Political science project

(Meaning, nature and scope of political science)

Submitted to:
Dr. N Narottam sir
Faculty, political science

Submitted by:
AABHASH KUMAR
roll no. – 1270
semester – 1 (B.A.LL. B)
section – B

NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF STUDY AND RESEARCH IN LAW,

RANCHI

1
 AWKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I feel highly elated to work on the project "Nature, meaning and scope of political science".
The practical realization of the project has obligated the assistance of many persons. Firstly,
I express my deepest gratitude towards Dr. N Narrotam Faculty of Political Science, to
provide me with the opportunity to work on this project. His able guidance and supervision
were of extreme help in understanding and carrying out the nuances of this project.
I would also like to thank The University and the Vice Chancellor for providing extensive
database resources in the library and for the internet facilities provided by the University.
Some printing errors might have crept in which are deeply regretted. I would be grateful to
receive comments and suggestions to further improve this project.

AABHASH KUMAR
ROLL NO. – 1270
SECTION B, SEMESTER – 1

2
 INTRODUCTION
There is treasure of knowledge available to us in different ways in order to facilitate its study
in a proper way. In One of its ways, it can be classified as Natural science, social science and
humanities. Natural science includes study of physical science and biological science. In
social sciences, we study subjects like history, geography, economics, political science etc.
and in humanities we study the subjects like literature, art, music etc.
Study of each subject helps the student in various ways. Every field has its own importance
and are very crucial in shaping any human being. They found to contribute in a significant
way to teach them the art of living by helping them in getting adjusted to their self and
environment in their own ways.
One of the most vibrant and dynamic streams of social science and humanities is political
science. It helps students to understand about the political ideas, ideologs, institution,
policies, law, strategy, war etc. but most specially it is the science which deals with state and
government. in this conceptual construction Political science is the social study concerning
the allocation and transfer of power in decision making. In academics the purpose of political
science is to deepen the knowledge and understanding of one of the most powerful force
operating on people, communities, and corporation today i.e., Government and politics.
Political science in India has taken a quantum jump both in terms of quality and quantity
since the early eighties. By now Political science is taught in several hundred universities
and several thousand colleges in India. Political science has moved from confining itself to
abstract political philosophy and legalistic textual institutional studies to political process
and political behavior.
But here, in the present world characterized with physical progress, we may be seen to
commit a serious mistake of accepting the Natural Sciences all in all in our life, and as a
result, we try to ignore or undervalue the study of Humanity and Social Sciences by
preferring to become a student of Physical or Biological Sciences. However, such
overemphasis and dependence on the study of Natural Sciences may get them deprived with
a number of social and human values necessary for leading their life as a social human being
by making them to function as a machine for earning their physical benefits and comforts.
Therefore, it becomes essential to continue with the study of political science in a
compulsory way along with the study of Natural Sciences. That is why there is a great need
of making the study of Social Sciences as a compulsory component of the school curriculum.
Consequently, there will be no surprise to witness the presence of the subject political
science as a compulsory subject in the school curriculum of all the nations of the world. The
curiosity may now be developed for knowing about the true meaning, nature, scope and
importance of such a subject. Let us proceed in this direction now.

3
 MEANING OF POLITICAL SCIENCE:
Political science comprises of two words ‘political ‘and ‘science’. The term ‘politics’ is
deduced from the Greek word ‘polis’ which means the ‘megacity- state’ (a generalized form
of political association being in ancient Greek). And ‘science ‘is the methodical study of
structure and geste of the physical and natural word through observation, substantiation, and
trials. So political wisdom is the branch of knowledge that deals with methodical study of the
structure and geste of the state and political institutions through scientific analysis. It's the
wisdom of politics that has an introductory knowledge and understanding of the state and of
the principles and ideals which uphold its association and conditioning
The great Greek philosopher Aristotle was the first to use the term 'politics' and is therefore
regarded as the 'father of Political Science'. In his famous book, "Politics", Aristotle has
asserted: "Man is by nature a political animal and he, who by nature and not by mere
accident is without state, is either above humanity or below it".

Traditional point of view:

political science is the study of state and government and the study of various aspects of the
state and government is its subject matter.
 Paul Janet, "Political Science is that part of social science which treats the
foundations of the State and the principles of government1."
 Dr. Garner, "Political Science begins and ends with the state2"
 Sir John Seeley, "Political Science investigates the phenomena of Government as
Political Economy deals with Wealth, Biology with life, Algebra with numbers and
Geometry with space and magnitude3"
 Stephen Leacock, "Political Science deals with the Government4"

Modern point of view:

In the 20th century there developed a new of looking at the political science. This was known
as behavioral approach. This behavioral approach shifted the focus of its study from
political institutions and structures to their functions. It placed stress on political activity and
the behavior of men and women who control these institutions. It replaced the study of ideas
by the study of facts, evidence and behavior. It considered political activity manifested in
behavior as the true subject of Political Science.
 Harold Laswell: "Politics is the study of influence and the influential" or "the study of
the shaping and sharing of power"
1
(Kapur, A.C. Principles of Political Science, S. Chand & Company Ltd., New Delhi, 2006, p.17)
2
(Agarwal,R.C.: Political Theory- Principles of Political Science, S. Chand & Company Ltd., New Delhi, 2007, p.3
3
(Agarwal,R.C.: Political Theory Principles of Political Science, S. Chand & Company Ltd., New Delhi, 2007, p.3).
4
(Agarwal,R.C.: Political Theory- Principles of Political Science, S. Chand & Company Ltd., New Delhi, 2007, p.3).
4
  David Easton: "Politics is the authoritative allocation of values."
 Catlin: "Political Science is the study of the act of human and social control”
 Andrew Heywood: "Politics can be defined as an activity through which people
make, preserve and amend the general rules under which they live.

New understanding of political science:

Political science now is not just the science of state-craft but is also concerned with all
aspects of power relations and human behavior having political implications in the society.
The new meaning of political science includes the dynamics of power and struggle at various
levels – local, regional, national and international. So, the aims and objective of political
science have changed due to the factors such as the rise of power theory and behaviouralism.

Difference between politics and political science:

Both the terms are often used interchangeably. However, the difference between the two
needs to be understood. Politics is defined by many scholars as “the science and art of
government. But it is not enough to define it. Politics was and still is used as the method to
capture power and retain it.
According to numerous political scientists, the study of Political Science comprises
proposition of the state, conception of autonomous power, forms and functions of
government, making and prosecution of laws, choices, political parties, rights and duties of
citizens, policy functions and study of weal conditioning of the State and government.
There's another aspect of Politics that needs to be emphasized. There's another term called
practical politics. Practical politics is different from studying it. Practical politics includes
factual conformation of government, the working of government, administration, laws and
legislation. It also includes transnational politics including matters similar as peace and war,
transnational trade and profitable order, protection of rights, etc. All these also comprise the
subject matter of the study of Politics
Laymen associates’ politics with party politics. But the student of political science
knows politics is much larger and greater than just party politics: it is the systematic
study of state and power
While the knowledge of Political Science as a discipline is acquired through study, the skill
of practical politics is acquired through politicking or manipulations and cunningness or by
exploiting estate and indigenous commitment and religious sentiments. Practical politics is
frequently described as the dirty game ‘and a ‘corrupting process in the common people's
mind. But we find that there are hardly any mortal groupings or societies, which are free

5
from 'politics' and hardly any existent who doesn't know the counteraccusations of the" game
of politics".
Practical Politics also has many positive aspects. In this welfare state many positive
programmes such as removal of untouchability, land reforms, release of bonded laborer,
prohibition of trafficking in human beings and beggar (forced labor), introduction of
minimum wages, employment generation programmes, empowerment of the other backward
classes are all examples of positive aspects of practical politics. "Politics refers to the process
of actual happenings in society and in institutions, which Political Science refers to it
understand in a systematic manner.

NATURE OF POLITICAL SCIENCE:

Political science is different from physical science like physics and chemistry as it is a part
of social sciences. So there has always been the question of whether political science is
science or an Art and how the nature of the discipline has undergone changers in the 20th
century.
Many political activist and thinkers like Earnest barker, Charles A, James Bryce, beard and
others were always of the view that political science can’t be termed as a science because
science is universal and systematic body of knowledge, based on accurate and impartial
facts, through which observation, comparison and experimentation can be made. And
political science doesn’t have some of these features.
 The followings arguments were used against the notion of political science as science:
 Lack of precise and standard definitions of terms and concept.
 There was lots of ambiguity and complexity in political phenomenon due to the
changing nature and habits of people.
 Diversity of ‘environments’ in which political developments takes place.
 Problems of experimentation to arrive at valid conclusion.

Meanwhile there were some American political thinkers like David Easton who tried to
establish a scientific basis of political science. Also, Aristotle called it a ‘master science’
through which civilization could be saved.
Followings were some arguments used in favor of the notion of political science as science:
 Political theory has been recently developed based on facts and verified data, e.g.,
voting behavior and theory of election.
 Political experiments cannot be completely ruled out.
 The government itself is a continuous experiment.
 It is possible to make predictions on the basis of experimentations to a certain extent.
 Broad conclusions can be derived in political science.

6
  Political scientist today employs survey methods, graph, charts, and other scientific
tools to arrive at their research conclusion.
Political science thus can be considered a science, though not like the physical science. It is a
social science. There were some scientists like Robert dahl that states political science as
both science and art. Thus, we can agree on the fact that whenever students of political
science test their theories against the data of experience by observation, political analysis can
be regarded as scientific. But when this political analysis is applied for working of political
institutions it becomes an art.

SCOPE OF POLITICAL SCIENCE:

Political science as a discipline deal with various aspects like:
 Study of state and government- it deals with nature and formation of the state and
tries to understand various forms and functions of the government.
 Study of associations and institutions- in organized way the fundamental problems
of political science include, first, an investigation of the origin and the nature of the
state, second an inquiry into the nature, history and forms of political institutions and
third, deduction, therefore, so far as possible, of laws of political growth and
development.
 Study of national and international problems- modern demands of defense of
territory, representative government and national unity have made political science not
only the science of political independence but that of state sovereignty also.
 Study of political behavior of men- it may be said that the character of political
science in all its parts is determined by its basic pre-supposition regarding man.
 Study of past, present and future of development- political science attempts to
explain the meaning and the essential nature of the state and deals with the laws of its
progress and development within itself and in relation to international organizations
and other states.
 Study of the concept of power, influence and authority- with the behavioral
revolution the central topic for study has become the study of power. Consequently,
the scope has widened to include new aspects like political socialization, political
culture, political development and informal structures like interest and pressure
groups.
 Public administration- the attention is focused upon the methods and techniques used
in the actual management of affair by executive, legislative, and judicial branches of
government.

7
 Conclusion:
In the ultramodern times, political science is much near to other systems similar as the
economics, artistic, legal and other social systems all of which operate within the larger
social terrain. there's a difference of opinion among whether political science is science or an
art regarding the nature of political science. Some have put forward their argument in
favours of notion of political science as a science while others consider it as an art. With the
passage of time, the compass of political science also keeps on changing. And now political
science covers a comprehensive field and it has come dynamic in character. Now political
science covers a comprehensive field and it has come dynamic in character. Political science
deals with each and every aspect of the state and government in relation to their history and
present and also focuses developments in the future. upon the probable. Currently, factors
like the developments in the arena of mortal rights and mortal development and new social
movements and upsurges in civil society have also widened the compass of political science.

8
 References:
 https://www.coursehero.com/file/86017491/Meaning-of-Political-Sciencedocx/
 Meaning and Scope of Political Science Individual and the State – suyash gupta.sssssss