Introduction to Political Science

Sub-Disciplines of Modern Political Science

• Comparative Politics: focuses on the study of political systems, institutions, and processes across different countries and regions.
• International Relations: examines the interactions and relationships between states, international organizations, and other actors in the global arena.
• Political Theory: concerns the study of the fundamental questions and concepts of politics, such as power, justice, and democracy.

Development of Contemporary Political Science

• Contemporary political science started to take shape as a distinct field in the late 19th century.

Antecedents of Modern Political Science

• The ancient Greeks, particularly Aristotle and Plato, are considered among the antecedents of the modern discipline of political science due to their contributions to the study of politics and governance.
• The modern discipline of political science also has roots in the Enlightenment thinkers, such as John Locke and Thomas Hobbes.

Distinction from History

• Contemporary political science is distinguished from history by its focus on the systematic and scientific study of political phenomena, rather than solely on the historical narrative of political events.

Pre-19th Century Perspective

• Before the late 19th century, it was uncommon for political science to be considered a separate and distinct academic discipline, as it was often subsumed under other fields like philosophy or law.