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Relationship Between Sociology and Political Science

Author; Aaminah Rasool

Supervisor: Prof. Pirzada Amin

MA Ist Semester, Batch 2020-21

Department Of Sociology, University Of Kashmir

Enrollment Number: 20080118034

Author Note

This Is an Internal Assignment confined to Classwork purposes Only.

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Relationship Between Sociology and Political Science: An Introduction

Political science and Sociology are closely related to each other, as both study the Human

Society. As per contemporary theories the two subjects have even now much in common.

Sociology deals with the study of society and its components such as; social structures, caste,

class, culture, institutions etc. While Political Science deals with principles of organization and

government of Human society. In other words we can say it deals with the social groups

organized under sovereign of the state, some sociologist suggest a term “Power” to underline

Political science. Infact, sociology highlights the fundamental issues of the dialectical system of

existence, while political science structures the establishment of existence. Despite being broader

and more fundamental than political science, sociology relates directly to human civilization,

culture and religious values. While political science merely defines the rights of social relations

and rules.

There have been eminent sociologists like Durkheim, Malinowski, Parsons, Spencer,

Mertons, Maxweber, Seymour Martin Lipset, Bendix Renihard etc. They all discussed different

notions of political sociology. Which investigates tge association between society and political

parties, power, authority, state governance. It can be considered as the intersection of political

science and sociology. Political sociology is the extended form of sociology which studies

exclusively the political culture, socio political movements, relations between ruler or the state

and the citizens and also relationship among the citizens in a state, legitimacy, and leadership. It

extends its study to the relationship between various states and conflicts between them. American

sociologist levon chorbajian says “ Political Sociology is the branch of sociology That deals

mostly with power in society and its effects on the allocation of its major resources. These

resources include education, employment, housing, healthcare, food and physical and
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psychological well beings” Thus we can say, political sociology studies the political activities of

different groups such as race, class, gender, ideology, how social identities and groups influence

individual political behavior, such as political participation, assuming the power, and the power

is being used, and the way the power has been institutionalized the means by which social

pressure forces change in policy, or how policy will affect society.

About the interaction process between society and politics, the views of Bendix and

Lipset fit in more appropriately here. They say “ Political Science starts with the state and

examines how it affects society while Political Sociology starts with society and examines how it

affects the state”. This however can define the differences as well as inter-disciplinary

relationship between both the subjects, but contemporary thought of political sociology is a little

different from other, as a British professor and sociologist Kate Nash says “ Contemporary

political sociology concerns cultural politics, which is the interpretation of social meanings that

support, challenge or change the definitions, perspectives and identities of social actors, to the

advantage of some and disadvantage of other, across state and society. In comparison, the threat

of using force to impose the will of some on others is much less common”

The Two Subjects Are, However, Different From Each Other.

1) Sociology is the science of society, political science is the science of state, Gilchrist

says, “ Sociology studies man as a social being and as political organization is a

special kind of social organization; Political science is a more specialized science

than Sociology.”

2) The scope of sociology is wider than that of political science. Political science studies

the state and government only, where as sociology studies all the social institutions.
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3) Sociology deals with social man, political science deals with political man, sociology

being the science of society it deals with man in all his associated processes, while

political science being the science of the political society is concerned with only one

form of human association.

4) Sociology is a general science. Political science is a special science. Political

organization is a special kind of social organization and that is why political science

is a special science while sociology is a general science.

5) Sociology is the study of both organized and un organized communications while

political science deals with organized communities only.

6) Sociology deals with unconscious activities also. Unlike political science which treats

only conscious activities of man.

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References:

1) Levon. A Chorbajian (2005). Power: A Critical Reader

2) Lipset Seymour Martin And Bendix Renihard (1963)‫ ۔‬Class, Status And Power:

Social Stratification In Comparative Perspective

3) Kat Nash (2010). Contemporary Political Sociology

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