.png){kind=icon}
Chapter 1 presents a tool kit of the core concepts and terms necessary to understanding political life. The chapter includes definitions on such topics as politics, power, state, government and democracy, political identities and political fault lines.
This chapter provides an introductory outline of political life by defining the basic concepts of political science and considering them in the Canadian context. Politics is defined as the activity whereby rival claims are settled by public authorities and is largely about where the boundary between public and private should be drawn. The chapter demonstrates the range of activities that can qualify as politics.
Power is defined as the ability to influence what happens. Therefore, in the political realm, power involves coercion, influence, and authority. Those who have been elected to exercise power are known as the government. A state is legitimate when it has the consent of the governed. In democracies such as Canada, coercion is limited to courts, police, and prisons. A state has territorial boundaries, a complex set of institutions, and a monopoly on the legitimate use of force. Different perspectives, such as pluralism, class analysis, feminism, and postmodernism, believe that state authority benefits certain interests.
Democracy is a political system that is based on equality and involves institutions such as majority rule, government by popular consent, and competitive elections. Democracy also involves the activities of the media, interest groups, and political parties. All modern democracies are representative democracies, whereby government is carried out by elected legislatures that represent the people and the rights and freedoms of the people are respected. The foundation of democratic government is the rule of law. All citizens are subject to and equal before the law.
Political identities involve individuals who are connected by a common material stake in how a political conflict is resolved, and/or who share ideas, issues, and values. The most powerful political identity is the nation, which also includes a regional consciousness. Political fault lines in Canada include the French–English, Canada–US, and various regional divisions. Other issues such as gender equality, Aboriginal rights, and environmental protection have cut new lines in the Canadian polity.