U2 - Power and Politics
Introduction
This Unit will deal with the concept of power in many ways. We will inquire into institutions of power, systems of government in English-speaking countries, and democracy and how we can safeguard it. A lot of what you have learned in Social Studies (samfunnskunnskap) will be relevant. We will also discuss and explore ways in which you can use your power of persuasion and analyze how others have used rhetorical devices to persuade people of their point of view. Finally, we will investigate some global challenges, and how power can be used in different ways to face these challenges.
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Part 1: The Concept of Power and Government
The Concept of Power
«My friends, I must say to you that we have not made a single gain in civil rights without determined legal and nonviolence pressure. Lamentably, it is an historical fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privilege voluntarily.»
― Martin Luther King jr, “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”.
Mugshot of Martin Luther King Jr following his 1963 arrest in Birmingham. Birmingham, AL police dept (CC0). Crop by Arne Mjelde Sæther.
Image text and credits:
«My friends, I must say to you that we have not made a single gain in civil rights without determined legal and nonviolence pressure. Lamentably, it is an historical fact that privileged groups seldom give up their privilege voluntarily.»
― Martin Luther King jr, “Letter from a Birmingham Jail”.
Mugshot of Martin Luther King Jr following his 1963 arrest in Birmingham. Birmingham, AL police dept (CC0). Crop by Arne Mjelde Sæther.
Power can be defined in many ways. A common way of defining this concept is that it is the ability to make someone do something they otherwise would not do. The IB defines it as the “ability to affect change, and rather than being viewed as a unitary or independent force, is an aspect of relations among people functioning within a social organization” (IBO, 2023). This means that rather than seeing power as something that exists “out there, for example with Presidents or ministers, power is a concept that regulates human relations. You have power perhaps in relation to your younger siblings, your parents and teachers have power over you, and politicians have power over us because we have provided them with power through voting for them in elections. It also highlights the fact that each of us can have power, because we do have the ability to effect change. This is one of the things we will be discussing and working on through this unit; How can we make our voices heard? How can we try to persuade others of our opinions? How are different ways in which we can effect change?
To Do
How well do you remember the following terms about political systems? Drag and drop the items where they belong (desktop only).
- Democracy
- Dictatorship
- Ideology
- Separation of powers
- Freedom of speech
- Human Rights
- Popular sovereignty
- Parliamentary system
I know this!
Heard of it, but…
Political-what´d-you-say?
DEMOCRACY
DICTATORSHIP
POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY
FREEEDOM OF SPEECH
HUMAN RIGHTS
IDEOLOGY
SEPARATION OF POWERS
PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM
To Do
Please study The Democracy Index, before answering the questions below:
- 1: Which countries score highest on the democracy index? What system of government do these countries have?
- 2: Which countries score lowest on the democracy index? What system of government do these countries have?
Systems of Government
«I do not think the measure of a civilization is how tall its buildings of concrete are, but rather how well its people have learned to relate to their environment and fellow man.»
― Sun Bear, Chippewa.
Discussions, 2023.
By Dall-E and Arne Mjelde Sæther (CC0)
We are going to explore the different systems of government in a selection of English-speaking countries. You will have to use the terminology we have talked about above, and try to consider how democratic the systems in these countries are. In a democracy there are certain characteristics that need to be in place:
Popular Sovereignty
Popular Sovereignty
The power comes from the people, the principle that those who govern do so with the consent of the people.
Free and Fair Elections
Free and Fair Elections
Elections must be open, voters must not be pressured or threatened, the voting process must be correct and transparent.
Universal Suffrage
Universal Suffrage
Everyone above a certain age (very often 18) has the right to vote.
Limited Government
Limited Government
There are limits to how far into our private spheres the government has power over us. As an example, during the pandemic, the Norwegian government made rules for how many people could visit our homes, and who we were allowed to hug. This goes far beyond the normal limits of what a democratic government can do. However, we accepted it because we believed it would provide protection.
Citizens´ Rights
Citizens´ Rigths
As citizens we have fundamental rights to life, freedom, property, freedom of speech, and of course the human rights in general.
Freedom of speech and organization
Freedom of speech and organization
This is important in a democracy because we can make our voices heard, we can challenge the government if we disagree, and we can organize for specific causes.
Free Press
Free Press
The press plays an important role in a democracy as a ‘watchdog’, making sure that the public is informed about government processes, and holding politicians accountable. They also play an important role in giving attention to issues in society that politicians should deal with, putting pressure on them to act.
Separation of Powers
Separation of Powers
The principle that power in a democracy should be separated into three branches; the legislative (pass laws, such as Stortinget in Norway or Parliament in the UK), the executive (responsible for enforcing the laws, such as the President in the US, and the Regjering in Norway), and the judicial branch (the courts who interpret the laws, pass out punishments and hold the executive and legislative branches accountable if they breach the Constitution).
Political Pluralism
Political Pluralism
There are several political alternatives, and open political debates that represent multiple perspectives.
To Do
You will work in groups to create a poster that shows the political system, level of democracy and political issues in a given English-speaking country. Include the following:
- An overview/diagram/explanation of the system of government (how is power separated, who does what?)
- Does the country’s government tick all the boxes for a democracy?
- What are the main political parties, and what (very briefly) do they stand for?
- What are the main political debates/conflict issues in the country?
A Brief History of Democracy
A Greek Sunset, 2023.
By Dall-E and Arne Mjelde Sæther (CC0)
The idea of democracy was born in ancient Athens, where people who were categorized as citizens (excluding women, immigrants and former slaves), came together to discuss and vote on laws and decisions for the Polis (City State). This democracy was far from what we would call a democracy today, but you can say that the idea of people’s rule (democracy comes from Greek: Demos (people) and kratos (power)) comes from Athens.
In the 17 and 18 centuries, enlightenment thinkers such as the English philosopher John Locke, and French thinkers like Rousseau, Montesquieu and Voltaire started thinking, discussing and writing new ideas about how society should be organized; the power relations between the king and the people/the government and the governed, and the rights of the people. Montesquieu formulated the idea of separation of power, while Rousseau was concerned with the sovereignty of the people. Voltaire hailed freedom of speech as a fundamental right (History.com, 2020). John Locke formulated that people have an unalienable right to life, freedom and property, words that were echoed in the American Declaration of Independence in 1776 (National Archives, n.d.).
All these thoughts and ideas were not only thoughts; they influenced real-life events and were one of the driving forces behind the American Revolution in 1776, where the British colonies decided to get rid of the English king, who they saw as a tyrant, and declare their independence. In France in 1789, the people revolted and threw the King Louis XVI from his throne, eventually beheading him and Queen Marie-Antoinette. Even the Norwegian constitution in 1814 is based on these enlightenment ideas. Unfortunately for France, democracy initially did not work very well, as chaos erupted, and Napoleon came to power. In the USA however, they drew up a constitution that is still in use, and the American democracy has been a role model for newer democracies (although there are definitive democratic problems in the US today). The Norwegian Constitution is the second oldest one still in use, and in 2023, as we have seen, Norway is at the top of the global democracy index.
After the fall of communism in Russia and Eastern Europe around 1990, there was great hope for democracy and the future looked bright. However, in the most recent years, many countries have gone in an anti-democratic direction. Countries like Russia, Poland, Turkey and Hungary have moved in more authoritarian directions, and the recent US elections there have been plenty of challenges in the voting system and the acceptance of democratic principles, with Trump supporters attacking the Capitol building on January 6, 2021, as one of the darkest moments.
So – how can we, as citizens, do democracy? How can we make sure that the principles of democracy are upheld. An American professor of History, Timothy Snyder, has tried to briefly sum up some ways in which we can do just this. In his very short book On Tyranny – 20 lessons from the 20th Century, he outlines, giving examples from history, how we can avoid falling into authoritarian rule. Here is a link to an excerpt from On Tyranny.
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Part 2: Rhetoric - How to Persuade Someone of Your Opinion
Rhetorical Strategies
Looking veeeery cutely into the camera was, surprisingly enough, not recognized as a rhetorical strategy by the old Athenians. Now, had they had cameras…
French Bulldog Puppy
In ancient Greece and Rome, rhetoric was important, because citizens took part in public discussions, and also pleaded their claims in court (ThoughtCo, 2017). Rhetoric is about the art of effective communication, and through conscious use of rhetorical devices, which you will read about below, you can write effective speeches, essays or use these “tricks” in discussions and debates.
Logos
Logos refers to fact and reason and logic. By backing up arguments with for instance statistics, research and verifiable information, the recipient of the message is more inclined to believe it. See for example how the advertisement in the video link below uses logos in order to persuade you to purchase their service:
Pathos
Pathos appeals to our emotions and sympathies. By use of examples, emotionally loaded words or images, the sender of the message plays on emotions like fear, happiness, sorrow in order to invoke a reaction in us (Andersen, n.d.). Check out the video link below to see an example of how this rhetorical appeal form has been used:
Ethos
The last form of appeal is ethos, which refers to how we trust and respect the people behind the message. Using celebrities to endorse a message, or using people who are respected and trusted in campaigns or advertisements can be a powerful tool. If we respect someone, we trust what they are saying. Consider how it works in this video where Oprah Winfrey endorses Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign:
Rhetorical Devices
Above you have seen explanations for the different appeal forms. In addition, we can analyse a text, speech, advertisement etc. in more detail by looking at the rhetorical devices used. Here are some examples from Donald Trump’s speech on January 6, 2021 (Naylor, 2021):
Questions asked without expecting an answer. «And by the way, does anybody believe that Joe had 80 million votes? Does anybody believe that?” (Donald Trump, January 6, 2021).
Repeated words, phrases or sounds . «You will speak up, you will show up, you will stand up…»
Exaggeration = «I walked a million miles to get here.»
Emphasizing the difference between two things «The whole world suffered, but America outperformed other countries economically because of our incredible economy and the economy that we built.»
Longer sentences slow down the reading or speaking pace, while shorter sentences tend to speed it up. «They’re calling it a miracle. And that was the vaccine.»
Inclusive vocabulary, choosing personal pronouns like ‘we, us’, exclusive pronouns: we vs. them/they. «We created Space Force, We, we, we» If they do the wrong thing, we should never, ever forget that they did.
Positively or negatively charged words. «It’s a disgrace.» «You're stronger, you're smarter, you've got more going than anybody.»
To Do
We are going to do an analysis of a speech on Gender Equality held at the UN by Emma Watson. You will find a transcript of Watson´s speech here and we will watch the video of her message below:
- Identify how Emma Watson uses ethos, logos and pathos in this speech.
- Find at least 5 examples of rhetorical devices in the speech, and explain their effect on the audience.
- Write a persuasive speech on a topic that you are passionate about. Use ethos, pathos and logos in your speech, and include rhethorical devices.
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Part 3: Global Issues
Inquiry Questions
🤔 What is a global issue?
🤔 How can we find information about global issues?
🤔 How do different types of media portray a global issue?
🤔 What are some different perspectives on a global issue?
A global issue incorporates the following three properties:
It has significance on a wide/ large scale
It is transnational
Its impact is felt in everyday local contexts
NB! A global issue does not have to be something negative, and we will work on having different perspectives on several of the issues we will study.
The global issues we will discuss are the following:
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Part 3: Global Issues
Technology: Artificial Intelligence
Things change (2023)
Arne Mjelde Sæther / DALL-E
AI is not something completely new. However, the speed of development, and the impact on our daily lives, leads Google’s developers, Time Magazine, the EU and countless others to talk about an AI revolution. It is certain at this point that AI will play an enormous role in the near future. Is this a development we should fear or embrace? AI provides new possibilities in medicine, climate technology, automation and numerous other fields. However, if this technology is not sufficiently regulated, it could prove to lead humanity down a dangerous path.
“AI is one of the most important things humanity is working on. It is more profound than, I dunno, electricity or fire…”
(CNBC, 2018)
“Success in creating AI could be the biggest event in the history of our civilisation,” …“But it could also be the last – unless we learn how to avoid the risks. Alongside the benefits, AI will also bring dangers like powerful autonomous weapons or new ways for the few to oppress the many”
(Cambridge University, N.D.)
“Just as electricity transformed almost everything 100 years ago, today I actually have a hard time thinking of an industry that I don’t think AI will transform in the next several years”
(Lynch, 2016)
Musician and author Nick Cave wrote a letter in response to a fan sending him AI generated song lyrics, where he makes it very clear what he thinks of ChatGPT, and also shares some interesting perspectives on creativity, life and what it means to be human. See actor Stephen Fry read the letter in the video below:
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Part 3: Global Issues
Migration
Migration means the movement of people from one place to another. Migration happens within countries, for example from rural to urban areas, and it happens across borders. Migration has been part of human history since the beginning of time. People have moved because of climate, wars, access to resources or other reasons. In the last half of the 1800s, around 800 000 Norwegians emigrated to America in search of a new and better life. Today, many industries and sectors in Norway would have severe labour shortages if it were not for immigration. Migration is part of globalization, and has driven technological and cultural development and exchange; migration makes our lives richer.
Some people are forced to leave their home due to conflicts, wars, persecution, climate change or natural disasters. Many of these are defined as refugees, and the number of refugees in the world is on the increase. According to the UN, there were in 2022 an estimated number of 35.3 million refugees in the world (UN, 2023). Many risk their lives in search of a safer and better life, crossing deserts or oceans or paying human traffickers huge amounts of money for a chance for a new life.
Poem: “Home” by Warsan Shire:
British Poet Warsan Shire, herself a migrant, born in Kenya to Somali parents, has written a poem about leaving home. Hear Sir Jonathan Price´s reading of her poem below, and see a transcript of home here.
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Part 3: Global Issues
Climate Change
The iconic “Earthrise” image of Earth appearing over the Moon’s horizon as seen from the Apollo 8 spacecraft, taken during a live broadcast with NASA astronauts from the lunar orbit on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, 1968.
Credits: NASA
When actor William Shatner, known from Star Trek, went to space for the first time at the age of 90, he came back with a realization that was perhaps unexpected. Read the article by Shatner from The Guardian to see how the space journey changed his perspective.
To Do
- Write 3 enquiry questions about climate change
- Find some reliable sources that can help you answer those questions
- Choose two of the sources and give an assessment of the sources:
- What is the purpose of the source?
- What does the source tell us (summed up in one sentence)
- How does the source help answer your questions?
- What are the limitations of this source (is it objective, is it reliable, is it suitable)?
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Part 3: Global Issues
Gender Equality
“Women hold up half the sky”
Gender equality is a human right (UN, n.d.), yet globally we have a long way to go before we achieve equality of rights and opportunity between men and women.
Below are some facts about gender equality from UNwomen.org (UN Women, n.d.):
Two thirds of the 750 million people globally who are illiterate are women
Of all parliamentary seats worldwide, women only occupy 24%
1 in 3 women have experienced physical or sexual violence
Women earn 23% less than men globally
The UN sees gender equality as a fundamental key to achieving the sustainability goals:
Previously in the Unit, we looked at Emma Watson’s speech, where one of her messages was that men should also care about gender equality. A similar message is provided in the TED-talk by Michael Kimmel here:
To Do
Text analysis: Political cartoons
Access the document called Political Cartoons – gender equality here, and write answers to the questions below. When you have answered the questions individually, get into groups and share your insights.
- What is the message of each of the cartoons? Refer to specific details in the image and text that communicate this message.
- Why do you think political cartoons might be an effective way of conveying a message or opinion?
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Part 3: Global Issues
The Decline of Democracy
Over the past years, it seems like democracy is in trouble. Many countries seem to be moving away from democratic principles, such as freedom of speech, an independent system of the courts, free and fair elections and other key characteristics of a democracy.
This democracy index shows the state of democracy globally in 2022 (dark red = poor quality, dark green = higher quality:
World map showing countries/territories by Democracy Index Score in 2022.
Wikipedia, public domain.
The colors in the map are based on the 2022-version of the annual Democracy Index report by The Economist. They also highlight some of their findings in this short video:
We are not going to delve into the reasons why democracy is on the decline. Instead, we are going to look into what we can do to preserve democracy. So how can we, as citizens, do democracy? How can we make sure that the principles of democracy are upheld. An American professor of History, Timothy Snyder, has tried to briefly sum up some ways in which we can do just this. In his very short book On Tyranny – 20 lessons from the 20th Century, he outlines, giving examples from history, how we can avoid falling into authoritarian rule. Here is a link to an excerpt from On Tyranny.
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