Introduction to Political Science

Political Science Definition

• Political science studies state and government
• It examines the principles and ideals behind a state's organization and activities
• It considers the relationships between individuals, groups, the state, and different states
• Harold Lasswell defines politics as determining "who gets what, when, and how"
• Political science examines the "shaping and sharing of power"
• Power enables people to make others act, willingly or not, and involves penalties for non-compliance

Core concepts

• Politics comes from "polis", referring to a city or sovereign state
• Science comes from "scire", meaning to know or study
• Political science is a social science field
• Aristotle called it the master of all sciences
• Politics stems from "Polis," an ancient Greek city-state
• Today, it is related to governing a country or area

Subject Matter of Political Science

• The Association in Paris (1948) outlined political science's scope into four areas:
  • Political Theory
  • Political Institutions
  • Political Dynamics
  • International Relations
• Political theory involves grasping key terms and concepts
• Political philosophy involves considering fundamental principles
• Philosophers such as Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hegel, Mill, Marx, and Gandhi have shared their thoughts on state and government nature, functions, and goals

Political Institutions and Dynamics

• Political science encompasses the study of the organization and functions of:
  • Legislature
  • Executive
  • Judiciary
  • Electorate
  • Administration
• Political dynamics relates to the "forces and processes" in government and politics, such as:
  • Political parties
  • Pressure and interest groups
  • Lobbies
  • Public opinion
  • Propaganda
  • Political semantics
• These factors influence and direct political behavior and attitudes

Public Admin and International Relations

• Public Administration studies administrative machinery, personnel, finance, public relations, and law -It also covers local self-governing bodies like corporations and municipalities
• International relations cover diplomacy, global politics, foreign policy, and international organizations
• International laws and relations are vital for world peace and cooperation
• Political science focuses on the balance between state authority and individual liberty

Power, Politics, and Influence

• Power is the ability to sway decisions and control resources
• Organizational politics involves gaining power informally, not just through merit or luck
• Influence is similar to power but more subtle
• Socialized power uses power for constructive purposes, while personalized power pursues personal gain

Sources of Power

• Legitimate power comes from a manager's formal position
• Policies and procedures can enhance this positional power
• Coercive power involves controlling others via the threat of punishment
• Reward power uses rewards or promises
• Expert power comes from specialized knowledge
• Referent power stems from desirable traits and characteristics

Authority and Legitimacy

• Authority is using power legitimately, based on a position's rights
• Max Weber's three types of legitimate authority:
  • Traditional: Political order maintained by customs and traditions
  • Charismatic: Political order maintained by a leader's personality
  • Rational-legal: Political order based on legality accepted by the population
• Legitimacy is the public feeling that government authority is rightful and should be obeyed
• Political legitimacy involves widespread approval of how political power is used

Sources of Legitimacy

• Legitimacy can stem from:
  • Meeting basic needs and respecting human rights
  • Habitual obedience to laws
  • Shared historical, religious, or ethnic identity
  • Fear of alternatives
  • Fair procedures

Scope and Func/Imp of Political Science

• Political theory forms the foundation, covering doctrines related to a state’s origin, purpose, and behavior
• Public law covers constitutional, administrative, and international law
• Public administration examines methods used by the three branches of government
• Political science identifies principles for public affairs and government operations
• It resolves immediate issues
• It addresses social, economic, and other public and private issues

Importance of Studying Political Science

• Provides education for citizenship
• An essential part of liberal education
• Provides knowledge of government

The State and Government

• The state: a sizable group permanently inhabiting a territory with a government that most residents obey, also possesses freedom from external control
• The state's elements:
  • Population
  • Territory
  • Government
  • Sovereignty
• The divine right theory states a ruler is ordained by God
• The force theory says states were created via force
• The paternalistic theory states states originated from family expansion
• The social contract theory says states come from voluntary agreements

States and Nations

• A state is a legal/political concept while a nation is an ethnic one
• A state is free from external control whereas a nation may or may not be
• A state can contain multiple nations, while a nation can be spread across several states

State vs. Government

• State is the principal; government is the agent
• State is an abstraction; government puts state will into action
• State and government differ, a state cannot exist without a government
• The government can exist without a state
• A state is permanent as long as the element of the state are there
• Governments can be changed

Forms of Government

• Governments are classified by the number of persons in power: -Monarchy where one person holds authority -Aristocracy where a select few hold power -Democracy where the masses hold power
• Democracies are further split into direct and indirect or representative
• Based on the Nature of Tenure of the Officials: -Hereditary: Power goes to a relative -Elective/Popular: Leaders are elected

Government Power

• Classified by the Power Exercised by the Central/National Government:
  • Unitary: Central power controls national and local affairs Federal: Power is divided between national and local bodies
• Classified by the Relationships Between branches of government:
  • Parliamentary: Legislature can remove the real executive Presidential: Executive is constitutionally independent from the legislature

Political Science and Science

• Whether political science qualifies as a "science" remains debated
• Some consider calling it a science a misuse of the word
• Opponents argue that social sciences like political science exist alongside physical sciences
• Political science borrows theories from social sciences
• Analysis also comes from other fields