Political Theory Essays (Examples)

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1. The Role of Emotions in Political Decision Making: Exploring how emotions influence political beliefs and actions, and whether they should be considered in political theory.

2. The Impact of Technology on Political Communication: Analyzing how social media and other digital platforms have changed political discourse and debate in the modern age.

3. Intersectionality in Political Theory: Examining how issues of race, gender, and class intersect in political theory and shape debates on social justice and equality.

4. The Ethics of Political Violence: Discussing the moral implications of using violence as a political tool and when it may be justified.

5. Post-Colonial Perspectives in....

Title: Navigating the Crossroads of Authority: Exploring the Legitimacy and Limits of Power in Political Theory

Introduction:
At the crux of political theory lies the intricate interplay between authority and power, a dynamic relationship that has sparked debates and shaped paradigms for centuries. This essay delves into the multifaceted concept of legitimacy, interrogating the foundations of authority and the boundaries of power. Through a comprehensive analysis of historical and contemporary perspectives, we will explore the challenges and complexities of legitimizing power, the tensions between various sources of authority, and the implications for political practice and social justice.

1. The Sources and Foundations of....

1. The role of governance in promoting social justice and equality
2. The impact of partisan politics on government efficiency and effectiveness
3. The concept of power and its implications for political theory
4. The role of political ideology in shaping policy decisions
5. The relationship between democracy and human rights in political theory
6. The influence of globalism on the future of political theory
7. The changing role of the state in a globalized world
8. The intersection of politics and ethics in political theory
9. The challenges of implementing political theory in practice
10. The role of political institutions in promoting stability and democracy
11. The concept of....

1. The Concept of Justice in Rawls and Nozick's Political Theory:
- Analyze and compare John Rawls' and Robert Nozick's theories of justice.
- Discuss the implications of their views on social and economic equality.
- Evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of their respective arguments.


2. Utilitarianism vs. Deontology: A Comparative Analysis:
- Compare and contrast the ethical theories of utilitarianism and deontology.
- Explore the strengths and weaknesses of each theory in terms of their application to political decision-making.
- Discuss the relevance of these theories in contemporary political debates.


3. The Legitimacy of Political Authority:
- Examine different theories of....

For example, one can consider the following quote from Hobbes: "The right of nature... is the liberty each man hath to use his own power, as he will himself, for the preservation of his own nature; that is to say, of his own life." (Harrison, 2003, p. 67). In other words, Hobbes is saying that every person has within them certain rights, yearnings and liberties; as such, the individual is entitled, and indeed should, pursue their own interests and not be oppressed by rulers. Likewise, rulers should not attempt to force subjects into submission or to rule by intimidation or fear- for Hobbes, power must be earned and maintained through a level of fairness (ogers, et al., 2000). Within this scope, the ruler should be motivated, in Hobbes' opinion, by serving the interests of the people over whom they govern. Likewise, the citizens would be involved in the political….

Political Theory
PAGES 9 WORDS 2991

Thomas Hobbes' Philosophy in the Leviathan
The subject area concerning political theories is both vast and complex. Political theories come in the form of ancient philosophies and new age rhetoric. This discussion will focus on the philosophy of The Leviathan. The Leviathan written by Thomas Hobbes, explores the matter, form, and power of a commonwealth.

In the Leviathan Hobbes discusses the responsibility of the sovereign and the subjects. Hobbes philosophy contended that men must give up their right to govern themselves to a sovereign that would in turn govern the entire commonwealth and maintain peace and order. The purpose of this discussion is to determine why Hobbes insisted that men had to surrender both their wills and their judgments to their sovereign. We will also discuss the social contract theory and the condition of men.

The Social Contract and the condition of men

Thomas Hobbes was a controversial social contract theorist who believed that….

Political Theory
PAGES 4 WORDS 1138

Materialism: What does it mean in Marx?
Marx's writings and philosophies extend through various disciplines of history, economics, political science, literature, philosophy, political economy, sociology and even - arguably - mathematics. There are several common strings throughout his writings, many of which we have explored this semester, but a constant beacon, a constant guideline, is Marx's concept of historical materialism.

In historical materialism, economics is key. Economics has always motivated people through history, and can be isolated as an independent force, separate from the religious or ideological.

For Marx, social necessity is uniform: What differs among men is economic power, ability and desire. One gets what one deserves, and in the ideological or religious, this is not necessarily the case, but in the economic, it certainly is, or at least should be.

In "Historical Materialism and the Economics of Karl Marx" by Benedetto Croce, Croce writes, "Historical materialism is what is called a….

Political Theory
PAGES 3 WORDS 909

Justice, Gender, And the Family
Much of what needs to be done to end the inequalities of gender, and to work in the direction of ending gender itself, will also help equalize opportunity from one family to another" (Okin, 17). Therein lies the central message that Okin attempts to convey within her book, Justice, Gender, and the Family. Through her analysis of contemporary theories of justice, and a discussion of the inequalities that are inherent to gender-based marriage and family, Okin claims that socially constructed, and maintained, injustice within the private sphere results in American women being equally repressed within the public sphere. However laudable these intentions and claims may be, Okin ultimately fails to provide the necessary empirical evidence to support and validate her claims. Justice, Gender, and the Family, therefore, emerges as a valuable commentary on present social institutions and a work of commendable moral sentiment, but contributes little….

The 'Debates in Political Theory' module serves as an essential component in the study of political science, inviting students to explore the rich variety of arguments that have shaped political thought throughout history. Political theory is not a fixed body of knowledge, but a dynamic field of competing ideas and perspectives. This essay will explore some of the central debates within the module, examining how they contribute to our understanding of political life.
One of the core debates within political theory revolves around the nature and justification of the state. The question of why states should exist and what legitimate power they should possess has been a point of contention among political theorists for centuries. Social contract theorists, such as Thomas Hobbes (1651), argued that the state arises from a contract where individuals consent to surrender some of their freedoms in exchange for security and order. Conversely, anarchist theorists, such as….

Political Theory
PAGES 7 WORDS 2505

Gorgias, Plato addresses the Sophists and shows Socrates facing off against several of them in a discussion of justice. As can be seen from this dialogue, different Sophists taught somewhat different doctrines. In general, though, the Sophists considered the nature of law and whether law could be viewed as something objective, a scientific certainty to be applied to the world. Essentially, the Sophists found that there was no way to know whether there could be such a law or not and that therefore there was no reason to seek it. Later Sophists argued that there is no real "justice" or "right" and that these are only names applied to local and changing conventions. They further argued that the only real authority in the world is force. Thus the law is what can be imposed by force in a given society, which is the position Callicles takes in this dialogue.….

Social and Political History
How do the functionalist and conflict theories relate to the conceptualizations of government and sovereignty presented by Heywood? How much is enough government? What level of government do we need to get our collective business done? How much sovereignty is appropriate for the American government to have, particularly in view of terrorist threats in the post 9/11 environment? When does government and sovereignty interfere with the full functioning of individuals in a free society? When and how might government be used to favor particular groups within the social order at the expense of others? How might this kind of favoritism be covered up? How does politics reflect, magnify and sometimes even hid social conflict?

Answer:

The social or "conflict" theory is one that is based on "how society motivates people and places in their proper position in the stratification process. The political or "functionalist" theory focuses on individuals need….

New Political Theory
PAGES 2 WORDS 548

Clash of Civilizations by Samuel Huntington
Huntington wrote a paper in 1992 that set the stage for a new era in political discourse. In this article, Huntington makes the argument that the end of the cold war has entered in a new period in which ideological or economic clashes will not be the focus rather cultural conflict will set the stage for later generations. Huntington points specifically eight civilizations that are potentially at the risk of clashing; they are the estern, Slavic-Orthodox, Latin America, Islamic, African, Hindus, Buddhist, Confucians and Japanese civilizations. He states (Huntington, 1993)

orld politics is entering a new phase, and intellectuals have not hesitated to proliferate visions of what it will be -- the end of history, the return of traditional rivalries between nation states, and the decline of the nation state from the conflicting pulls of tribalism and globalism, among others. Each of these visions catches aspects….


For John Locke, government "…should be limited to securing the life and property of it citizens"; and government should allow freedom of religion and freedom of conscience. He was opposed to "hereditary monarchy" and supported human rights (especially in his more mature years).

As to how these political theories connect with environmental policy in the U.S.: first, the environmental policies in the U.S. are under attack by the Republicans in the House of Representatives. Their recent bill, H.R. 1, passed in February 2011, contained 19 anti-environmental riders that would "negatively affect air, water, and environmental quality," the Sustainable Energy & Environmental Coalition explained. The right wing in Congress wants to take power away from the Environmental Protection Agency as well. Hume would likely approve of the Tea Party and GOP as to their disavowal of global climate change; he would agree that the U.S. federal government is too big and powerful.….

Plato and Aristotle's political theories
The most capacious account of Plato's established philosophical views has been published in "The epublic" as a comprehensive handling of the most basic values for the behavior of human life. As it deals with a large number of matters, The epublic can be interpreted in a lot of diverse manner: as a discourse on political conjecture and observation, as an academic manual, or the manner in which to protect moral behavior for instance. (Plato: The State and the Soul) Politics written by Aristotle gives a substantial assessment of the beginning and configuration of the nation. (Theme Analysis: The Politics) A significant matter to keep in mind while taking into account the opinion and involvement of Aristotle in Philosophy is the fact that he was there 2000 years back. One of the early foundations done by him was Lykeion that was involved solely with pure sciences,….


Marx further included that finally the biased behavior of the working class will end this dictatorship period, and a class less society will establish. He believed that for the formation of this society people need to launch an organized movement against the dictatorship and only a successful revolution would lead to the formation of society of "Communism" (Skoble, 2007).

When we talk about the political philosophy, we can observe that both John Locke and Karl Marx are in favor of the idea that when there is a need of change then an organized revolution is compulsory. People cannot get their rights until they demand for it because it's natural thing that you need to raise your voice in order to get your right otherwise other will keep it as their own possession.

The point of differ come when we talk about the scenario in which both of them forwarded their theories. Karl….

United States Congress, and the lens used in this case study analysis includes political theories. Viewed through this lens, the organization will be analyzed in terms of who has what power in the organization, who has access to agendas and control over information, what power coalitions or alliances exist, and how the unit attempts to influence other units and create upward influence in the organization. As Morgan (2006) points out, all organizations can be perceived as political systems concerned with and dependent on political activity. The United States Congress happens to take that concept of political systems a step further because the precise and overt purpose of the organization is political activity. To achieve its goals, Congress does exhibit the universal political traits of organizations that hinge on the relations among "interests, conflict, and power," (Morgan, 2006, p. 152). It is how the stakeholders in the organization pursue their….

Political Science History
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conservative intellectual movement, but also the role of William uckley and William Rusher in the blossoming of the youth conservative movement
Talk about structure of paper, who not strictly chronologically placed (ie hayek before the rest) - in this order for thematic purposes, to enhance the genuiness of the paper (branches of the movement brought up in order of importance to youth conservative revolt) For instance, Hayek had perhaps the greatest impact on the effects of the movement - uckley and Rusher. These individuals, their beliefs, their principles were extremely influential in better understanding the origins, history, and leaders of American conservatism.

Momentous events shape the psyche of an individual as the person matures. A child grows up in poverty vows to never be like his parents, and keeps this inner vow to become a millionaire. A young woman experiences sexual trauma as a teen, and chooses a career that builds….

Medieval Political Thought
How did Augustine of Hippo's and Thomas Aquinas' views of the role of human free will in the process of salvation shape their different views of political theory?

For Augustine, there could be two cities -- the City of Man, which would essentially be a society without grace or goodness -- and the City of God, which would be a society that conformed to the will of God, participated with grace, and worked to perfect itself in accordance with the Commandments of God. One would be an imperfect society (the former) and the other would be a perfect society. Essentially, the City of Man is a system in which all endeavors are geared towards earthly happiness whereas in the City of God, endeavors are geared towards a spiritual happiness with God, enjoyed fully in the next life if one is good and dies in the state of grace with….

Political and eligious Boundaries
Byzantium historically was the eastern side of the oman Empire that was the result of the religious, political and cultural schism that occurred between East and West in the 2nd Century AD. The city of Byzantium, or Constantinople, was located in a major strategic trading area between the Adriatic, Black and Mediterranean Seas. As the Western oman Empire declined, the "New ome," or Constantinople, became a blend of cultures and viable for about a millennium. Most scholars agree that it was the only long-term stable state in Europe that protected most of Western Europe from the emerging Islamic Empire. It was the most advanced economy in the Mediterranean area until the enaissance, with trading networks that extended through most of Eurasia and North Africa, as well as the beginning of the Silk oad. Without this economic power, it is unlikely that there would have been funding for….

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3 Pages
Term Paper

Black Studies - Philosophy

Political Theory if Nothing Else

Words: 980
Length: 3 Pages
Type: Term Paper

For example, one can consider the following quote from Hobbes: "The right of nature... is the liberty each man hath to use his own power, as he will…

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9 Pages
Term Paper

Black Studies - Philosophy

Political Theory

Words: 2991
Length: 9 Pages
Type: Term Paper

Thomas Hobbes' Philosophy in the Leviathan The subject area concerning political theories is both vast and complex. Political theories come in the form of ancient philosophies and new age rhetoric.…

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4 Pages
Term Paper

Government

Political Theory

Words: 1138
Length: 4 Pages
Type: Term Paper

Materialism: What does it mean in Marx? Marx's writings and philosophies extend through various disciplines of history, economics, political science, literature, philosophy, political economy, sociology and even - arguably…

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3 Pages
Term Paper

Women's Issues - Sexuality

Political Theory

Words: 909
Length: 3 Pages
Type: Term Paper

Justice, Gender, And the Family Much of what needs to be done to end the inequalities of gender, and to work in the direction of ending gender itself, will also…

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8 Pages
Essay

debates in political theory module

Words: 2246
Length: 8 Pages
Type: Essay

The 'Debates in Political Theory' module serves as an essential component in the study of political science, inviting students to explore the rich variety of arguments that have shaped…

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7 Pages
Term Paper

Black Studies - Philosophy

Political Theory

Words: 2505
Length: 7 Pages
Type: Term Paper

Gorgias, Plato addresses the Sophists and shows Socrates facing off against several of them in a discussion of justice. As can be seen from this dialogue, different Sophists…

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2 Pages
Term Paper

Government

Social and Political Theory

Words: 580
Length: 2 Pages
Type: Term Paper

Social and Political History How do the functionalist and conflict theories relate to the conceptualizations of government and sovereignty presented by Heywood? How much is enough government? What level of…

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2 Pages
Article Review

Drama - World

New Political Theory

Words: 548
Length: 2 Pages
Type: Article Review

Clash of Civilizations by Samuel Huntington Huntington wrote a paper in 1992 that set the stage for a new era in political discourse. In this article, Huntington makes the argument…

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2 Pages
Discussion Chapter

Government

Political Theories the Ancient Athenian

Words: 801
Length: 2 Pages
Type: Discussion Chapter

For John Locke, government "…should be limited to securing the life and property of it citizens"; and government should allow freedom of religion and freedom of conscience. He was…

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10 Pages
Term Paper

Black Studies - Philosophy

Comparison of Plato and Aristotle's Political Theories

Words: 4573
Length: 10 Pages
Type: Term Paper

Plato and Aristotle's political theories The most capacious account of Plato's established philosophical views has been published in "The epublic" as a comprehensive handling of the most basic values…

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3 Pages
Essay

Government

Political Philosophies When We Talk

Words: 984
Length: 3 Pages
Type: Essay

Marx further included that finally the biased behavior of the working class will end this dictatorship period, and a class less society will establish. He believed that for the…

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3 Pages
Case Study

Political Science

Political Systems and Congress

Words: 964
Length: 3 Pages
Type: Case Study

United States Congress, and the lens used in this case study analysis includes political theories. Viewed through this lens, the organization will be analyzed in terms of who…

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23 Pages
Term Paper

Government

Political Science History

Words: 6252
Length: 23 Pages
Type: Term Paper

conservative intellectual movement, but also the role of William uckley and William Rusher in the blossoming of the youth conservative movement Talk about structure of paper, who not strictly…

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4 Pages
Essay

Philosophy

Political Thought in Medieval Times

Words: 1395
Length: 4 Pages
Type: Essay

Medieval Political Thought How did Augustine of Hippo's and Thomas Aquinas' views of the role of human free will in the process of salvation shape their different views of political…

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3 Pages
Essay

Drama - World

Political and Religious Boundaries

Words: 1052
Length: 3 Pages
Type: Essay

Political and eligious Boundaries Byzantium historically was the eastern side of the oman Empire that was the result of the religious, political and cultural schism that occurred between East and…

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