Meaning, Nature, AND Scope OF Political Science PDF

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The term "political science." is well-known. Since man began to organise his social life, politics has played a significant role in it. As we all know, political science is concerned with various human political activities. However, Political Science has taken on a variety of definitions throughout ...

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MEANING, NATURE, AND SCOPE OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

INTRODUCTION

The term "political science." is well-known. Since man began to organise his social life, politics has played a significant role in it. As we all know, political science is concerned with various human political activities. However, Political Science has taken on a variety of definitions throughout history, and its scope continues to expand. Although various political thinkers have discussed political science since ancient times, it is a relatively new academic discipline.

MEANINGOFPOLITICALSCIENCEAND POLITICS Aristotle, the famous Greek philosopher, coined the term "politics" in his discussion of the definition of Political Science. He referred to it as "the master science" "Man is by nature a political animal," Aristotle wrote in his famous book Politics, "and he, who is without state by nature and not by mere accident, is either above humanity or below it." Political Theory-Principles of Political Science, S. Chand & Company Ltd., New Delhi, 2007, p.1) (Agarwal, R.C. : Political Theory-Principles of Political Science, New Delhi: S. Chand & Company Ltd., 2007, p.1). According to this definition, humans are hardwired to desire to live in a society because only a well-organized society can assist them in meeting their basic needs. As a corollary, a well-governed state capable of ensuring human life security and promoting human welfare and advancement is necessary for a well-organized social existence. Simultaneously, an institutional mechanism resembling the government is required for the exercise of political authority and state administration. As a result, Political Science is simply a scientific examination of the state and government in the conventional

sense. Indeed, in ancient Greece, the term "politics" was used to refer to the activities of city-states, or polis. Consider the following key definitions of Political Science in the conventional sense. • "Political Science begins and ends with the state," according to Dr. Garner, a political scientist from the United States (Agarwal,R.C.: Political TheoryPrinciples of Political Science, S. Chand & Company Ltd., New Delhi, 2007, p.3)

• According to Paul Janet, a French political philosopher, "Political Science is that part of social science that deals with the foundations of the State and the principles of government," (A.C. Kapur, Political Science Principles, S. Chand & Company Ltd., New Delhi, 2006, p.17)

• According to German thinker Garris, "Political Science deals with the origin, development, purpose, and all political problems of the State," Political TheoryPrinciples of Political Science, R.C. Agarwal, S. Chand & Company Ltd., New Delhi, 2007, p.3).

• "Political Science investigates the phenomena of government in the same way that Political Economy deals with wealth, Biology with life, Algebra with numbers, and Geometry with space and magnitude," writes British historian Sir John Seeley. Political Theory-Principles of Political Science, R.C. Agarwal, S. Chand & Company Ltd., New Delhi, 2007, p.3).

• According to Stephen Leacock, a British political scientist, "Political Science deals with the government," Political Theory-Principles of Political Science, R.C. Agarwal, S. Chand & Company Ltd., New Delhi, 2007, p.3).

As evidenced by the preceding definitions, numerous scholars have defined Political Science from a state and government-centric perspective. On the other hand, contemporary political scientists' focus has shifted away from the state and toward what they refer to as the Political System. The term "political system" refers to the larger social context in which political science research takes place. Other systems, such as the economic system, the cultural system, the legal system, and other social systems, all operate within the context of the larger social environment and interact with the political system. As a result, Political Science has shifted from the study of purely formal institutions such as the state and government to the study of the processes and influences that shape the political system and vice versa.

In today's world of political science, the concept of politics is critical. The term "politics" has gained significant currency in the study of modern political science. Politics are spawned by diversity. Human society is characterised by the existence of numerous groups and communities. Each group has its own set of values, aspirations, desires, requirements, and interests. There can be no politics in situations where all parties are completely aligned on the objectives and aspirations to be accomplished. Politics exists only when various groups and communities have disagreements about their respective desires and interests. At the local, national, and international levels, each group seeks to accomplish its distinct legal and constitutional objectives in order to advance articulated interests.

Politics is the contest between diametrically opposed groups over their desires and interests, as well as the expression of diametrically opposed groups' divergent viewpoints. On the other hand, politics entails attempts to reconcile these conflicting interests by examining procedures for resolving disagreements among the various contending parties in a way that minimises disagreements

and frictions while providing sufficient ground for mutual cooperation. As a result, resolution of disagreements is a critical political objective. Finally, politics is about collective decision-making (by the government) that is binding on a group of people in order to resolve conflict. Politics, as a legitimate exercise of power, takes on a new meaning in this context. According to Harold Lasswell, political science is the "the study of the shaping and sharing of power." (A. Robert Dahl and Bruce Stinebrickner, Modern Political Analysis, Pearson Education Inc., New Delhi, 2003, p. 23).

Finally, Political Science has acquired broad connotations or meanings that include not only the study of institutional mechanisms such as the state and government, but also the dynamics and processes underlying various political phenomena such as power, influence, rule, authority, bargaining, and conflict resolution that occur within the political system in relation to the broader social environment.

NATUREOFPOLITICALSCIENCE We all know that social science is different from other sciences in terms of its nature. Political science is a field of study within the social sciences. Political science is distinct from physical sciences such as physics and chemistry because it is a social science. We will discuss the nature of Political Science in this section, and while doing so, we will need to consider a few issues, such as whether Political Science is a science or an art, and how the discipline's nature has changed in the twentieth century.

PoliticalScience:ScienceorArt

There has been a debate among scholars since the beginning about whether political science is a science or an art. Jean Bodin (1530-96), a French political philosopher, coined the term "political science." Other thinkers, including David Hume (British political thinker), Sir Frederick Pollock (British political thinker), and Sir John Seeley (British historian), later preferred it. However, there is disagreement among academics about the discipline's status. It was dubbed the master science by Aristotle as the means by which civilisation could be saved. David Easton, an American political thinker, attempted to establish a scientific basis for Political Science. However, British political thinkers Earnest Barker, James Bryce, Charles A. Beard, and others were hesitant to accept Political Science as a science. Let us begin by attempting to define science in order to better understand this debate. Science is a systematic body of knowledge that is universal and based on accurate and impartial facts, allowing for observation, comparison, and experimentation. Political science, it appears, lacks some of these characteristics. The existence of a science of politics, according to Charles A. Beard in 1926, was neither possible nor desirable. Because Political Science is concerned with society, government, law, and human behaviour, all of which differ from one location to the next. Here are some counter-arguments to the notion of Political Science as a science: - A lack of precise and consistent definitions of terms and concepts. - The complexity of political phenomena as a result of differences in people's nature and habits. - The diversity of 'environments' in which political developments occur. Experimentation issues that must be overcome in order to reach valid conclusions. However, efforts are being made to systematise political science research and elevate it to the status of a science. The following are some of the supporting arguments:

Political theory has recently developed based on facts and verifiable data, such as voting behaviour and election theories. Political experiments aren't entirely off the table. The government is a neverending experiment, and it is possible to make predictions based on social experiments to some extent. In Political Science, broad conclusions can be drawn, such as the importance of an independent and impartial judiciary and a free press for democracy. Empirical research relies on meticulous observation and classification. In political science, a hypothesis or assumption is tested empirically. Theories aren't built on guesswork. Survey methods, graphs, charts, and other scientific tools are used by political scientists today to reach their research conclusions. Thus, political science is a science, though not in the same sense as the physical sciences. It is a branch of social science. Political science, according to American political scientist Robert Dahl, is both a science and an art. Art is the application of knowledge in a practical way. Political science is the study of political events and how they can be used to create a good social and political order. As a result, it is a form of art. When political science students observe and test their theories against real-world data, the political analysis can be considered scientific. It becomes an art when political analysis is applied to the functioning of political institutions.

ChangingDynamicsoftheMeaningofPoliticaL Science

Political Science's meaning and nature have taken on a dynamic character in recent years. The meaning and nature of political science have changed dramatically, particularly since World War II. Political science is now more closely associated with all aspects of social relations than it is with government institutions. Politics is thought to be a phenomenon that exists within and between all groups, institutions, and societies. Cooperation, negotiation, and

struggle over limited resources—economic, social, and political—are all manifestations of it. As a result of factors such as the rise of power theory and behavioralism, political science's goals and objectives have shifted. Politics is portrayed as a conflict-resolution process in which opposing viewpoints or competing interests are reconciled for the common good. The dynamics of power and struggle at various levels — local, regional, national, and international — are now included in the new definition of Political Science.

SCOPEOFPOLITICALSCIENCE

The scope of political science is a point of contention among political scientists. With the passage of time, the discipline's scope continues to evolve. Political science has ceased to be solely a science of statecraft in recent years. Political science has evolved into a multifaceted field with a dynamic nature. Political science examines every aspect of the state and government in relation to their past and present, as well as the likely developments in the future. In layman's terms, we could say that political science has a significant impact on every aspect of our daily lives. Power theorists and behaviouralists expanded the scope of political science research in the second half of the twentieth century. This trend began to concentrate on all aspects of power relationships and human behaviour that have political ramifications in society. First and foremost, political science examines the origins and development of organised political life. Scholars attempt to infer from the past and draw conclusions about the state, government, law, and political behaviour at various stages. Various currents of political thought, such as individualism, socialism, and democracy, have emerged as a result, assisting in the understanding of current institutions, ideas, and processes. Political science then looks into the current political concepts, institutions, and phenomena. It examines political parties, pressure groups, social movements,

the executive, judiciary, law, and courts, as well as other groups and organisations that seek power and influence in society. Other aspects of political science include various forms of government and how they work, as well as various international organisations and their role in politics. Election studies, polls, and studies of voting behaviour have all become important aspects of political science. Furthermore, since Aristotle's time, speculation and prediction about the future course of development, as well as proposals for improving existing political processes and structures, have been important aspects of political science. Political science investigates the state as it should be, or in its "ideal form." Political science, according to Gettell, is a historical study of what the state was, an analytical study of what the state is, and a politico-ethical debate about what the state should be. Some writers, such as American political scientist Lasswell, American political scientist Kaplan, American political scientist Morgenthau, British scholar Russell, and French scholar Foucault, have attempted to make political science the "study of power" in recent years. It is the power factor that distinguishes the state from other organisations. The scope of political science was broadened by this new field of study. Apart from that, political science has evolved into 'policy science,' with the goal of formulating integrated and comprehensive policies to address and solve a variety of problems at various levels. Developments in the field of human rights and development, as well as new social movements and upsurges in civil society, have broadened the scope of political science since the 1990s....