What is Political Science?
Political science is an interdisciplinary endeavour. Its tradition, approaches, and styles vary but the impact is united by a commitment to theorise, criticize and diagnose the norms, practices, and organization of political action in the past and present, in our own places and elsewhere.
Nature of Political Science
The nature of political science is discussed below:
- A Study of the State and Government
- A Study of Political Science
- A Study of Political Institutions
- A Study of Political Dynamics
- A Study of Adjustment of the Individual with the State
- A Study of International Relations and International Law
- Knowledge about the World
- Creation of Democratic Values
- Creation of Good Citizens
A Study of the State and Government
Political theory primarily studies the problems of the state and the government. The state is defined as a group of people organized for law within a definite territory. The state possesses four characteristics, viz., population, territory, government and sovereignty.
A Study of Political Science
Political science is a major branch of political theory. On the basis of the political ideas or thoughts of political thinkers, political science formulates definitions of concepts like democracy, liberty, equality, grounds of political obligations, etc. A student of political theory must start his lessons with political science. Political science explains the rudimentary concepts of political theory.
A Study of Political Institutions
The field of political theory is rather vast. It includes the study of political institutions. This covers a study of constitutions and comparative government.
It deals with the nature of different political institutions including government, explains their merits and demerits, their structure and working, and arrives at different conclusions by making a comparative study.
A Study of Political Dynamics
The study of political dynamics became significant in the twentieth century. It has acquired more significance in the twenty-first century. It means the current forces at work in government and politics. It covers a wide range and includes the study of political parties, public opinion, pressure groups, lobbies, etc.
A scientific study of the working of these political dynamics helps to explain the political behaviour of individuals and different groups.
A Study of Adjustment of the Individual with the State
The scope of political theory also includes a study of the nature of the relationship between the individual and the state. It examines how a man should adjust himself to society. Man is the root of politics. The process of adjustment of men in society is an important aspect of political theory.
A Study of International Relations and International Law
The scope of political theory includes a study of international relations which has become significant since the first quarter of this century. It covers a wide range of subjects and includes diplomacy, international politics, international law, international organizations like the United Nations, etc.
Knowledge about the World
Apart from the utilitarian considerations, the acquisition of knowledge of political theory enriches one’s mind and widens one’s intellectual horizon. In order to know what is happening in the world around us, at least an elementary knowledge of political science is necessary.
Creation of Democratic Values
The study of political theory has assumed special importance in modern times in all democratic countries. The success of democracy depends upon the political consciousness of its people. The study of political theory makes people conscious of their rights and duties.
It also makes them vigilant. Unless the citizens of a country are vigilant, alert, intelligent and patriotic, there is no possibility of the successful working of democracy in that country. It is rightly said that ‘eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.
Creation of Good Citizens
The study of political theory is valuable for creating good citizenship and securing the unity of the nation. It makes citizens conscious of national objectives and goals. Harold Joseph Laski said that good citizenship implies ‘the contribution of one’s instructed judgement to the public good. It can be developed by the study of political theory. Political theory teaches the lessons and virtues of good citizenship.
Modern Approaches to Political Science
The following are the modern approaches to studying political theory:
- Behavioural Approach
- Post-Behavioural Approach
- Power Approach
- System Approach or System Analysis
- Decision-Making Approach
Behavioural Approach
A new trend in the study of political theory was clearly visible in the twentieth century, particularly since the end of World War II. This was due to the increasing attention given to the study of political behaviour, not only of important persons exercising political power but also of ordinary people.
This new movement was started by a group of political scientists, mostly in the US who strongly expressed their dissatisfaction with the traditional approaches to political theory.
Post-Behavioural Approach
Post-behaviouralism was a reform movement in behaviouralism. Post- behaviouralists wanted to have a federation of social scientists to identify major issues of the day to lay down objectives in order to study alternative solutions to the problem faced by the society and press those rigorously in the political sphere. They believed in action-oriented research related to social conditions.
Power Approach
Recently, the idea of power has become very important in the realm of political theory. Earlier, politics was defined as the study of state and government. Today, it is defined as the study of power. The significance of power was highlighted by Machiavelli in the Medieval Age, and later by Hobbes and Nietzsche.
In modern times, Max Weber, Catlin, Merriam, Lasswell, Kaplan, Treitschke and Morgenthau have brought out the importance of this concept. The ‘Power Theory State’ was first advocated in Germany in the nineteenth century by historians like Heinrich von Treitschke and philosophers like Friedrich Nietzsche. Power is the primary objective of foreign policy.
System Approach or System Analysis
The system approach is the study of inter-related variables forming one system, a unit, a whole which is composed of many facts, a set of elements standing in interaction.
This approach assumes that the system consists of discernible, regular and internally consistent patterns, each interacting with another, and giving, on the whole, the picture of a self-regulating order. System analysis is considered to be the pioneering model of political analysis.
Decision-Making Approach
According to Professor Snyder, the state is the prime actor in international politics and its behaviour should always be understood in terms of the objective realities of its position in the world. Its goals and sources of behaviour can be traced to geographical, historical, political and technological circumstances.
FAQs
Political science is an interdisciplinary endeavour. Its tradition, approaches, and styles vary but the impact is united by a commitment to theorise, criticize and diagnose the norms, practices, and organization of political action in the past and present, in our own places and elsewhere.
The nature of political science is discussed below:
1. Study of the State and Government
2. Study of Political Science
3. Study of Political Institutions
4. Study of Political Dynamics
5. Knowledge about the World
6. Creation of Democratic Values
7. Creation of Good Citizens