Political Science..........????? sshhhh.. don't know!!..??? Most of the times it happens that a very usual question strikes in our mind...
"What is Political Science?"
or
Why should we study Political Science?
or
As a discipline What is Political Science all about?
The answer is simple..
Political Science is the branch of humanities that deals with the systematic study of causes consequences and conclusions of all political events that is happening around.
Political science is the study of government, political systems, and the behaviour of individuals and groups in a political context. It examines how power is distributed, policies are formed, and decisions are made in societies. The field is divided into various sub-disciplines, including:
Public Policy – It deals with the specific relation of public to policy (P2P) . It Investigates the formulation and impact of government policies on society.
Political Theory – It is concern with the study of theories that are related to policy making in order to ensure maximum welfare of citizens. Explores ideas about politics, justice, and governance from ancient to modern thinkers.
Comparative Politics – Studies different political systems, comparing governments and policies across countries.
International Relations – It Focuses on diplomacy, global conflicts, and relations between nations.
Public Administration – Examines how governments function and implement policies.
Political Economy – Analyzes the connection between politics and economics, studying how policies impact economies.
Approaches to study political theory
The political scientists have suggested two different approaches to study Political Science:
- 1. Traditional Approach: Also known as Empirical approach of studying Political Science Concerned with assumption, thinking and possibility based study.
- 2. Modern Approach: Also known as Scientific approach of studying Political Science Concerned with practical study.
Traditional approaches includes following approaches to study Political Science:
- Philosophical Approach: This approach focuses on the ethical and normative aspects of politics, exploring concepts like justice, rights, and the nature of good government.
- Historical Approach: This approach examines the evolution of political thought and institutions over time, studying how past events have shaped current political systems.
- Legal-Institutional Approach: This approach focuses on the formal structures and laws of government, analysing the roles and powers of different institutions.
Modern approach includes following approaches to study Political Science:
- Behavioural Approach: This approach emphasizes the study of political behaviour, using empirical methods like surveys and statistical analysis to understand individual and group actions.
- Post-Behavioural Approach: This approach builds upon the behavioural approach by incorporating broader contextual factors and acknowledging the role of values in political analysis.
- Systems Approach: This approach views political systems as complex entities with inputs, outputs, and feedback mechanisms, focusing on the relationships between different parts of the system.
- Structural-Functional Approach: This approach examines how different structures and institutions within a political system contribute to its overall functioning, focusing on the functions they serve.
- Quantitative and Qualitative Approaches: Quantitative research relies on numerical data and statistical analysis, while qualitative research involves in-depth analysis of texts, interviews, and other non-numerical data.