When you are going to start the study of Political Science, the first thing you should know
is the meaning
nature, and scope of political science.
Human knowledge is basically divided into two extensive categories. One is Natural Science and the
other one is Social Science.
Natural science deals with the physical world such as land, weather, water, forests, etc, whereas social
science deals with the human being, their collective social life, and activities.
What is Political Science?
Political science is a part of social science that deals with the political problems of human beings and the
subject matter of political science is political institutions (State, Government, Judiciary, Parliament,
Pressure groups, Political Parties, etc.)Political behavior, and activities of humans, etc. It is also related
to other social science subjects like history, sociology, philosophy, economics, etc.
Political Science -is a branch of social science that focuses on the study of power relationships in society.
• It is the mass of knowledge derived from studying state and government affairs, considering the
political participation of non-state agents who seek power to influence policy decisions
• Political science tackles both normative (“what should be”) and empirical (“what is”) questions
• the method of inquiry that seeks to understand politics and foresee political behavior.
Political science is the combination of two words one is Political and another one is science.
Political refers to power and authority. That is, everything related to power and authority is political. For
example, all institutions (State, Government, Judiciary, Parliament, Pressure groups, Political Parties,
etc) and actions of humans related to power are subject to politics.
So It means a systematic study of political institutions, the political behavior of human beings, political
systems, international relations, and all the issues related to power and authority.
The famous Greek philosopher Aristotle said that “Man is by nature a political animal…he who is unable
to live in a society or who has no need because he is sufficient for himself, must be either a beast or
God”. He is considered the father of political science because he is the first person who has defined
politics using scientific methods.
The definition of political science is determined by the scope of its field of discussion. The scope of
political science has been discussed in the last part of the writing.
The problems of people’s political life are increasing. As time has passed, people’s political thinking has
developed more and more.
—investigates the reasons behind the decisions governments make. Political scientists examine both
the ways individuals and groups seek to influence governmental action and the ways governmental
decisions in turn affect individuals and groups.
FIELDS AND BRANCHES OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
POLITICAL THEORY - provides insight into the various aspects of the origin of state, its institutions and
laws.Political Theory focuses on such topics as liberty, justice,human rights, property, rights, law and the
enforcement of a legal code by authority: what they are, why (or if) they are needed, what (if anything)
makes a government legitimate, what rights and freedoms it should protect and why, what form it
should take and why, what the law is, what duties citizens owe to a legitimate government (if any), and
when may it be legitimately overthrown (if ever).
COMPARATIVE POLITICS involves the study and comparison of the world’s political systems. It seeks to
explain differences between as well as similarities among countries. It is particularly interested in
exploring patterns, and it tries to develop general hypotheses that describe and explain these trends.
Some of the questions that lie at the heart of the field of Comparative Politics are:
Why are some countries poor and others wealthier?
What enables some countries to thrive in the modern world while others remain locked in poverty?
Why are poorer countries more inclined to be governed autocratically while the richer countries are
democratic?
What accounts for the regional, cultural, and geographic differences that exist?
What are the politics of the transition from under development to development and what helps
stimulate and sustain that process?
What are the internal social and political conditions as well as the international situations of these
various countries that explain the similarities as well as the differences?
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles
of states, inter-governmental organizations (IGOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs),
and international multinational corporations (MNCs). It seeks to both analyze as well as formulate the
foreign policy of particular states. involves a diverse range of issues including but not limited to
globalization, state sovereignty, international security, ecological sustainability, nuclear proliferation,
nationalism, economic development, global finance, terrorism, organized crime, human security, foreign
interventionism and human rights.
Political Methodology
The subfield of political methodology is concerned with the philosophical bases of political science,
social science, empirical research design and analysis, and practical field research experience.
Courses in the political methodology field cover philosophical issues regarding the possibility of a
science of politics, the similarities and differences between political science and other social sciences,
alternative modes of explanation, and the truth of knowledge claims. They also examine the formulation
of experimental and non-experimental research designs for making causal inferences about political
processes and behavior and explore the. use of statistics, mathematics and computers for the analysis of
political data generated by such research designs. Students are also provided an opportunity to conduct
individual and group research projects through seminars. The political methodology faculty have current
research and teaching interests in such diverse topics as mass media, feminist theory, language politics,
political economy, rational choice theory, and public policy.
Relationship of Politics and Political Science
Politics is the actual conduct of power struggle in the course of resolving conflicts.
Politics is important because the quality of life in society depends on its outcome.
Political science helps improve politics by providing the knowledge needed for citizenship education,
electoral participation, civic and social consciousness, and effective governance.
Approaches and Method
Normative
“What should be”
Ethical questions and value judgement
What should be the ideal society, the distribution of power, the limits of freedom, etc.
Concepts of justice, human rights, moral obligation, etc.
Empirical
“What is”
Observable and measurable
Provides scientific character
Gathers quantitative and qualitative data
Applies statistical and mathematical analysis to political phenomena
Connection of Politics and Political Science
Similarities
Both concerned on the same things:
Human interaction
Cooperation and conflict resolution
Government decision and allocation of resources
Differences
Politics Political Science
What is it? ● Phenomena ● Method of inquiry
● Actual conduct of state affairs ● The mass of knowledge derived from
studying politics
● Actual political activities of the people
Politics Political Science
Where does it happen? ● Occurs in daily lives ● Concerned mainly on the relationship of
state and its people
● Public and private spheres
Politics Political Science
Who participates and ● Everyone ● Fewer people
how?
● Fixed, popular, simplified opinions ● Objective, complex, scientific analysis
Politics Political Science
What it provides the ● Its dynamism provides a living, breathing, ● It provides theoretical foundation and
other? ever-evolving subject of study. scientific method to understand state
affairs and political behavior.
Achievements of Politics
Right to suffrage
Reduction of work hours
Freedom of speech
Freedom of belief and religion
Right to peaceably assemble
Shortcomings of Politics
Dependence on foreign influence
Domination of political clans
High poverty rates and inequality gaps
Issues on the credibility of democratic institutions
How Political Science Helps Politics
A.Citizenship Education and Rights Awareness
Learn constitutional rights
Recognize abuses and violations
Raise quality of political participation
B.Electoral Participation
Learn to analyze electoral system and processes
Make informed decisions when voting
Be able to weigh record, platform, and visions of candidates
Civic and Social Consciousness
Learn about power relations and inequality
Know who are underrepresented, marginalized, and vulnerable
Identify ways to help them
Lobbying and Advocacy
Learn about political processes and dynamics of political actors
Know how campaigns and advocacies can become successful
Effective Governance
Learn the true state of things
Know the opinion of the public and impact of policies to improve governance
Lifelong Values
Learn intellectual values
Know how to become open to different perspectives while being firm with one’s own principle
Importance of Political Science
The study of political science is very important and significant in this socio-economic-political society. By
studying it people can know how and why the state is organized and why its constitution is justified.
It makes people more conscious about their rights and duties. Those who know political science, always
take useful part in social and political affairs.
Robert Dahl rightly said that “A citizen encounters politics in the government of a country, town, school,
church, business firm, trade union, club, political party, civic association and a host of organizations.
Politics is one of the unavoidable facts of human existence. Everyone is involved in some fashion at
some time in some kind of political system.”
After knowing about the meaning nature and scope of political science, you have realized some basic
points which tell you why to study it. or what is the importance of political science?
1. Understand Citizenship
It enables you to understand the relationship between an individual or citizen and the state. Citizen
participates in the decision-making process of governance in the name of election and forms a
government under which they are governed.
2. Know the Political Thoughts and Ideas of the Eminent Political Thinkers
We are influenced by the ideas of political thinkers like Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Karl Marx, etc. and it
helps us to understand the present political problem and allow us to find out the solution to those
problems.
3. Make Citizen Conscious of Their Rights and Duties
I have already said that it allows us to understand our rights and duties in the society we live. Rights are
the most important aspect of any individual.
Rights are the one that helps individuals to grow in terms of their talent. Besides this, it also tells citizens
about their duties to society.
4. Understands Recent Trends in the World
It also allows us to understand the current trends in the world. By the study of political science, we can
search for what is happening around us. This is the era of globalization. And globalization affects our
daily life but how? To solve this question we have to study it.
5. Understand the Role of Government, Political Parties, and Pressure Groups
What should be the role of a political party and how do pressure groups affect the decision-making
process of the government?
It gives you clear ideas of these questions that help you to understand how the government is formed,
what’s your role in the decision-making process of the government, etc.
So it can be said that a modern man cannot be perfect without knowing facts about political science. In
simple importance it is precious. It improves our living standards.
