms of content, and any collaboration with generative AI needs to support this
essential intention.

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In the Department of Political Sciences, limited use of generative AI for specific purposes will be
supported for clarifying concepts, seeking initial guidance or developing and refining the structure and
flow of an assignment.

When content from generative AI is included in an assignment, it must be cited using the guidelines
indicated in the Department writing guidelines to distinguish between your original contribution from
the model-generated content.

As such, the submission of AI generated assignments (in whole or part) in the Department of Political
Sciences is not accepted and may lead to disciplinary action. The Department makes use of AI
detection tools, and a high AI detection score will trigger a departmental investigation. If misconduct
has occurred, penalties may include:
• Deducting marks from the assignment,
• Requiring a resubmission of the assignment for a maximum mark of 50%,
• Referral to the university’s disciplinary board for a hearing.

In some cases, a lecturer may choose to assign an assessment task that requires the use of generative
AI. The lecturer will provide specific instructions and guidelines for such assignments, which may
include submitting an AI generated version of an assignment with reflections, and/or outlining the
specific prompts and questions used.

5 Bibliography

Heywood, A. 2019. Politics, 5th edition. New York: Palgrave Macmillan

Supplementary reading, where necessary, will be made available during the lectures.

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