Approaches Of The Study Of

Political Science
• An approach is a way of looking at and then explaining a particular thing.
• It is the criteria for selecting the problem, obtaining the data and seeking
answers to some questions.
Comparative Approach:
• Aristotle have studied as many as 158 constitutions. During modern time
this approach has been employed by Montesquieu, De Tocqueville, Bryce
and many more.
• Lord Bryce compared the working of democracy in different countries and
accounted for its merits and demerits as form of government.
• The Indian Constituent Assembly largely benefited from the comparative
approach.
• When we compare political institutions, with a view to finding out general
principles underlying them, we must take into account the differences in
the social, moral, intellectual, temperamental, political and economic
conditions of the countries concerned.
2.Historical Approach:
• Political institutions grow instead of being made. They
are the product of the history. Any conclusions remain
uncertain if they are not built upon historical analysis.
• For a proper understanding of the subject the study of
political system of the past in particular periods is
necessary to link up with the present systems.
• It is only by knowing the past and the present that we
can plan for the ideal institutions of future.
3.Legal Approach:
• In this approach the study of politics is related with the study of
legal and judicial institutions that are created by the state for
maintaining a system of law and order.
• The basis of legal approach is that the state exists essentially for the
creation and enforcement of law.
• In legal approach the study of politics is mixed up with legal
processes and institutions. The reason being that there is
interdependence between law and the governmental institutions.
• Its main sources are constitutions, code of law, office manuals of
rules and regulations and judicial decisions.
• Many countries of Europe, like Germany, Belgium and France have
specially applied the legal approach to the study of public
administration.
4.Institutional Approach :
• This approach lays emphasis on the study of
formal structures of a political organization like
Legislature, Executive and Judiciary.
• It also covers the study of informal institutions
like political parties, pressure groups, etc.
• This approach is also known by the name of
structural approach.
• It gives utmost importance to the study and
functions of the government rather than role of
individuals in the society.
5.Philosophical Approach :
• This is also known as the ethical approach.
• It takes an overall view of human development and is
concerned with normative consideration and value
judgments.
• The leaders of the Indian National Movement emphasized
the importance of ethical values in politics.
• In Gandhian philosophy means and ends are convertible
terms. The two are inseparable and should be equally pure.
• Politics becomes a part of ethics.
• This approach is also known as speculative or metaphysical
approach.
 Modern Approaches
Sociological Approach
• This approach regards the state mainly as a social organization.
• Individuals in the society what they have learnt is called political
culture. Political culture is a way of life, a method of thinking.
• The social elements of kinship,race,religion, language and such
other more influence on political structure and activities.
• The political behavior of the individual can be understood in the
social context.
• This approach suggests an investigation of the study of interest
groups that constitute infrastructure of a political system.
• Psychological Approach :
• This approach gives much importance to instincts,
habits, emotions etc,
• In study of political behavior of man, the psychological
factors of man were emphasized by Plato, Machiavelli,
Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Bentham and others.
• Individuals who act in different capacities in the
political system, their psychology would reflect in their
political roles.
• Psychological factors are crucial for institutional
effectiveness.
• Economic Approach:
• Economic factors are the more motivating factors in
politics. Plato and Aristotle gave importance to
economic conditions and distribution of wealth in a
state.
• Karl Marx's economic approach is very powerful.
• The political strength of a nation and foreign relations
depend upon the economic strength of a nation
• Political strength and stability depends upon the
strength of agricultural and industrial sectors, banking
system so on.
• System’s Approach :
• This approach is developed by Ludwing Von
Bertanllanfy.in 1920
• Every system has its own structures and sub-structures
• This approach helps to understand the national and
international politics.
• This is a new approach to compare political system
• This approach approached the study of separate
institutions and organizations of the state – such as the
executive, legislature, departments, government
corporations, boards, etc.
• Input- Output Approach :
• This approach is a consequence to Institutional
approach.
• The political system (state)takes several decisions.
• In that process of decision making many institutions
and individuals may help.
• Those forces that help in the decision making are called
inputs. They are in form of demands.
• In response to that demands the authority takes
decisions are called output
• Every political system converts inputs into outputs.
• Behavioural Approach :
• This approach is a modern approach and developed by
Graham Walls and Arthur Bentley after 1940.
• The motives, feelings, beliefs, actions, objectives and
attitudes of the individual are studied in this approach.
• According to Robert Dhal, it is an attempt to make the
empirical component of political science more
scientific by studying political behaviour of individuals
at all levels, within and without political likes and
dislikes, reactions and responses.