 |
It goes without saying that the first step in preparing any teaching unit on politics should be to provide an introduction to the subject that is as comprehensive as
possible. This serves in forming a sound foundation on which the success of
lessons
depends. This, the second of our basic courses, has been created to provide teachers with advice on how to systematically become acquainted with a complex political subject
area. |
You might also find our definition of
what we mean by politics
helpful, which we have included as part of this Main Subject Group (... to
our definition of "politics"). Politics has three
dimensions - polity, politics and policy. Key questions can be derived from these
dimensions and put together to form a checklist, which, in turn, can be used both to assist during the process of becoming
acquainted with a subject and to provide structure to research carried out in
books, magazines and the internet.
Checklist based on the three dimensions of politics to aid the subject introduction process:
|
The
dimensions of politics |
Key questions |
|
Polity
(the institutional dimension)
political action framework |
Which parts of the constitution are
affected?
Which core aspects of the constitution have to be taken into
account?
Which laws and legal legal norms play a role?
Which institutions are involved in the decision-making process and with what
powers?
Which international agreements, provisions and responsibilities affect the room for
manoeuvre? |
|
policy
(content-based dimension) |
Which political problem are we dealing with?
What are the goals?
In terms of reaching a solution, what suggestions are being discussed?
What have been the political results so far?
How are the results assessed? |
|
politics
(procedural dimension)
Forming of a political will and decision making process |
Who is involved
and/or affected?
What opportunities for participation are open and which ones are
actually used?
Along which lines does the conflict run?
Which power structures can be
identified and what influences them?
Which interests play a role and how are they communicated and
enforced?
How are majorities found and how is agreement sought? |
[With slight changes from: [Politikdidaktik kurzgefasst. Questions involving the planning of political education lessons by the Federal Centre for Political Education, series 326, Bonn 1994, S. 31-32]
[Author: Ragnar Müller]
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