NATURE AND SCOPE OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

Political Science comprises of two words ‘political’and ‘science’.

The term ‘politics’ is derived from the Greek word ‘polis’ which means the ‘city-state’ (a
generalised form of political organization existing in ancient Greece).

Science is the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the physical and natural
world through observation, evidence and experiment.

So political science is the branch of knowledge that deals with systematic study of the
structure and behaviour of the state and political institutions through scientific analysis.

The great Greek philosopher Aristotle was the first to use the term ‘politics’ and is therefore
regarded as the ‘father of Political Science’. In his famous book, "Politics", Aristotle has asserted:
"Man is by nature a political animal and he, who by nature and not by mere accident is without
state, is either above humanity or below it”.
Traditional definition: These early definitions of political science dealt generally with
state and government.
  Paul Janet, “Political Science is that part of social science which treats the
foundations of the State and the principles of government.” (Kapur, A.C. Principles of
Political Science, S. Chand & Company Ltd., New Delhi, 2006, p.17)

 Dr. Garner, “Political Science begins and ends with the state” (Agarwal,R.C.: Political
Theory- Principles of Political Science, S.
Chand & Company Ltd., New Delhi, 2007, p.3

(cont…)
Sir John Seeley, “Political Science investigates the phenomena of Government as Political
Economy deals with Wealth, Biology with life, Algebra with numbers and
Geometry with space and magnitude” (Agarwal,R.C.: Political Theory-
Principles of Political Science, S. Chand & Company Ltd., New Delhi, 2007, p.3).

Stephen Leacock, “Political Science deals with the

Government” (Agarwal,R.C.: Political Theory- Principles of Political Science, S. Chand & Company
Ltd., New Delhi, 2007, p.3).
Modern definition: In the beginning of the 20th century there developed a new way of looking at
political science. This new approach is known as behavioural approach. The main thrust of the
new view is the treatment of politics as an activity and a process.

Harold Laswell: “Politics is the study of influence and the influential” or “the study of the
shaping and sharing of power”

David Easton: “Politics is the authoritative allocation of values.”

Catlin: “Political Science is the study of the act of human and social control”.

Andrew Heywood: “Politics can be defined as an activity through which people make, preserve
and amend the general rules under which they live.”
(Source: Agarwal,R.C.: Political Theory- Principles of Political Science, S. Chand &
Company Ltd., New Delhi, 2007)
Difference between politics and Political Science

Modern writers make a distinction between “politics “and “political Science”

Frederic Pollock, for the first time, broke up the subject into two parts:

 Theoretical politics and

 Practical or applied politics

The first portion covers theory of the State and Government, theory of legislation and theory of
the State as an artificial person. The subjects under the first category deal with the features of the
State and the basic principles of government and do not study actual working of any particular
government.
 The second part covers the study of the State and actual forms of government. Working of
government and administration. Political action and election. Those who take part in the actual
activities of the State are known as politicians. They form political parties. contest in the
elections and run the government and conduct the administration of the State. It is known as
applied or practical polity, which deals with the actual working of government.

Nature of Political Science

Political Science is a part of social sciences and therefore is different from that of physical
sciences like physics and chemistry.

So the question which concerns the nature of the subject is whether Political Science is a
Science or an Art and how the nature of the discipline has undergone changes in the 20th
century.
Political Science: An Art
Science is universal and a systematic body of knowledge, based on accurate and impartial
facts, through which observation, comparison and experimentation can be made.
Apparently, Political Science does not have some of these features. And therefore Earnest
Barker (British political thinker), James Bryce (British political thinker), Charles A. Beard
(British historian) and others were reluctant to accept Political Science as a science.

The following are some arguments against the notion of Political Science as a Science:-

 Lack of precise and standard definitions of terms and concepts.

Complexity of political phenomena due to variation in the nature and habits of people.

Diversity of ‘environments’ in which political developments take place.

 Problems of experimentation to arrive at valid conclusions.

 Political Science: A Science

American political thinkers like David Easton tried to establish a scientific basis of
Political Science.

Aristotle called it a Master Science through which civilisation could be saved.The following
are some arguments in favour of the notion of Political Science as a Science:

Recently, political theory has developed based on facts and verifiable data, e.g., voting
behaviour an theories of election.
Political experiments are not completely ruled out. The government itself is a continuous

experiment.

It is possible to make predictions on the basis of social experimentations to a certain extent.

Broad conclusions can be drawn in Political Science such as–an independent and impartial
judiciary and a free press are essential for democracy

Empirical studies are based on careful observation and classification. Political Science puts a
hypothesis or an assumption to empirical verification. Theories are not built on speculation.
Political Scientists today employ survey methods, graphs, charts and other scientific tools to
arrive at their research conclusions.
Political Science is thus a science, though not like the physical sciences.

It is a social science.

American political scientist, Robert Dahl states that Political science is both a Science and an
Art.
Art refers to practical application of knowledge. Political Science applies the knowledge
about political events for creating a good social and political order. Hence it is an art.

Whenever students of Political Science test their theories against the data of experience by
observation, the political analysis can be regarded as scientific.

When this political analysis is applied for the working of political institutions it becomes an art.
Changing dynamics of the meaning and nature of Political Science
After the World War II, the meaning and nature of political science have undergone a sea
change.

Now political science is closely related to all aspects of social relations, rather than an activity
centred on the institutions of government.

So the aims and objectives of political science have changed due to factors such as the rise of
the power theory and behaviouralism.

New understanding of Political Science

Political Science has ceased to be merely the science of state-craft.
Political Science is concerned with all facets of power relations and human behaviour having
political implications in the society.

Politics is portrayed as a process of conflict resolution, in which rival views or competing

interests are reconciled for the benefit of all. The new meaning of Political Science includes the
dynamics of power and struggle at various levels — local, regional, national and
international.

So the aims and objectives of Political Science have changed due to factors such as the rise of
the power theory and behaviouralism.

Scope of Political Science

Political science as a discipline deals with various aspects like:

Study of state and government- it deals with the nature and formation of the State and tries to
understand various forms and functions of the government.

Study of associations and institutions- in organized way the fundamental problems of political
science include, first, an investigation of the origin and the nature of the state, second an inquiry
into the nature, history and forms of political institutions and third, deduction, therefore, so far as
possible, of laws of political growth and development.

Study of national and international problems- modern demands of defense of territory,

representative government and national unity have made political science not only the science of
political independence but that of state sovereignty also.

Study of political behavior of man- it may be said that the character of political science in all its
parts is determined by its basic pre-supposition regarding man.
Study of the past, present and future of development- political science attempts to explain the
meaning and the essential nature of the state and deals with the laws of its progress and
development within itself and in relation to international organizations and other states.

Study of the concepts of power, authority & influence- with the behavioural revolution the
central topic for study has become the study of power. Consequently the scope has widened to
include new aspects like political socialization, political culture, political development and
informal structures like interest and pressure groups.
In the contemporary time, the meaning of Political Science has become more and more
inclusive.

Earlier political science had been defined by many scholars from the point of view of the State
and
Government.

But now the term political system brings the study of political science closer to other systems
such as the economic system, the cultural system, the legal system and other social systems all of
which operate within the larger social environment.
Regarding the nature of Political Science there is a difference of opinion among scholars
whether political science is a science or an art.
Political scientists have put forward some arguments in favour of the notion that political
science is a science, such as –
political theory has developed based on facts and verifiable data, like, voting behaviour and
theories of election;
in political science there is much scope for experiments, for example the government itself is a
continuous process of experiment;
broad conclusions can be drawn in political science;
empirical studies are based on careful observation and classification.
Political scientists today employ survey methods, graphs, charts and other scientific tools to
arrive at their research conclusions.
At the same time another section of political scientists opine that political science is an art and
they put forward some
argument in favour of this notion, such as–
lack of precise and standard definitions of terms and concepts;
complexity of political phenomena due to variation in the nature and habits of people;
diversity of ‘environments’ in which political developments take place;
problems of experimentation to arrive at valid conclusions.
With the passage of time, the scope of political science also keeps on changing.
In recent times, political science has ceased to be merely the science of state-craft.
Now political science covers a comprehensive field and it has become dynamic in character.
Political science deals with each and every aspect of the state and government in relation to their
past and present and also focuses upon the probable developments in the future.
Nowadays, factors like the developments in the arena of human rights and human development
and new social movements and upsurges in civil society have also widened the scope of political
science.