PHILIPPINE, POLITICS AND
GOVERNANCE
ORIGINS OF POLITICS
Polis- city
Polites-citizens
Politikos-government officials
THE CONCEPTS OF POLITICS AND
GOVERNANCE
POLITICS
- in broadest sense, politics is the activity through which people make, preserve and amend
the general rules (laws) under which they live. (Heywood 2007)
- activity or process through which groups reach and enforce binding decisions. (Hague &
Harrop 2013)
- activity by which different interests are conciliated by giving them a share in power in
proportion to their importance to the welfare and the survival of the whole community. (Crick
2005)
- set of activities that organizes individuals, systematically resolves disputes, and maintains
order in society through creation and enforcement of rules and government policy.
(Barrington et al. 2010)
- activity through which human beings attempt to improve their lives and create the Good
Society. (Aristotle in Heywood 2007)
THE DIFFERENT VIEWS
ABOUT POLITICS
A. POLITICS AS THE ART OF
GOVERNMENT
Politics is viewed as an art or practical application of
knowledge for attaining a particular objective. Considered
as the classical definition of politics: the art of government
or exercise of control in society through making and
enforcement of collective or group decisions.
➢ This view was developed in Ancient Greece. Remember, the word politics is derived
from the ancient Greek word polis, meaning city-state. Politics can be studied by referring
it to the affairs or concerns of the polis or its modern meaning what concerns the state.
➢ If you are studying politics, you are studying the government.
Two aspects are under this setting: Government personnel or the people in government
and government machinery or the different government departments, offices, or agencies.
➢ Politics happens in cabinet official meetings, legislative chambers, and government
departments.
➢ To study politics is to study the exercise of authority defined as legitimate power.
Legitimate means it is acceptable for the people.
➢ Politics is engaged in by a limited and specific group, notably politicians, civil servants
and lobbyists.
POLITICS AS PUBLIC AFFAIRS
This second view looks at politics as what happens in the public sphere of life. It is important that you
remember the distinction between ‘the political’ and ‘the nonpolitical’. It coincides with the division
between what is public and what is private. If it happens in the public sphere, it is political.
To clarify, the distinction between public and private conforms to the division between the state and civil
society. The institutions of the state (the government offices, departments and agencies) can be regarded
as ‘public’ because they are responsible for the collective organization of community life. Moreover, they
are funded at the public’s expense through taxation. In contrast, civil society consists of institutions such
as private businesses, trade unions, clubs, community groups and so on that are ‘private’ in the sense that
they are set up and funded by individual citizens to satisfy their own interests, rather than those of the
larger society.
C. POLITICS AS COMPROMISE AND
CONSENSUS
The third view about politics focuses on the way how decisions are made. Politics is seen as a particular
means of resolving conflict: that is, by compromise, conciliation and negotiation, rather than through the
use of force and naked power. Describing a solution to a problem as a ‘political’ solution implies
peaceful debate and arbitration, as opposed to what is often called a ‘military’ solution. This is anchored
on the perspective that society is characterized by consensus and not by irreconcilable conflict.
Disagreements that exist can be resolved without resort to intimidation and violence. This view of
politics has a positive character. Members of society should be encouraged to respect politics as an
activity, and they should be prepared to engage in the political life of their own community
POLITICS AS POWER
The fourth view sees politics as something that is present in all social activities, at every level of social
interaction; it can be found within our families and amongst our small groups of friends just as much as
amongst nations and on the international or global stage. What makes a specific social activity or
behavior political is the presence of power. Politics under this view is in essence the power or ability to
achieve a desired end, through any way possible. Politics is viewed as a struggle over limited resources,
and power can be seen as the means through which this struggle is conducted. In politics, power is
usually thought of as a relationship: that is, as the ability to influence the behavior of others. It is referred
to in terms of having ‘power over’ people. Remember, politics may be defined as: the art of government,
public affairs, compromise and consensus, and power.
GOVERNMENT AND GOVERNANCE
The Government and its Purposes
According to Mendoza (1999), government is the term generally used in referring the formal
institutions through which a group of people is ruled or governed and the term extends to
include the people and organizations that make, enforce, and apply political decisions for a
society.
Government as explained by De Leon (1991) is created for the benefit of the people governed
and it accomplishes services or functions that are beyond the capabilities of any individual or
enterprise. He enumerated the important purposes of government which are: (1) the
maintenance of peace and order; (2) the protection of persons and property; (3) the
administration of justice; (4) the promotion of education; (5) the preservation of the state from
external danger and; (5) the advancement of the physical, economic and social and cultural
well-being of the people.
GOVERNANCE
- Governance is broader than government because other sectors are included in it: the government (also
called the public sector) is always the main actor in governance but i t is not the only actor. -
Governance is based on the reality that the government cannot do everything for the people on its own. -
The main role of the government is to set an enabling environment for other actors of governance to
participate and respond to the pursuit of the common good. - All actors other than the government are
called the “civil society.” - The civil society includes non-governmental organizations, and other
community-based and sectoral organizations that are private in nature but have public functions or
objectives
INDICATORS OF GOOD GOVERNANCE
Good governance according to Kio Sheng (2010) and Tamayo (2014) is understood through its eight
indicators or characteristics:
(1) Participatory; (
2) Rule of Law;
(3) Effective and Efficient; (
4) Transparent;
(5) Responsive;
(6) Equitable and Inclusive;
(7) Consensus Oriented; and
(8) Accountability.
1. PARTICIPATORY
Good governance necessarily requires participation of the different sectors of society. Participation
means active involvement of all concerned and interested sectors in the decision-making process. It
requires an enabling environment. Governance should no longer be government monopoly but
government management or inter-sectoral participation.
2. RULE OF LAW
Good governance is fundamentally adherence to the rule of law. Rule of law requires that the people give
habitual obedience to the law. The government acts within the limits of the powers and functions
prescribed by the law. Under this indicator, laws should be responsive to the needs of the society.
3. EFFECTIVENESS AND
EFFICIENCY
Good governance requires that the institutions, processes, and actors deliver and meet the
needs of society in a way that available resources are used well. Service delivery in public
sector, especially of front-line agencies, must promptly and adequately serve the needs of the
citizens instituting simplified government procedures and inexpensive transaction costs.
4. Transparency
Transparency means that people can access information regarding decision making process
and the implementation of decisions. Information on matters of public concern are made
available to the citizens or those who will be directly affected.
5. Responsiveness
Responsiveness means that institutions and processes should serve all the stakeholders in
timely and appropriate way. Interests of all citizens must be well protected in a prompt and
appropriate manner so that each of them can appreciate and take part in the process of
governance.
Equity and Inclusiveness
Equity and inclusiveness mean that all members of society, especially the most vulnerable
ones must be taken into consideration. Everyone has a stake in society; no one should feel
alienated from it. Those who have less in life should have more in law. Good governance
demands that the actors must give preferential treatment to the conditions of the poor.
Consensus Oriented
Governance is consensus oriented when decisions are made after taking into consideration the
different perspectives. A procedure for conflict resolution must be in place because it is
possible that conflict will arise from competing interests of the actors. Governance is based on
the partnership of the actors of the society in providing public services.
Accountability
Accountability refers to answerability or responsibility for one’s action, based on the principle
that each person or group is responsible for their actions most especially when their acts affect
public interest. Actors have an obligation to explain and be answerable for the consequences
of decisions and actions they have made on behalf of
