MODULE:1

DEFINITION OF POLITICAL SCIENCE:

·       Political science is a combination of two words: political + science, political refers to” power & authority” and science refers to “knowledge acquired by systematic study”.

·       So, it means a systematic study of political institutions, the political behaviour of human beings, political systems, international relations, and all issues related to power and authority.

·       According to Aristotle “Man is by nature a political animal and 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”.

·       There are two views to define political science: Traditional view (it includes all concepts of political science before 19^th century) and Modern view (it includes all concepts of political science that emerges at the beginning of 20^th century):

§  Traditional definition of political science: Confined to State and the Government

Ø  According to R.G Gettel, Political science is a historical investigation of what the state has been, an analytical study of what the state is, and a politico-ethical discussion of what the state should be.

Ø   According to Paul Janet, Political science is that part of the social sciences which treats of the foundation of the state and principles of the government.

Ø  According to Garies, Political science deals with the origin, development, purpose and all political problems of the states.

§  Modern definition of political science:

Ø  According to Laski, Political science concern itself with the life of men in relation to organized state.

Ø  According to Max Weber, Politics is the struggle for power or the influencing of those power.

Ø  According to Lasswell, Politics is the study of influence and the influential.

SCOPE OF POLITICAL SCIENCE:

·       The Scope of political science can be divided into two categories:

§  State-Centric Scope

§  Non-State Centric Scope

·       State-Centric Scope Includes:

§  Study of government: State fulfilled its goals through the government and can’t imagine itself without the government.

§  Study of history of the state: The history of the state is important to understand how this institution evolved from the past to the present.

§  Study of laws: In addition to the State and the govt, laws enacted by the govt are also included in the discussion of political science.

§  Study of International Relations: It also delas with international relations and international laws because the interaction b/w the citizen and the state is influenced by multiple issues. For ex: flow of international events affects national life.

·       Non-State Centric Scope Includes:

§  Study of influence and influential:

§  Study of Conflict and Disagreement: According to eminent scientist, politics prevails where there is disagreement and politics is about resolving that conflict.

§  Study of Authoritative Allocations of Values: Here the term value refers to the needs and wants of socialized people. Since it is not possible to meet all the needs of all people in any society because every society has a shortage of resources.

§  Study of Political dynamics: It includes the study of political parties, pressure groups, public opinion, lobbies etc.

METHODS OF POLITICAL SCIENCE:

·       A method is a way of investigation for arriving at a particular result. It has been well said “what the microscope is to biology, or the telescope to astronomy, a scientific method is to the social sciences”.

·       There are two methods of political science:

§  The deductive method

§  The inductive method

·       The deductive method:

§  This method is philosophical, speculative and apriori.

§  Political phenomenon’s are studied by taking some major assumption and deducing conclusions from such assumptions.

§  Merits:

Ø  Deductive method makes use of logical reasoning.

Ø  The conclusion derived becomes more consistent and accurate.

§  Demerits:

Ø  Deductive method s criticised as imaginary and fictious.

Ø  It pays less attention to the complexities of human nature and society. It has less touch with reality.

·       The inductive method:

§  In inductive method we proceed from particular fact to general conclusion.

§  Inductive method is defined as “the legitimate derivation of universal laws from individual cases”.

§  Merits:

Ø  Inductive method is scientific as it establishes general truth or conclusion by observation of particular, concrete facts.

Ø  This method has provided the matrix for the behavioural approach to political analysis.

§  Demerits:

Ø  Inductive method involves a lot of time and money in observing and ordering facts for the purpose of theory building.

Ø  Any exception to the facts collected would adversely affect the general conclusion reached.

APPROACHES TO POLITICAL SCIENCES:

·       On the criterion of time orientation, approaches to the study of political science, can be broadly classified into traditional and modern.

·       Traditional Approach:

§  It is an amalgam of views on and orientation to politics in philosophical, ethical and institutional terms.

§  Leslic Lapson holds that traditional political science raised and debated great issues like; purpose, end and legitimate domain of the state, the criteria of citizenship, the relationship b/w freedom and authority.

§  An important element of traditional approach has been its stress on the structural, institutional and legalistic aspects of politics.

§  It doesn’t make much effort to focus on theory and research.

·       Modern Approach:

§  Political scientists have come out with a variety of new approaches in the 20^th century and behavioural approach has been the most important one in this direction.

§  Behavioural approach emphasizes the application of scientific methods and techniques to the study of politics: its structure, processes and behaviour.

§   Behavioural approach seeks to focus on the behaviour of individual and groups rather than their formally prescribed roles and activities.

§  Behavioural approach concerned with the acts, attitude, preferences and expectations of man in political contexts.

RELATIONS WITH OTHER SOCIAL SCIENCES:

·       Relation with History: The study of History is considered important in the following two contexts:

§  History is used as a rich storehouse of data for an understanding and interpretation of political phenomenon, a comparative study of political situations and verifications of hypotheses about politics.

§  History gives us not only an account of events but also cause-and-effect relationships or laws of historical development, this knowledge can be used for understanding the course of politics in a given situation.

·      Relation with Economics: Economics is primarily concerned with analysing the factors which affect human behaviour in the process of material production, distribution and exchange.

§  No political system can sustain itself unless it demonstrates its ability to cope with the conflicting demands by evolving a somewhat stable equilibrium, harmony. This requires a deeper understanding of economic forces and factors.

§  The welfare state of today claims to take care of the economic security of citizens by providing for full employment, a reasonable standard of living, nutrition and health, etc.

·      Relation with Sociology: Sociology is chiefly concerned with the behaviour of men in an associative process.

§  The practice of politics involves taking public decisions and any such decisions must take into acoount the social motivations of relevant groups.

§  The study of politics today extends its scope beyond formal procedures and institutions for which reliance I sociology becomes essential.

·       Relation with Philosophy:

§  Philosophy is primarily concerned with an enquiry into the essence of reality, relation b/w men and universe. Traditional knowledge of politics was based on philosophy.

It is an attempt at investigation of the substantive aspects of nature, man, society and politics. When it touches problems of politics, it is described as political philosophy.