Index IntroductionLegitimacyPowerState of natureGovernment formationPolitical issuesPersonal loyaltyMy change of perspectiveConclusionBibliographyAlmost all men can endure adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get Original Essay - Abraham LincolnIntroductionPoliticians crave power. I have always been fascinated by the ways and means politicians use to achieve power and what ultimately happens when they gain that power. My political beliefs were shaped by my roots, having grown up in the countryside of a remote peninsula. My family's political values, held dear, have always been on the Republican side. During my early years, my views on politics were basic. A politician would show up at an event, shake a few hands or cut a ribbon and the crowd would smile. It seemed to me that politicians had a great job, glorifying celebrities in front of everyone. That's why the main topic of my essay is politics. As the years passed, my involvement and understanding of politics grew, as I was given the opportunity, along with my family members and neighbors, to play a role in getting our candidate elected in the election. local city council. At the age of 10, I still had no idea of ​​the big picture, all I knew was that there was a job to complete and a race to win. Naively, I thought I could win that race by first beating my neighbors' children and posting my posters on the doors of houses and apartments in housing estates. As I reached second level education, my involvement and understanding of politics deepened. I was allowed to attend local Cumann meetings with my family and observe politicians up close and personal as they interacted with party members. My thoughts on politics changed once again, as I could see that a politician's job is strenuous and requires long hours, and I realized that different politicians had distinct motivations. Although I did not understand the influence of charisma on political success at the time, I observed that some politicians articulated a self-serving ideology and showed little interest in politics, while others seemed genuinely interested in the common good. Halfway through my second A level education, I was well equipped with a basic understanding of Irish politics, the workings of an Irish political party and how general elections are run. My understanding of politics grew further when I was given the opportunity to work alongside the Cathaoirleach of the Seanad for a week of work experience. This gave me unlimited access to learn about the workings of the Dáil and the civil service. It was a crucial week in Irish politics, when the then Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader, Enda Kenny, was trying to embark on a path that would provide him with a clean retirement from politics. Politicians huddled in corners, quietly sharing the latest gossip, as rumors of Mr Kenny's impending retirement spread through the Oireachtas. All this melodrama has taught me two things about politics; one, in the game of politics there will be many hungry wolves waiting to take your position in power the moment you start to let go of the reins, and two, leaving a clean political life is easier said than done. Through the study ofThis module, I learned about political theories and perspectives and was given the tools to criticize politics objectively. Politics is about the organization of power and control over decision making. At the beginning of the module, lessons focused on how power is used within a state. Power was traditionally used to get things done or to prevent things from being done. These are commonly known as the first two faces of power. Control over the political agenda is very important to maintain powerpower can be exercised by limiting the scope of decision making. Legitimacy Traditionally, political legitimacy is achieved in three ways, one of which is charisma. Charisma is the magnetism and personal charm that give a politician the ability to inspire enthusiasm, interest, or affection in others and thereby gain their support. Although charisma often proves to be an electoral success, I believe it does not always correlate with the good use of power. Charismatic authority is not based on formal rules or procedures, so no limits are placed on it. By learning about legitimacy during this module, I now recognize that charismatic authority can create problems. This module allowed me to reflect on how past leaders gained legitimacy through their charisma and were then able to exert control, with harmful results. Many political thinkers have come to realize that without a society that obeys its authority, a government will begin to crumble. This is not to say that a government's legitimacy will automatically be called into question, as no political institution will automatically gain overwhelming public approval. In an article written in 2010, entitled "Political Legitimacy", the political scientist and socialist Mattie Dorgan states that a regime is not necessarily questioned except in the case of economic, military or social disaster. In this reading, he highlights the fact that many believe that it is better “to have a mediocre parliament than to have no parliament at all”. This got me thinking about why the current Irish government is still intact, despite calls from various political opponents to resign and hold a general election. The fear of an inactive parliament is a real apprehension that many citizens on the island of Ireland face at the moment, thus allowing politicians to choose to keep an under-performing government in power. Power I was fascinated to learn about Steven Lukes' theory of the third face of energy. Power can be exercised through the use of coercion or by obtaining consent. Where a society recognizes the legitimacy of a government, there is less need for a government to use coercion to control its society by force. Lukes put forward the theory that power is a relationship and can be exercised by making people believe that a course of action is in their best interests. Learning about Stevens Lukes' theory, I have seen that power is often used in this way in Irish politics and particularly in the local party branch I am involved with. In this third face, people give their consent to a certain course of action when they think it is in their best interest. The loyalty of members and supporters to a particular political party and their desire to help that party achieve power allows politicians to use the power of their position to influence party members to support them. Lukes explains that power can allow one person to influence another by shaping what they think, want, or need. After learning the third face of power, I am now inable to see that many politicians use manipulation in a broader sense to create the public thinks that what they are doing will benefit them. We see this most clearly in the run-up to elections, when political parties make general and sectoral promises. This usually involves pledging to provide more funding or other benefits after the election, provided that people vote for them and they return to power. This is sometimes called auction politics when opposing groups try to outbid each other with larger offers to the electorate. State of Nature Later in the module, we came to study political philosophy and within it, a key concept, the state of nature, which is a hypothetical condition in which there would be no central authority to govern. The 17th century English philosopher, Thomas Hobbs, believed that in the state of nature there would be a "war of all against all", as there would be a shortage of goods and people would have no concept of right or wrong . Hobbs argued that authority has always existed naturally in the human race, as a child is understandably weaker than its mother and depends on her to keep it safe, thus emphasizing that some are much stronger than others. Strengthening his thesis, Hobbs stated that a state of nature is a habitual environment that one should avoid. He believed that individuals should engage in a social contract. To avoid the state of nature and live in a land of peace, both must agree to live together according to common laws and create a mechanism for enforcing the social contract and the laws that constitute it. David Miller observes that when we participate in elections using our democratic vote and thus electing a government, “we agree to respect them and to respect the laws they enact.” We recognize government as a legitimate authority and therefore enter into a social contract with it to control our nation. All this theory got me thinking about how the Irish government is eager to restore a functioning Assembly in Stormont, Northern Ireland, to avoid the danger of a free-for-all. Formation of Government During my late teens, a revolution shook the Irish political scene. After years of recovering from Ireland's economic collapse and having a right-wing party in government or leading the government, the 2016 general election failed to produce a majority consensus in Dáil Éireann. Thirty-four independents and small party candidates won seats as TDs. This new era of politics has made it clear to me that politics and power are closely intertwined, and for things to happen, politicians need a cool head and calm temperaments to negotiate peacefully and work in the interest of the country to create a government. Politics Problems During meetings of the local political party Cumann, I learn about the problems affecting my community. Many members are concerned about the younger generation leaving our local community in search of new opportunities. Others fear that no new, fresh blood was involved in the party. I feel a sense of isolation and frustration with the status quo. My local community is concerned about many national issues. The housing and health crisis is a glaring issue of concern to many, as the lack of affordable housing in nearby cities continues to prevent loved ones from purchasing a home, getting on the property ladder, and thus escaping the vicious cycle of rising rents . The problems that afflict and worry my rural community cannot be easily solved, since the movement of population, services and employment towards large urban centers is unstoppable. THE..