Political Theory and the Modern Nation-State
Political theory is a branch of political science that involves the systematic study of ideas, concepts, and ideologies related to politics, governance, power, justice, and authority. It is concerned with both the theoretical and normative aspects of politics, addressing fundamental questions about how societies should be organized, what principles should guide political action, and what constitutes a just or legitimate government.
Nature of Political Theory
Normative and Descriptive: Political theory
Sociological Interpretation of Statements: Micro & Macro Levels
Socio-Hermeneutic Analysis and Sociological Interpretation of Statements
Theoretical and Methodological Basis
- General theory of information systems
- Linguistic theory and comparative logic
- Theories of individual and social action
Analysis Units, Codes, and Context
| Informal Usage | Structural Usage | Socio-Hermeneutic Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Words, signs, content units, etc. | Codes, rules of composition, etc. | Use of speech, intentions, motivations, etc. |
| Omit the subject of the enunciation | Subject without history (synchronic analysis) |
Understanding Culture: Enculturation and Social Dynamics
Understanding Culture and Society
Culture is the way of living of a society. It’s defined by:
- Cultural knowledge: Information, skills, attitudes, beliefs, and other mental components of culture that people socially learn during enculturation.
- Patterns of behavior: Within a single culture, the behavior most people perform when they are in certain culturally defined situations.
Culture is:
- Shared: People within the same culture don’t have to explain their actions, reducing misunderstandings. Different
Understanding Welfare State Theories: A Comparative Analysis
Understanding Welfare State Theories
Social Theory and the Resources of Power
Analyzes the impact of ideology on the development of the welfare state. This theory focuses on class mobilization and aims to measure the influence of ideology (of the elites, the mass of the ruling party, etc.) on the development of the welfare state, and other political variables such as the electoral system or the degree of corporatism.
Relevant explanatory variables include the location of the ruling party on the left-
Read MoreSchool Organization: Components and Traits
Components of the School as an Organization
A school, as an organization, comprises several key components:
- Objectives/Institutional Purposes:
- Explicit or implicit guidelines that direct the organization’s activities.
- Provide the rationale for the center.
- Continuously reviewed and updated through democratic and participatory processes.
- Resources:
- Assets available to the school to achieve its objectives.
- Personal: Teachers, students, parents (protagonists of the educational process).
- Materials: Building,
Contemporary Philosophy: Science and Social Critique
Contemporary Philosophy
Philosophy developed from the nineteenth century onward is characterized by diverse, sometimes conflicting, currents and trends, but primarily by its critical and suspicious attitude. The dialogue with science and the technical implications for society and individuals will be a benchmark of contemporary philosophy. Science, like philosophy, also seeks rational explanations. However, philosophy is not a science or a similar type of knowledge, nor does it add to science. Why
Read More