INTRODUCTION TO
Political Science
Origins • Scope • Nature • Approaches
Table of Contents
01
Origin of the Word 'Politics'
02
Difference: Political Science vs Politics
03
Political Science as Study of State
04
Political Science as Study of Government
05
Scope & Nature — Traditional View
06
Scope & Nature — Modern View
07
Meaning of Political Science
08
Nature of Political Science
09
Scope of Political Science
10
Traditional & Modern Approaches
Origin of the Word 'Politics'
Polis
"City-State"
The foundational Greek unit of political organization — a self-governing community of citizens
Politikos
"Of the Citizens"
Pertaining to citizens, civil affairs, and the management of the city-state
Politika
"Affairs of State"
Aristotle's seminal work "Politika" — literally 'things related to the polis'
Politia
"Government / Constitution"
The system of governance and laws that ordered life within the polis
From Ancient Greece to Modern Meaning
Aristotle (384–322 BC) coined the term in his work 'Politika' — declaring: 'Man is by nature a political animal.'
1
Ancient Greece
Polis = City-State. Politics meant managing citizen affairs within a small, self-governing community.
2
Roman Period
Res Publica — 'public affair'. Romans expanded the concept to large empires and republics.
3
Medieval Era
Political thought merged with theology. The church and state competed for authority.
4
Modern Era
Politics came to mean the science of government, power, authority, and state management globally.
Political Science vs Politics
Key Conceptual Differences
POLITICAL SCIENCE
POLITICS
Systematic & academic discipline
Practical activity & process
Studies principles & theories of state
Day-to-day governance & power contests
Analytical and objective in nature
Dynamic, competitive, often subjective
Concerned with 'what ought to be'
Concerned with 'what is' in reality
Prescriptive and normative
Descriptive and procedural
Political Science vs Politics
Further Distinctions
ASPECT
POLITICAL SCIENCE
POLITICS
Nature
Scientific & theoretical
Empirical & practical
Scope
Broad — includes ideal state, rights, sovereignty
Narrow — elections, parties, power
Method
Comparative, historical, normative methods
Negotiation, campaigning, coalition
Goal
Understanding political phenomena
Winning power & implementing policy
Political Science as Study of State
"Political Science begins and ends with the State." — Prof. Garner
Origin of State
Political Science traces how states evolved from families, clans, tribes to organized political communities.
Nature of State
It studies the essential characteristics — sovereignty, territory, population, and government.
Forms of State
Analyzes monarchy, aristocracy, democracy, unitary, federal, and confederal forms of political organization.
Functions of State
Examines what the state does — maintaining order, welfare, justice, and national defense.
Ends of State
Explores the ultimate purpose of the state: promotion of good life, justice, and human development.
Decline of State
Studies theories on withering away of state (Marxist), globalization, and supra-national bodies like UN.
Key Thinkers: Political Science & the State
A
Aristotle
384–322 BC
"The state is a creation of nature and man is by nature a political animal."
First systematic study of state forms.
H
Hobbes
1588–1679
"Without a powerful state, life is solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short."
Social contract theory; Leviathan.
L
Locke
1632–1704
"The state exists to protect natural rights of life, liberty and property."
Liberal democratic theory.
R
Rousseau
1712–1778
"The general will is always right; the state must embody it."
Popular sovereignty; social contract.
Political Science as Study of Government
"Political Science is the study of government in its widest sense." — Seeley
▲
Organs of Government
Legislature (law-making), Executive (implementation), Judiciary (adjudication) — the three pillars studied by Political Science.
◆
Forms of Government
Democracy, Monarchy, Oligarchy, Theocracy — comparative study of how different societies organize political authority.
●
Functions of Government
Internal order, external defense, economic regulation, social welfare — the scope of what modern governments do.
■
Governmental Powers
Separation of powers, checks and balances, federalism — how authority is divided and controlled within states.
Forms & Types of Government
Democracy
Rule by the people through elected representatives. Power derives from popular consent.
Monarchy
Governance by a king or queen. Can be absolute or constitutional in modern form.
Oligarchy
Rule by a small group — military junta, aristocracy, or an elite class controlling power.
Federal
Division of power between central government and constituent states or provinces.
Unitary
Power concentrated in a single central authority with limited devolution.
Parliamentary
Executive drawn from and accountable to the legislature — PM leads cabinet.
Scope of Political Science
Traditional View
1
Study of the State — its origin, nature, functions and evolution over time
2
Study of Government — its organs, forms and constitutional provisions
3
Study of the Individual and the State — rights, duties, citizenship
4
Study of International Relations — diplomacy, international law, world politics
5
Study of Political Institutions — Parliament, Judiciary, Electoral systems
Nature of Political Science — Traditional View
Part 1 of 2
1
It is a Social Science
Political Science is one of the social sciences, studying human beings in their political associations and organized communities.
2
Normative in Nature
Traditional Political Science prescribes how the state and government ought to be, focusing on ideals of justice, rights, and good governance.
3
State-Centric
The state is the central unit of study. All political inquiry revolves around origin, nature, justification, and functions of the state.
4
Historical Approach
Uses historical method to trace the evolution of political institutions, ideas, and practices from ancient to modern times.
5
Philosophical Basis
Draws heavily from political philosophy — ethics, metaphysics, and normative theory — to justify political institutions and authority.
6
Legalistic Orientation
Emphasis on constitutions, laws, and formal legal structures. Government study is largely a study of legal norms and provisions.
Nature of Political Science — Traditional View
Part 2 of 2
7
Idealistic Tendency
Emphasis on ideal forms of the state and best constitution. Pursuit of the perfect political order — influenced by Plato and Aristotle.
8
Concern with Sovereignty
Sovereignty — absolute, supreme, and indivisible authority — was a central concept. Studied through Bodin, Hobbes, Austin.
9
Comparative in Nature
Aristotle compared 158 city-state constitutions. Traditional PS used comparative method to identify the best form of governance.
10
Ethical Orientation
Political institutions were judged by moral standards. The state was seen as a moral institution serving higher ethical ends.
11
Descriptive Method
Describes and classifies political institutions — constitutions, legislatures, judiciaries — without seeking statistical causal laws.
12
Western-Centric Focus
Traditional PS focused mainly on Western political institutions — Greek, Roman, European — limiting its universality.
Scope of Political Science — Modern View
The UNESCO Report (1948) — 5 Divisions of Political Science
I
Political Theory:
History of political thought, general theories, scientific methodology in political analysis
II
Political Institutions:
Constitutions, national government, regional government, public administration, economic functions, comparative institutions
III
Political Parties & Groups:
Parties, elections, pressure groups, propaganda, public opinion formation, political behavior
IV
International Relations:
International politics, international organisations, international law, human rights treaties
V
Political Behavior:
Voting behavior, socialization, political culture, elite theory, systems analysis, decision-making
Nature of Political Science — Modern View
Part 1 of 2
1
Empirical & Scientific
Modern PS aims to be a positive science using empirical data, observation, and verification — not merely normative or prescriptive.
2
Behavioral Revolution
Focus shifted from formal institutions to actual political behavior of individuals and groups — pioneered by Laswell, Easton, Almond.
3
Power-Centric Analysis
Harold Lasswell defined politics as 'who gets what, when, and how.' Power became the central concept replacing the state.
4
Systems Approach
David Easton's systems theory treats the political system as inputs (demands, supports) → processes → outputs (policies, decisions).
5
Interdisciplinary
Modern PS borrows from sociology, psychology, economics, anthropology, and statistics — it is no longer isolated as pure political study.
6
Comparative Politics
Rigorous comparison of political systems across nations using scientific methods — not just describing institutions but explaining why they differ.
Nature of Political Science — Modern View
Part 2 of 2
7
Decision-Making Focus
Studies how and why political decisions are made — the role of elites, bureaucracies, interest groups, and institutions.
8
Political Sociology
Examines societal influences on politics — class, race, religion, ethnicity — and political socialization processes.
9
Quantitative Methods
Uses statistical analysis, surveys, content analysis, game theory, and modeling to study political phenomena scientifically.
10
Policy Science Orientation
Harold Lasswell called for policy science — PS should inform public policy using knowledge of human behavior and context.
11
Post-Behavioralism
David Easton's 1969 call — PS must be relevant to real human problems, not just value-free. Combines rigor with relevance.
12
Global & Non-Western Focus
Modern PS expanded beyond the West — studying Asian, African, Latin American political systems and decolonization.
Meaning of Political Science
Political Science is the systematic study of the state, government, political behavior, power, public policy, and political institutions using scientific methods to understand the nature and functioning of political life.
Etymologically
From Greek 'Polis' (city-state) + Latin 'Scientia' (knowledge) = Knowledge about the city-state
As a Discipline
A branch of social science that deals with political relations, theory, institutions, and political behavior
Laski's View
'Political Science is concerned with organized state in relation to individuals and groups' — H.J. Laski
Garner's View
'Political Science begins and ends with the state' — it is the science of state — J.W. Garner
Modern Meaning
Science of power, influence, and decision-making in organized political communities (Lasswell & Kaplan)
Broad Meaning
Encompasses political thought, philosophy, institutions, behavior, public policy, and international relations
Definitions of Political Science
Aristotle
"Political Science is the master science that investigates the highest good for man and the community."
Bluntschli
"Political Science is the science which is concerned with the State — to understand and comprehend the State in its conditions."
Seeley
"Political Science investigates the phenomena of government as political economy deals with wealth."
Lasswell & Kaplan
"The study of influence and the influential — who gets what, when, and how."
Nature of Political Science
Is Political Science a Science or an Art?
AS A SCIENCE
AS AN ART
Uses systematic methods
Requires practical wisdom
Observes regularities in politics
Political action needs judgment
Formulates theories and laws
Laws of politics are not exact
Empirical data & verification
Human behavior is unpredictable
Conclusion: Political Science is both a Science and an Art — it applies scientific methods to understand and art to govern.
Dimensions of Political Science's Nature
Social Science
A branch of social science studying man as a political being — inseparable from sociology, economics, psychology.
Normative vs Positive
Normative: studies ideal state; Positive: studies actual political behavior. Both dimensions are relevant.
Pure vs Applied
Pure PS studies political phenomena theoretically. Applied PS informs public policy and governance.
National & International
PS covers both domestic politics (within states) and international relations (between states).
Scope of Political Science
Political Theory & Thought
▸ History of political ideas
▸ Contemporary political theory
▸ Political philosophy & ethics
▸ Normative theory of justice
Political Institutions
▸ Constitutions & constitutionalism
▸ Legislature, Executive, Judiciary
▸ Federal & unitary structures
▸ Electoral systems
Political Behavior
▸ Voting behavior
▸ Political culture & socialization
▸ Public opinion & media
▸ Pressure groups & movements
International Relations
▸ International organizations
▸ Diplomacy & foreign policy
▸ International law & treaties
▸ Global governance
Scope: Public Policy & Administration
Public Administration
Study of government bureaucracy, civil services, administrative theories, and the implementation of government policies at all levels.
Public Policy Analysis
How policies are formulated, adopted, implemented, and evaluated. Bridges theory and practice of political decision-making.
Political Economy
Interaction between political systems and economic forces. State intervention, fiscal policy, taxation, regulation and welfare state.
Political Sociology
Social basis of political behavior — class, caste, religion, gender, ethnicity — and their impact on political outcomes.
Political Psychology
Individual and group psychology applied to politics — leadership, ideology, propaganda, personality, and mass political behavior.
Constitutional Law
Study of constitutional provisions, judicial review, fundamental rights, and the legal framework of the political system.
Traditional Approach to Political Science
Dominant from Aristotle to the mid-20th century — characterized by philosophy, history, law, and formal institutions
Philosophical Approach
Seeks ideal political order based on ethical principles. Plato's philosopher-king; Aristotle's best constitution.
Historical Approach
Studies how political institutions evolved. Understands the present by examining the past systematically.
Legal / Juridical Approach
Treats politics as constitutions and laws. Government = legislature + executive + judiciary defined by law.
Institutional Approach
Focuses on formal structures — Parliament, Cabinet, Courts. Studies how these institutions work officially.
Comparative Approach
Aristotle compared 158 constitutions; modern scholars compared parliamentary vs presidential systems.
Normative Approach
Judges political institutions against moral/ethical standards — asks what OUGHT to be, not just what IS.
Critique of Traditional Approach
1
Too Normative
Prescriptive focus made it less scientific. It told what 'ought to be' without empirical verification of what 'is'.
2
State-Centric Bias
Excessive focus on the state ignored political behavior, non-state actors, social movements, and international NGOs.
3
Western Bias
Almost exclusively studied Western (Greek, Roman, European) institutions ignoring Asian, African, Latin political realities.
4
Formal & Legal Focus
Concentrated only on formal legal structures. Ignored informal politics, power behind the scenes, and actual behavior.
5
Lack of Scientific Rigor
Methods were descriptive and historical — no hypotheses, no testing, no prediction. Failed scientific standards.
6
Neglected Political Behavior
Did not study how individuals actually vote, decide, join parties — the lived reality of politics was ignored.
Modern Approach to Political Science
Emerged in the 1950s-60s with the Behavioral Revolution — making Political Science more empirical, scientific, and interdisciplinary
Behavioral Approach
Studies actual political behavior of individuals. Uses surveys, interviews, statistical data. Pioneered by Laswell, Easton, Almond.
Systems Approach
David Easton: political system receives inputs (demands/supports) → processes them → outputs policies → feedback loop.
Structural-Functional
Almond & Coleman: every political system has structures that perform functions — socialization, communication, rule-making.
Pluralist Approach
Power is dispersed among competing groups. Dahl's study of New Haven — no single elite dominates democratic politics.
Elite Theory
Mosca, Pareto, Mills: a small ruling elite always governs. Power is concentrated not dispersed — despite democratic forms.
Post-Behavioral Approach
Easton (1969): PS must be relevant, value-laden, and action-oriented. Pure behavioralism ignores real human problems.
The Behavioral Revolution in Political Science
David Easton's 8 Intellectual Benchmarks of Behavioralism (1962)
1
Regularities — Political behavior shows regularities that can be expressed as generalizations or theories
2
Verification — Generalizations must be empirically verified through systematic testing
3
Techniques — Acquiring and interpreting data requires rigorous, exacting means of inquiry
4
Quantification — Measurement and quantification wherever possible improves precision
5
Values — Ethical evaluation and empirical explanation kept analytically distinct
6
Systematization — Research is theory-oriented; theory and research are closely linked
7
Pure Science — Understanding and explanation logically precede and provide the basis for application
8
Integration — PS must integrate with other social sciences for broader understanding
Traditional vs Modern Approach
CRITERIA
TRADITIONAL
MODERN
Focus
State & Government
Political Behavior & Power
Method
Philosophical, Historical, Legal
Empirical, Scientific, Statistical
Nature
Normative (What ought to be)
Positive (What is)
Unit
Formal institutions
Individual & group behavior
Scope
Narrow — state centric
Broad — includes behavior, policy
Orientation
Western & Eurocentic
Universal & cross-cultural
Key Scholars
Aristotle, Locke, Hobbes
Lasswell, Easton, Almond, Dahl
Post-Behavioralism & Contemporary Approaches
New Institutionalism
Return to institutions but with a broader lens — informal rules, organizational culture, path dependency matter as much as formal structures.
Rational Choice Theory
Political actors are rational utility-maximizers. Uses economic models (game theory, public choice) to explain political behavior.
Feminist Approach
Gender as a key analytical category. Questions patriarchal assumptions in political theory and calls for equal political representation.
Post-Colonial Approach
Challenges Western-centric PS. Studies politics from the perspectives of formerly colonized nations — identity, power, resistance.
Discourse Analysis
Foucault-influenced. Studies how language, narratives, and discourse shape political reality, power relations, and identity.
Green/Ecological Politics
Environment as a political issue. Studies eco-politics, climate governance, sustainability, and global environmental policy.
Summary & Key Takeaways
①
Origin
The word 'Politics' derives from Greek 'Polis' (city-state) — Aristotle's Politika gave it academic form.
②
PS vs Politics
Political Science is the academic discipline; Politics is the practical activity of governance and power.
③
Study of State & Govt
PS studies the origin, nature, forms, and functions of both the state and government in detail.
④
Traditional View
Normative, legal, historical, state-centric; focuses on ideal forms, formal institutions, philosophy.
⑤
Modern View
Empirical, behavioral, scientific; studies actual political behavior, power, systems, and processes.
⑥
Approaches
Traditional → philosophical/historical; Modern → behavioral/systems; Post-behavioral → relevant+rigorous.
CONCLUSION
Political Science:
The Science of Power & Governance
▸ Political Science evolved from ancient Greek thought to a modern empirical discipline
▸ It studies the state, government, power, behavior, institutions, and international relations
▸ Both traditional (normative) and modern (behavioral) approaches contribute to its richness
▸ As societies grow more complex, Political Science remains essential for understanding governance
Introduction to Political Science • 30 Slides