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DAILY
CLASS NOTES
SOCIOLOGY

Comparison with Other Social

Sciences - 2
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Comparison with Other Social Sciences - 2

Sociology And Political Science
❖ Political science is also known as the ‘science of state or government’ or the ‘science
of polity or politics’.

❖ Political science studies political institutions such as the state, government, political
parties, types of government , international relations,executive, legislative and judicial
institutions. Political science also studies behaviour of the people in power. Thus,the
concept of power is important. Political science can be defined as a study of power.

❖ It studies the political activities of man and studies social groups organised under the
sovereign of the state. It deals with man as a ruler and human being as the one who
is being ruled .

❖ It also embraces the study of government and policies of state. It deals with origin ,
evolution and functions of states, constitution and its types etc. thus, it studies the
concrete understanding of political institutions and is a specialised social science.

❖ Paul Janet quotes that political science is that part of social science which treats the
foundation of the state and principles of government.

❖ Sociology is the general science of society. It is science of social groups and social
institutions and studies human interaction and inter- relations and their conditions
and consequences.

❖ Sociology has its roots in politics, political structures and political changes. It focuses
on the distribution of power in society. Eg- Marx’s study on the power differences
between bourgeoisie and proletariat.

Relation Between Political Science And Sociology

❖ The relation between sociology and political science is so close and intimate that led
G.E.C Catlin to quote that political science and sociology are two faces or aspects of
the same figure.

❖ Sociology depends on political science. In the words of Morris Ginsberg , Historically,

sociology has its mains- roots in politics and philosophy of history. Sociology ,infact,
emerged to study political change.
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❖ Political institution is one of the social institutions and to study different political
events, sociology takes the help of political science.

❖ Any change in the political system or nature of power structure brings changes in
society. Hence, sociology takes the help of political science to understand the changes
in society.

❖ Sociology has its roots in politics and political structures and political changes. The
core study of political science is power whereas sociology tries to study distribution of
power among various groups like classes , castes. Infact Garner quotes “Political is
embedded in social.” It is so because political activity is also a social activity and it
influences the social life of man and at the same time it gets influenced by society
and its different aspects.

❖ Political science gives sociology facts about organizations and functions of state and
government and on the other hand, it derives from sociology knowledge of the origin
of political authority. For sociology. Political institution is just a social institution.
Sociology tries to examine dynamics of society, social categories , distribution of
power in various social groups which political science brings to use.

❖ Political science also depends on sociology. To understand the part, it is necessary to

understand the whole as different societies have inter-relation and can be
interdependent.

❖ Almost all political problems have a social cause and for the solution of these political
problems, political science takes help from sociology.

❖ State frames its rules, regulations and laws on the basis of social customs, tradition
and values.

❖ Political scientists largely benefitted from the researchers and research methods of
the sociologist.

❖ The linking bridge between the two is political sociology. It is an outcome of the
intersection between sociology and political science which studies various political
institutions , associations, interest groups, power and dynamics in society and its
impact on society and its people.
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❖ It studies some common topics which are being studied by both the subjects. These
topics are War, propaganda, authority, communal riots and law. Understanding of
political problems like caste and communal conflict can be better understood by
means of sociology. At the same time , political institutions can solve many social
problems.Thus, political science and sociology contribute to each other. Infact,
according to Comte and Spencer, there is no difference whatsoever between the two.

❖ However, some of the evident differences between the two disciplines is as follow:-

SOCIOLOGY POLITICAL SCIENCE

❖ Sociology is the science of society. ❖ Science of state , government and

❖ Studies all kinds of society whether power

politically organised or not. ❖ It studies politically organised society.

❖ Sociology is a general social science ❖ It is a special social science and has

and has wider scope. narrow scope

❖ It studies man as a social animal ❖ Political science studies man as a

❖ It is relatively a younger social science. political animal

❖ It is an age old social science

Sociology And Economics

Sociology and economics has a very close and intimate relationship because economic
relationships bear a close relation to social activities and likewise social relationships are
also affected by economic relationships because economic activities to a great extent a re
social activities.

Economics

❖ It deals with economic activities of man such as production, consumption, distribution

and exchange.Economics is the study of production and distribution of goods and
services. It studies man as a wealth getter and wealth disposer . It studies inter-
relations of pure economic variables: the relations of price demand and supply,
money flows, output and input ratios, etc

❖ The major focus of economics is to formulate precise laws of economic behavior and
conduct economic analysis .
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❖ It is more systematized and scientific than sociology and economists try to formulate
such laws which can predict the economic phenomenon.

❖ It also studies the structure and functions of different economic organizations like
banks, markets etc.

❖ It is concerned with the material needs of man as well as his material welfare.

❖ Economics has a narrow scope and is a highly focused and precise discipline.

❖ According to Prof. Robbins, economics is a social science which studies human

behavior in relation to his unlimited needs and scarce means which have alternative
uses.

❖ According to Alfred Marshall,economics investigates how human beings earn and

spend money. The primary concern of economics is studying the material aspects of
society .

❖ However, Pierre Bourdieu , a true economist, would look at all costs of economics
including cost of life or cost on environment.

❖ Sociology looks at economic behaviour in a broader context of social norms, values

and practices.

Sociology

❖ It is concerned with association of human beings and studies human interactions and
interrelations , their conditions and consequences.

❖ The sociological approach looks at economic behaviour in a broader context of social

norms, values, practices and interests.

❖ Sociology does not provide technical solutions but it encourages questioning and
critical perspective.

Relationship Between Sociology And Economics

❖ The relationship between economics and sociology is so close that Thomas advocates
that economics is one of the branches of comprehensive science of sociology.

❖ Economics relies on sociology for developing better understanding of consumption

patterns or social patterns in general.
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❖ Sociologists often envy economists for the precision of their terminology and exactness
of their measures.

❖ The predictive abilities of economics suffer because of their neglect of individual

behaviour, cultural norms and institutional resistance which sociologists study.In fact,
Durkheim and Adam Smith both studied Division of Labour but their contexts were
different. Therefore sociology adds to knowledge of economics.

❖ Sociology provides sociological interpretations of economic changes. It is believed that

the study of economics would be incomplete without having a sociological
understanding of society. The economic activities get affected by the structure,
organization, and institution of society.

❖ In fact, Weber in his work” Protestant Ethic and Spirit Of Capitalism” argues that
change in the value of a religion led to change in the economic aspect of society.

❖ Sociology through its knowledge enriches economics in matters like labor relations,
employer- employee relations, standards of living, socio- economic planning etc

❖ Economic welfare is a part of social welfare . The solution of various economic

problems like inflation, poverty, etc lies in sociology. Poverty is determined in
economic terms but it has social consequences like crime, poor health etc and leads to
social movements.

❖ However economic understanding also contributes to sociology in understanding the

impact of economic changes on society.

❖ Economic changes bring social changes . In fact, sociology emerged as a discipline to

study the impact of economic changes on society.

❖ The close relation of the two disciplines can be understood through works of certain
social thinkers like Karl Marx who believes that social phenomena are dependent on
economic forces. According to Marx social reality or change can be explained through
economic forces.Thus, both disciplines share a close relationship.

❖ Economic change leads to social changes. Eg- Industrial revolution led to

nuclearisation of family.

❖ Today, we see that the area of cooperation is further widening. And economics now
analyses the social factors influencing economic growth. In fact, in developing and
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underdeveloped countries, economists and sociologists are working together to uplift

and grow these societies .

Despite this close relationship, there are many points of differences between the two as
follows:-

ECONOMICS SOCIOLOGY

1. It deals with only economic 1. Studies all kinds of social relationships

relationships. 2. Sociology is a general social science
2. It is a specialized social science 3. Scope is wider in sociology
3. It is narrower in scope 4. It develops a comprehensive view in
4. It develops a narrower view in analysing human behaviour.
analysing economic behaviour 5. It is less precise.
5. It is more precise. 6. It is less accurate with predictions.
6. It is more accurate in predictions. 7. It relies both on quantitative and
7. It relies on quantitative methods. qualitative method

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