FUNDAMENTALS OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
THE NATURE AND SCOPE
OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
EDWIN D. CABANERO
OUTLINE
I. What is Political Science?
II. Meaning of Political Science
III. Fields of Political Science
IV. Methodology of Political Science
V. Meaning of Politics
VI. Approach to the study of Politics
VII. Varifying Views of Politics
VIII. Images of Politics in the Philippines
I. WHAT IS POLITICAL SCIENCE?
Political Science is a systematic of the state and the
government. Political comes from the word “polis” which
means a “city” or “state”. Science on the other hand comes
from the Latin word “scire” which means “to know”.
II. MEANING OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
 Catlin defined Political Science as the study of the act of
human and social control.
 Laswell said that Political Science is the study of
shaping and sharing of power. He also refers it to the
study of activities of the government determining who
gets what and how (1935).
 Castaneda enunciated that it deals with the allocation
and transfer or power in decision-making, roles and
system governance, political behaviour, and public
process (2010).
 De Leon defined it as the association of human beings
into a political community, one, organized under a
government and law.
III. FIELDS OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
 Political Theory also called as Political Philosophy, it
consists of philosophical system and theories on the
origin, form behaviour and purpose of the state.
 Public Law focused on the study of legal rules and
principles governing states, governments, and
individuals as they relate with one another.
 Government studies the structure and functions of both
national and local governments within the context of one
state or country.
 Comparative Government focuses on analyzing the
similarities and differences among states relative to their
Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches of
Government.
 International Relations focuses on the study of foreign
policies of countries, international organizations, and
international law.
 Public Administration is an actual management of the
government in the realms of administrative organization,
personnel and human resource management, fiscal
management, and management of public relations.
 Public Policy concerned with the assessment and
evaluation of the various policies pursued by the
government in different areas like Defense, Health, and
Education.
 Political Dynamics focused on the influence of different
societal forces in the political action and decision-making
of the state.
 Government and Business gives emphasis to
Governmental exercise of corporate or business function
as well as its regulatory function affecting the national
economy.
 Legislature focused on the important role played by the
legislature in making laws.
 Geopolitics delves on critically analyzing the influences
of population, resources, and the physical environment
of a country on its local and international politics.
IV. METHODOLOGY OF POLITICAL SCIENCE
Political Science like other fields can also be studied by
employing different methods usually used by political
scientist to understand certain political phenomena in the
society.
Empirical Method
or also called as observational method is based on the
observation and capturing experiences of various political
institutions and their processes. This empirical method may
also be used in determining the voting behaviour of the
electorate to predict the outcome of an election winner.
Historical Method
employed by the political scientists to explain the present
political phenomena, political institutions, and processes.
This method relies on facts from the past to explain the
present and possible developments within state.
Comparative Method
employed by the political scientist in providing solutions to
certain political problems by looking into contemporary
institutions and processes of different countries.
Analytical Method
employed the analytical method by looking at the cause-
effect relationships between two or more variables.
V. MEANING OF POLITICS
— The capacity to say no to something dangerous and
inimical to the interest of the public. (Salonga 1995)
— Politics is everywhere. (Lasswell in dahl 1986)
1

Main Traditions in defining Politics
> Politics-as-war
Is a race of power among greedy individuals and groups.
> Politics-as-process
Described as the procedures and processes by which
offices, power, and goods are distributed ass well as winners
and losers are created.
> Politics-as-participation
In democracy, sovereign power resides to the people.
People decide on matters that affect their lives.
VI. APPROACH TO THE STUDY OF POLITICS
TRADITIONAL APPROACH
—Political Science are idealistic, philosophical, and utopian.
1. Historical Approach
—emphasizes the use of past events to analyze and
explain political reality.
2. Institutional Approach
—concerned with the study of formal structures and
institutions like the three branches of Government.
3. Legal Approach
—concerned with the judicial process, courts, quasi-
judicial bodies, administration of justice, and legal
principles.
4. Behaviour Approach
—concerned with the individual and group as a
citizen and voter.
5. Political Economy Approach
—concerned with the relationship between
economics and politics.
6. Sociological Approach
—is when the state is more social than that of
political institutions.
MODERN POLITICAL SCIENCTIST
—Political Science as a systematic study of politics.
1. Systems Approach
—uses input and output analysis.
2. Structural Functional Approach
—treats the society as a single inter-related system
where each part of the system has a definite and
distinct role play.
3. Communication Theory Approach
—tries to investigate how one segment of a system
affects another by sending messages or information.
4. Decision Making Approach
—tries to find out the characteristics of decision
makers as well s the type of influence the individuals
have on the decision makers.
VII. VARIFYING VIEW OF POLITICS
> Politics as Science – Activities and measures enacted by
the state are products of scientific methods of inquiry and
research based on empirical observations of facts.
> Politics as Art – When one gets what he wants or gets
things done without reference to power and authority
pertaining thereto, then politics can only be at its best shape
as an art. (Dannug and Campanilla)
VIII. IMAGES OF POLITICS IN THE PHILIPPINES
Boardroom Politics involves decision-making by business
executives and professionals with crucial consequences for
the people.
Bureaucratic Politics involves rule making and adjudication
by Government bureaucrats.
Congress Politics involves the making of policies by
senators and congressmen that affects both private and
public interests.
Chief Executive Politics dominated by the President of the
Philippines and local government executive.
Courtroom Politics consists of orders and decisions made
by prosecutors, justices, and judges in reply to various
interest groups and aggrieved individuals.
New-born Multi-media Politics refers to the shaping of
public opinion on issues of concern in society by the
newspaper, television, radio, and other forms of mass media.
Faith-based Politics pertains to decision made by leaders
and members of religious groups and congregations, which
have political implications.
Game of the General Politics involves premeditated
actions and decisions of Police and Military officers and men
to effect changes in the political arena.
Civil Society Politics refers to pro-active lobbying by cause-
oriented groups, people organizations, and non-
governmental organizations to influence decision-making by
government leaders.
X-Men Politics are not directly taken part in politics but are
actively engaged in fixing self-serving political decisions
exemplify this image of politics.
I. REVIEW QUESTIONS
● Question 1
● Question 2
● Question 3
Answer 1
Answer 2
Answer 3
II. REFERENCES
● APA format
 FUNDAMENTALS OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

CONCEPTS: MEANING AND

NATURE OF THE STATE
EDWIN D. CABANERO

OUTLINE
I. Origin of the State (Theories)
II. Elements of State

I. ORIGIN OF THE STATE (THEORIES)