Chapter2: Approaches tothestudy ofpolitical science

What are the traditional approaches in the study of political science

aditional approaches to Political Science was widely prevalent till the outbreak of the Second
ar Ihese approaches were mainly related to the traditional view of politics which emphasized
the study of the state and government.
the
Therefore, traditional approaches are primariy concerne w
study of the organization and activities of the
state and principles and the ideas which underlie
polntical organizations and activities. These
approaches normative and idealistic. The political
were
thinkers
advocating
these approaches,
therefore, raised questions like 'what
According to them the study of Political Science should be confined to the formalbé an ideal state
structures of the should
Bovernment, laws, rules and regulations. Thus, the
advocates of the traditional approaches emphasize
various norms what 'ought to be' or
'should be' rather than 'what is'.

Characteristics of Traditional approaches:

1. Traditional approaches are largely normative and stresses on the values of politics
2. Emphasis is the
on study of different political structures.,
3. Traditional approaches made very little
attempt to.relate theory and research
4. These approaches believe that since
facts and values are closely interlinked, studies in Political
Science can never be scientific.

Various forms of Traditional Approaches:

The traditional approaches be
can sub-divided into the following-
APhilosophical
2Historical
3.Institutional
ALegal approaches.
Philosophical Approach: This approach is regarded as the oldest approach to the study of Political
Science. The emergence of this approach can be traced back to the times of the Greek philosophers like
Plato and Aristotle. Leo Strauss was one of the main advocates of the philosophical approach. He
believes that "the philosophy is the quest for wisdom and political philosophy is the attempt truly to
know about the nature of political things and the right or good political order." This approach firmly
believes that the values cannot be separated from the study of politics. Therefore, its main concern is to
judge what is good or bad in any political society. It is mainly an ethical and normative study of politics

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 and, thus, idealistic. It deals with the problems of the naluie and functions of the state, ctizenshiP
rights and duties etc. The advocates of this approach firmly believe that politcal philosophy 15 closely
linked with the political ideologies. Therefore, they are of the opinion that a political scientist must have
the knowledge of good life and good society. Political philosophy hblps in setting up of a good poltical
order.

Historical Approach: According to the advocates of this approach, political theory be only can

understood when the historical factors like the age, place and the situation in which it is evolved are
taken into consideration. As the name of this approach is related to history, it emphasizes on the study
of history of every political reality to analyze any situation. Political thinkers like Machiaveli, Sabine and

Dunning believe that politics and history are intricately related and the study of politics always should
have a historical perspective. Sabine is of the view that Political Science should include all those subjects
which have been discussed in the writings of different political thinkers from the time of Plato. This
approach strongly upholds the belief that the thinking or the ideology of every political thinker is shaped
by the surrounding environment. Moreover, history not only speaks about the past but also links it with
the present events. History provides the chronological order of everYpolitical event and thereby helps in
future estimation of events also. Hence, without studying the pase political events, institutions and
political environment it would be wrong to analyze the present political scenario/ events.

Institutional Approach: This is a very old and important approach to the study of Political Science. This
the study of the
approach mainly deals with the formal aspects of government and politics emphasizes
the study of the
political institutions and structures. Thus, the institutional approach is concerned with
formal structures like legislature, executive judiciary, political parties, interest groups etc. The
advocates of this approach includes both ancient and modern political thinkers. Among the ancient
thinkers Aristotle is an important contributor to this approach while the modern thinkers include James

Bryce, Bentley, Walter Bagehot, Harold Laski, etc.

for the creation and
Legal Approach: This approách regards the state as the fundamental organization
enforcement of laws. Therefore, this approach is concerned with the legal process, legal bodies or
institutions, justice and independence of judiciary. The advocates of this approach are Cicero, Jean
Maine.
Bodin, Thomas Hobbes, Jeremy Bentham, John Austin, Dicey and Sir Henry

cfiticism of Traditional approach.

The various traditional approaches to the study of politics and political system have been criticized for
being normative. These approaches were idealistic also, as their concern went beyond how and why
traditional approaches had been
political events happen to what ought to happen. In a similar vein, the
criticized for taking library sources as the ultimate for its research. Critics maintained that the actual
laboratory of the political scientist is the outside world of public life, it is there that they must be opened

at first hand

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 313Tdl oIRT &oITKI a

iscuss Behavioral approach and its

criticism.
Salient Features of Behaviouralism:
avid Easton has
pointed out certain salient
intellectual foundations. features of behaviouralism which are
These are: regarded as its

Regularities: This approach

De believes that there are certain uniformities in
expressed in political behaviour which can
generalizations or theories in order to
particular situation the explain and predict political phenomena. In a
Politicalbehaviour of individuals
the may be more or less similar.
researcher to analyze a Such regularities of
of such political situation as well as to behaviour may help
regularities makes Political Science predict the future political phenomena. Study
more scientific with
Verification: The
some
predictive value.
behaviouralists do not want to
emphasize testing and accept everything as, granted.
Therefore, they
verifying everything. According to
them, what cannot be verified is not
Techniques: The behaviouralists put scientific.
generate valid, reliable and emphasis on the use of those research tools
and methods which
sample comparative data. A researcher must
make use of
surveys, mathematical models, sophisticated tools like
simulation etc.

Quantification: After collecting data, the researcher

should measure and quantify those data.
Values: The behaviouralists have put
that to do objective research heavy emphasis on
separation of facts from values.
one has to be value free.
It means that the
They believe
pre-conceived notion or a biased view. researcher should not have any

Systematization: According to the behaviouralists research in Political

Science must be
Theory and research should go systematic.
together.
Pure Science: Another characteristic of behaviouralism has been its aim to make
science". It believes that the study of Political Science Political Science "pure a
should be verified by evidence.

Integration: According to the behaviouralists, Political Science should not be

other
separated from various
social sciences like history, sociology and economics etc. This approach believes that political
events are shaped by various other factors in the society and therefore, it would be wrong to
separate
Political Sience from other disciplines.
Thus, with the emergence of behaviouralism a new thinking and new method of
study were evolved in
the field of Political Science. Therefore, we can list the merits of behavioural
approach as follows:
It attempts to make Political Science scientific and brings it closer to the day to day life of the
individuals.

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Behaviouralism has first talked about
bringing human behaviour into the arena of Political Science and
thereby makes the study more relevant to the society.
This approach helps in predicting future political events.
The behavioural
approach has been
appreciated by different political thinkers for its merits as
mentioned above. However, the Behavioural
approach has been faced with various criticisms for its
mad craze' for scienticism also. The main criticisms leveled
against this approach are mentioned below:
This has been criticized for its
dependence on techniques and methods ignoring the subject matter.
The advocates of this
approach were wrong when they said that human beings behave in similar ways in
similar circumstances.

Besides, it is a difficult task to study human behaviour and to get a

definite résult.
Most of the political phenomena are unquantifiable. Therefore it is always difficult to use scientific
method in the study of Political Science.

Moreover, the researcher being a human being is not always value neutral as believed by the
behaviouralists. CORPU
ARNING
COR

ACHA oHUR
STUDENTS
NON

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