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Analyse how the study of government has helped in your understanding of the subject matter.
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Examine any four (4) relevance of Behavioural approach to the study of politics.
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Define politics and analyse how adequately your definition has helped in your understanding of the subject matter.
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“There is no authority without legitimacy”, Discuss.
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Discuss any four (4) disadvantages of a Multi-Party system.
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Define foreign policy and discuss any four (4) of its determinants.
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Explain any four (4) major challenges facing United Nations Organisation.
Question 1: How the Study of Government Has Helped in Understanding the Subject Matter
Definition of Government:
Government refers to the institution, process, or machinery through which the state exercises its authority, makes and enforces laws, and manages public affairs for the welfare of its citizens.
How its study has helped:
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Understanding Political Institutions — Studying government helps us understand how institutions such as the Executive, Legislature, and Judiciary are structured, how they function, and how they interact. This knowledge is essential for understanding how decisions that affect citizens are made.
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Understanding Rights and Responsibilities — The study of government enlightens citizens about their fundamental rights, civic duties, and the limits of governmental power. This promotes active and informed citizenship.
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Understanding Political Processes — It helps us understand processes such as elections, legislation, policy-making, and constitutional amendments, enabling citizens to participate meaningfully in governance.
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Comparative Analysis — Studying government allows us to compare different political systems — presidential vs. parliamentary, federal vs. unitary — helping us evaluate which systems best promote democracy, stability, and development.
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Promoting Good Governance — Knowledge of government exposes corruption, abuse of power, and institutional failures, empowering citizens and scholars to advocate for accountability, transparency, and reform.
Question 2: Four Relevance of the Behavioural Approach to the Study of Politics
The Behavioural Approach emerged in the 1950s and focuses on the actual behaviour of individuals and groups in political settings, using scientific methods such as surveys, statistics, and empirical observation.
Four Relevance:
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Scientific Rigor and Objectivity — The behavioural approach introduced scientific methods into political science, making it more objective and empirical. By relying on observable data and measurable evidence rather than speculation, it improved the credibility and accuracy of political analysis.
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Understanding Voting Behaviour — It has been particularly useful in studying why people vote the way they do — examining factors such as ethnicity, religion, socioeconomic status, education, and party identification. This has greatly enriched electoral studies.
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Focus on the Individual — By shifting focus from institutions to individual actors, behaviouralism helps explain how personal attitudes, beliefs, values, and psychological factors influence political decisions and participation.
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Policy Relevance — Behavioural research produces practical data that governments and political parties can use to design better public policies, election strategies, and civic education programs based on how citizens actually think and behave.
Question 3: Definition of Politics and How It Aids Understanding of the Subject Matter
Definition of Politics:
Politics can be defined as the process by which groups of people make collective decisions, allocate resources, and exercise power within a society. Harold Lasswell famously defined it as the study of “who gets what, when, and how.” David Easton defined it as the “authoritative allocation of values” in society.
How this definition aids understanding:
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Power and Authority — The definition highlights that politics is fundamentally about power — who has it, how it is obtained, and how it is used. This helps us understand why individuals and groups compete for political office and influence.
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Resource Allocation — Understanding politics as the allocation of values and resources helps explain government budgeting, policy priorities, and why certain groups benefit more from government than others.
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Conflict and Cooperation — The definition reveals that politics involves both conflict (competition for power and resources) and cooperation (building coalitions, making laws), helping us understand the dynamics of political life.
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Scope of Politics — The definition broadens our understanding beyond just government to include all situations where power is exercised — in families, workplaces, communities, and international relations — showing that politics is a universal human activity.
Question 4: “There is No Authority Without Legitimacy” — Discuss
Definitions:
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Authority is the recognized and accepted right to exercise power. It is power that is considered lawful and justified.
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Legitimacy is the quality that makes authority acceptable and worthy of obedience in the eyes of the governed. Max Weber identified three types: Traditional (based on custom), Charismatic (based on personal qualities), and Legal-Rational (based on law and rules).
Discussion:
The statement asserts that authority cannot exist meaningfully without legitimacy — that is, without the consent and acceptance of the people.
Arguments Supporting the Statement:
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Authority Requires Acceptance — A government may have the physical force to impose its will, but without legitimacy — the belief by citizens that the government has the right to rule — it cannot govern effectively. Citizens will resist, rebel, or withdraw cooperation from an illegitimate authority.
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Historical Evidence — History is full of examples where rulers who lost legitimacy were overthrown — the French Revolution against the monarchy, the collapse of apartheid in South Africa, and the Arab Spring uprisings all demonstrate that power without legitimacy is ultimately unsustainable.
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Democratic Theory — In democracy, authority is derived from the consent of the governed (social contract theory — Locke, Rousseau). An elected government has legitimate authority; a military dictatorship that seizes power by force lacks legitimacy even if it controls the state.
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Obedience and Stability — Legitimate authority produces voluntary obedience, reducing the need for coercion. Without legitimacy, a government must rely on constant force and repression to maintain order, which is costly, unstable, and ultimately unsustainable.
Counter-argument:
Some argue that authority can exist through sheer force and coercion without legitimacy, as seen in totalitarian regimes. However, such “authority” is fragile and temporary.
Conclusion:
The statement is largely valid. True, stable, and effective authority must rest on legitimacy. Without the consent and acceptance of the people, what appears to be authority is merely naked power — and history shows that such power eventually collapses.
Question 5: Four Disadvantages of a Multi-Party System
A multi-party system is one in which more than two political parties compete for power (e.g., Nigeria, Germany, France, India).
Four Disadvantages:
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Political Instability — The presence of many parties makes it difficult for any single party to win an outright majority, often resulting in weak coalition governments. These coalitions are prone to collapse due to disagreements among partners, leading to frequent changes in government and political instability.
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Promotion of Ethnic and Sectional Politics — In diverse societies like Nigeria, multiple parties often emerge along ethnic, religious, or regional lines. This deepens divisions, encourages primordial loyalties, and makes it difficult to build a truly national political culture.
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Confusion Among Voters — Too many parties and candidates can confuse voters, especially in developing countries with high illiteracy rates. Voters may struggle to distinguish between parties and make informed choices, weakening the quality of democratic participation.
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Slow Decision-Making — Coalition governments formed in multi-party systems often involve prolonged negotiations and compromises among different parties. This slows down governance and policy implementation, as consensus must be reached among parties with conflicting interests.
Question 6: Foreign Policy and Four of Its Determinants
Definition:
Foreign policy is the set of strategies, goals, and decisions that guide a country’s interactions and relationships with other sovereign states and international organizations. It defines how a country pursues its national interests beyond its borders through diplomacy, trade, military alliances, and international cooperation.
Four Determinants of Foreign Policy:
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National Interest — The primary driver of foreign policy is the pursuit of national interest — the economic, political, military, and cultural goals of the state. Every foreign policy decision is ultimately evaluated by whether it advances or protects the nation’s interests.
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Geography — A country’s geographic location, size, and natural resources significantly shape its foreign policy. For example, landlocked countries prioritize access to sea routes; countries with oil resources have foreign policies heavily influenced by energy diplomacy. Nigeria’s position as West Africa’s largest economy shapes its leadership role in ECOWAS.
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Economic Factors — The level of economic development, trade relationships, and dependence on foreign aid or investment influence foreign policy. Developing nations often align their foreign policies with major donor countries or trade partners to secure economic benefits.
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Military Capability — A country’s military strength determines its ability to pursue an assertive or defensive foreign policy. Powerful nations like the USA can project force globally, while weaker states must rely more heavily on diplomacy and multilateral institutions to protect their interests.
Question 7: Four Major Challenges Facing the United Nations Organisation (UNO)
The United Nations was established in 1945 after World War II to maintain international peace and security, promote human rights, and foster cooperation among nations.
Four Major Challenges:
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Veto Power Abuse by Permanent Members (P5) — The five permanent members of the UN Security Council — USA, UK, France, Russia, and China — each have veto power, meaning any one of them can block resolutions regardless of the majority’s wishes. This has repeatedly paralyzed the UN’s ability to respond to crises, as seen in conflicts in Syria and Ukraine where geopolitical interests prevented decisive action.
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Funding and Financial Crisis — The UN depends heavily on member states’ contributions, and many countries — including major powers — frequently delay or withhold payments. This creates chronic funding shortfalls that hamper the UN’s ability to carry out peacekeeping, humanitarian, and development programs effectively.
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Sovereignty vs. Humanitarian Intervention — The UN is built on the principle of state sovereignty (non-interference in internal affairs), but this frequently conflicts with the need to intervene in cases of genocide, civil war, or mass human rights abuses. This tension has prevented timely intervention in crises such as the Rwandan Genocide (1994) and the Syrian civil war.
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Ineffectiveness in Preventing Wars and Conflicts — Despite its mandate to maintain peace, the UN has been unable to prevent numerous wars, civil conflicts, and acts of terrorism worldwide. The organization lacks a permanent standing army and depends on member states for troops, often resulting in slow, under-resourced, and ineffective peacekeeping operations.