What is Political Science?
Politics from “polis” - city; sovereign state Science from “scire” - to know; study
Political Science is the study of state and government.
- It is the understanding of the state i.e. principles and ideals underlying its organization and activities
- It is the study of a body politic, the association of people into a political community.
- It studies relations of men and groups, men and groups to the state, and state to other states.
- Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government, and politics..
- Aristotle defined it as the study of the state.
- It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior.
- Political Science is the social science concerned chiefly with the description and analysis of political and governmental institutions and processes.
- Political Science is the study of politics.
- How do we study Political Science?
- Studying political behavior (behavior list approach)
- Studying political structure and functions (structural-functional approach)
- Studying political phenomena (phenomenological approach)
- Studying political ideas (philosophical approach)
- Studying political documents
- Studying political futures