University of Caloocan City

College of Liberal Arts and Science

Department of Political Science

Congratulations!

We welcome you with a warm heart to be part of the Political Science Department. This
program is not for the weak, and only few students manage to surpass the hurdles and
challenges given by your dear professors with no problem. Numerous hours of studying are
needed, which includes research, reading, analysis, and political and social awareness to
prepare you for your future endeavours and real challenges in life. Always remember, "We
Never Crack Under Pressure."

Prof. Lord-Jester Aguirre, MMPA, MBA, MHMT

University of Caloocan City
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Department of Political Science

1|Page
 Fundamentals of Political Science
Blended Learning System
Chapter I: Nature and Scope of Political Science

Political Scientists of old times define political science as the study of the state in all its elements,
aspect relationship. Such elements and aspect includes its government and its organs and institution
through which the state functions. It also includes the aspect of human behaviour, how the government
and people actually conduct themselves in a political society. Some define Political Science as “ The art
and science of governance” and “It is the study of state, government and Politics”

To the Modern Political Scientists the definition goes far beyond the traditional connotations. To
them it is also a systematic study of politics “an attempt by systematic analysis to discover in the
confusing detail whatever principles may exist of wider and more general significance.” Which means that
studying political science is not only limited in studying the State, its organs and institution but also other
institution or polities as well such as political attitudes of the people and their leaders, controversial issues
and other aspect concerning the States’ operation, power and functions.

The systematic study of politics is distinguished from practice of politics. The students of politics
or political scientists may serve as an adviser to the political practitioner. The Political practitioner is a
politician. But of course the same person may at the same time be a political scientists and a politician. In
contrast a political Scientist compared to a politician is deeply involved in the study of politics. He
endeavours continuously to observe political phenomena and does research on political activities.

To have a clearer understanding of politics, it is essential to examine the main question: What is
Political Science? It is imperative, therefore to divide the question in to two suggested by the words:
“Political” and “Science.”

First what is Politics? From a historical viewpoint, the term “Politics” came from the Greek word
“Polis” or “City-State”. Aristotle in his famous book: The politics made the observation that every polis, or
city-state is a kind of association and that “Man by nature is a political animal” from this view it can be
deduced that:

the essence of social existence is politics and that two or

more men interacting with one another are invariably
involve in political relationship.

To further explain, imagine your first day in school and there are lot of new faces around you,
these people are anonymous to you, you don’t know their name either, you don’t know where they live,
their attitude and even their character is unknown. In order for you to have your own peer or new sets of
acquaintance you speak to one of them, share your thoughts regarding your experience about the
enrolment process and you even share and think what kind of professor you will meet on that particular
day. From there you build connection with that individual getting their contact details to communicate,
what time will they go to school and eventually you will even share academics notes and school updates.
For the following days there will be additional members for your group or peers you will share the same
character, same attitude, same dreams. As time progress, unconsciously you will have a leader or a
decision maker for your group like “Tara dito na lang tayo kain” or “Tara tambay muna tayo sa bahay ni
Berto” and some may go some may not due to some reasons. In addition as you learn the character of

2|Page
your friends unconsciously you will formulate sets of rules or unspoken rules which once broken can lead
to conflict among others and the perfect example of this is the “Bro Code”

Relationship maybe characterized by “Rule”, “Authority,” or “Power.” The first page of Aristotle’s
book: the politics made reference to certain kinds of authority: the authority of the statesman as
distinguished from the authority of the head of the family or of the master over his slave. In the
imposition of this authority, or rule, or power over others there arises conflicts and ways by which human
being cope with conflicts.

Indeed, when men live together in association, they create rules, authorities, or government to
deal with conflicts and the very attempt to rule also helps generate conflicts. But not all association or
organization have equal powers. The state is the biggest political organization which has the greatest
power within a certain particular territory. And that power is sovereign over all other power. Such power
is exercised by its political machinery, the government. Therefore the government of the state is at the
very center of politics and that of political science. The various institutions that make up the government
of the state, like the Executive, Legislative, Judiciary local government, and other government institution
are all involve in politics.

It was Aristotle who said that the only way by which men could maximize their capabilities and
attain the highest development of their social life was through political interaction with others in an
institutionalized setting – The state. This is because the state is designed to resolve social conflicts and
set collective goals that would attain and promote the good life.

There are political scientist who say that the meaning of politics extend to “any activity involving
human beings associated together in relationship of powers and authority where conflict occur. In this
regard, politics exist everywhere: within Labor unions, business organization, organization of doctors,
nurses, farmers, consumers, and even private clubs, school campus association – anywhere where
groups of individuals assemble. From this perspective, domain of politics is not limited to the state and its
institution, or pressure groups, but extends to other organizations in an enormous range of human
activity involving conflicts.”

The Fields of Political Science

1. Political Theory or Philosophy: Political theory is political thought which explains the political
ideas and beliefs of a group of young people, a body of concept they live by certain period. It is a
branch of political science which deals with the study of state through a systematic body of
principles relating to the origin, form, behavior, and purposes of the state, and upon which its
political system operates. Political theory is all about political though from great political thinker
or philosopher about political phenomena. Political ideology that is associated to political theory,
an example of this is “Democracy” and the “Man by nature is a political animal” – Aristotle

2. Public Law: It refers to the constitutional and legal principles/rules governing sovereign states,
governments and individual in their relationship with one another.

Public Law is subdivided into: International Law, Constitutional Law and Administrative Law. It
also includes jurisprudence, the science of law in general dealing with the study of legal systems.

3|Page
 3. International Relations, International Law and International Organization: The focus
in this field of political science involves inquires into foreign policy of nation-states in their mutual
relationships on the different forces.
4. Government: it is a distinct branch of study, dealing with the government set-up of a state on
both national and local levels. It covers the state constitution, laws, citizenship, structures of
various levels of government, the election process, the judicial system, political parties, and
interest groups, foreign affairs, etc.
5. Comparative Government: this study uses descriptive analytical or sociological method in
seeking the similarities and differences among states as regards their executive, legislative and
judiciary bodies, their constitution, laws, administrative organizations, foreign policies, political
parties and process, economic, social and political functions, and their cultures and traditions.
6. Public administration: it bring forth a fountain of knowledge on the techniques and method
of managing and administering government in the phases of administrative organization,
personnel administration, financial of fiscal administration, and the management of good public
relations.
7. Political Dynamics: it refers to the study of political science which is concerned with the
interplay of different societal forces that influence political decision and action.
8. Government and Business: it is the field that gives emphasis to governmental exercise of
corporate, or business function, as well as its regulatory function affecting the national economy.
9. Legislature and legislation: as a branch of political science it brings political limelight the vital
role of the legislature is to make law. Number Game.

Relationship of Political Science with Other Studies

1. Political Science and History: Whenever Political Scientist makes a study of a state and its
political institution, they depend on history in knowing its origin, its growth and development. An
analysis of the causes and factors that influences the state’s growth and development makes it
necessary for political writers to rely on historical facts.

Example of this is the Centralization of government in the Philippines at a certain period which
can be traced back to the Barangay government in Pre-Spanish Philippines where all powers of
the government were centered on the local executive, the datu. All political institution can be
better understood in their structure, organization and operation, in their law and constitutions by
employing the historical approach. Thus, it can be said that political science is meaningless
without interdependence with history.

“Political science without history is hollow and baseless;

history without political science has no fruit;
and political science without history has no root.”

-Dr. J. Seeley

2. Political Science and Economics: Economics is a social science or a branch of study that
concern itself with the problem of allocating scarce resources so to attain the optimum
satisfaction of society’s unlimited wants. By employing economic approach, a student of political
science gains insight into the economic conditions of the state. He learns how the government
shapes and determines economic policies on the use of resources in order to achieve the best
national goals – economic welfare of the people.

4|Page
 Policymakers cannot disassociate themselves for certain economic terms like budget, income,
welfare state, labor, unemployment, capital, monetary system, Economic growth, taxes, finance
and balance of payments. It is noteworthy to say that economics shapes political institution and
sets the bounds within which government must operate.

Political science cannot disassociate itself to economics since the problem of every country,
especially developing nation, like the Philippines, is how to become economically progressive. It is
also important that a leader has an aggressive, strong and effective political leadership in needed
to save a country from economic disaster and bring it back on the road to a political and
economic stability.

3. Political Science and Sociology: To define sociology is the study of society as a whole. It is a
social science course that enriches political science by its contribution to the study of social
problems which are also problems of the government. Social problems includes but not limited to
Crimes rates, juvenile delinquency, housing problems, healthcare, education etc. once data are
available to analyze by the political scientist they formulate interesting idea and basic subject of
legislation.

4. Political Science and Psychology: Many political thinker of the past from Thomas Hobbes and
Jeremy Bentham down to contemporary times, tried to evolve a whole science of politics based
on Psychology. The study of political behaviour is a good example of how these men uses
psychology in their theories about politics. Jeremy Bentham, father of utilitarianism in nineteenth
century England, formulated a theory of political behaviour on the fundamental reality that men
act always in pursuit of their self-interest. This view was earlier explored by Thomas Aquinas and
Thomas Hobbes who expounded their theories of moral and politics on a solid foundation of
reality by recognizing the fact that man’s instinctive desire is to preserve himself.

5. Political Science and Anthropology: Anthropology is the study of human societies, culture
and development. Students of Political Science are benefited by the anthropological theory of the
state. Anthropologist believes that the state evolved from the family, and from the clan into
bigger or more extensive groups (i.e. Tribe) and finally the nation, bound by common ties and
goals.

6. Political Science and Geography: The relationship of Political Science with geography is
considered by many political scientists as very fundamental in the study of political science that
has been enriched by a course called “Geopolitics”. Geopolitics is a science which emphasize that
the domestic and foreign policies of a state are dependent upon its physical environment. It is a
study in Political Science which considers the location of a state as a very important factor in its
growth, development and survival.

7. Political Science and Philosophy: Political philosophy also deals with political theories about
the origin of the states, individualism, democracy, communism, the separation of governmental
powers.

5|Page
Methodology of Political Science

1. Observational or Empirical Method: A way of observing actual political institutions and their
process. One good example of this method of studying political science is the voting behaviour of
the electorate in which election statistics and opinion polls are measures used to predict the
election winner. With these the students of Political Science will learn how votes are influence by
political issues and political candidates.

2. Historical Method: It enlightens the students of politics on the origins and evolution of the
state and its institutions, by seeking to explain what they are and what they will be. With the
help of historical approach students will know not only the origin of the state but also forces and
factors that influences its growth and development. Hence students will depends much on
evidence of past events or experience in order to explain the present and future.

3. Comparative Method: From this focus students will draw similarities and differences in the
structure and systems of the government of different countries, regarding their law, constitution,
form of government, Economic Stability, Etc.

4. Analytical Method: This field of endeavour is aimed to discovering the significant or essential
elements of political institution in an attempt to analyze and examine their worth and value and
how they work. This method is used by the political scientist if a detailed study of these political
institutions, evaluating their interrelations in the exercise of their powers and performance of
their functions.

6|Page