Overview of Political Science

Definition: Study of politics, government systems, and political behavior.
Branches:
- Comparative Politics: Analyzes different political systems and their structures.
- International Relations: Examines interactions between countries and global issues.
- Political Theory: Explores philosophical ideas about politics and governance.
- Public Administration: Focuses on the implementation of government policy.
- Public Policy: Studies the creation and effects of policies.

Power: The ability to influence or control the behavior of people and institutions.
Authority: Legitimate power recognized by society.
Legitimacy: Acceptance of an authority by the governed, often derived from consent or tradition.
Sovereignty: The authority of a state to govern itself without external interference.
State vs. Nation:
- State: A political entity with a defined territory and government.
- Nation: A group of people with common cultural characteristics.

Democracy: System where power is vested in the people, exercised directly or through elected representatives.
- Types: Direct democracy, representative democracy.
Authoritarianism: Concentration of power in a leader or an elite not accountable to the public.
Totalitarianism: An extreme form of authoritarianism; the state seeks to control all aspects of public and private life.
Monarchy: A form of government with a monarch at the head, can be absolute or constitutional.

Liberalism: Emphasizes individual freedoms, democracy, and the protection of human rights.
Conservatism: Advocates for tradition, stability, and maintaining established institutions.
Socialism: Promotes social ownership and democratic control of the means of production.
Fascism: Authoritarian nationalism that emphasizes strong centralized control and often includes suppression of opposition.

Voting Behavior: Factors influencing how people vote, including demographics, party identification, and social influences.
Political Participation: Involvement in political processes, including voting, activism, and civic engagement.
Public Opinion: Collective attitudes and beliefs of individuals on political issues, shaped by various factors like media and education.

Political Parties: Organized groups that seek to gain power and influence government policy.
Interest Groups: Organizations that advocate for specific issues or interests.
Legislature: The branch of government responsible for making laws.
Judiciary: The system of courts that interprets and applies the law.

Qualitative Methods: Focus on understanding the meaning and context of political phenomena (e.g., interviews, case studies).
Quantitative Methods: Use statistical techniques to analyze numerical data (e.g., surveys, experiments).
Comparative Methods: Analyze and compare different political systems or phenomena across contexts.

Globalization: Impact on national sovereignty and political systems.
Environmental Politics: Governance and policy responses to climate change and sustainability.
Human Rights: Ongoing struggles for rights and freedoms across the globe.
Populism: Rise of populist movements and their implications for democracy and political stability.

Power: Influences behavior of individuals and institutions.
Authority: Recognized legitimate power within a society.
Legitimacy: Acceptance of authority, rooted in consent or tradition.
Sovereignty: A state's intrinsic right to govern without outside interference.
State vs. Nation:
- State: Defined territory and governance structure.
- Nation: Cultural group sharing common characteristics.

Democracy: Authority derived from the people, manifesting through direct or representative means.
Authoritarianism: Centralizes power in leaders or elites, lacking public accountability.
Totalitarianism: Extreme authoritarianism, where the state controls all life aspects.
Monarchy: Leadership under a monarch, which can either be absolute or constitutional.

Liberalism: Advocates for individual freedoms and protection of human rights.
Conservatism: Values tradition and stability, emphasizing the preservation of institutions.
Socialism: Supports social ownership and democratic management of resources.
Fascism: Nationalistic authoritarianism with an emphasis on centralized control and opposition suppression.

Voting Behavior: Influenced by demographics, party loyalty, and social factors.
Political Participation: Engagement in political processes, such as voting and activism.
Public Opinion: Collective beliefs shaped by societal factors like media and education.

Political Parties: Structured groups aiming to influence governance and policy.
Interest Groups: Organizations focused on specific issues or advocacy.
Legislature: Government branch tasked with law-making.
Judiciary: Court system that interprets and enforces laws.

Qualitative Methods: Aim to comprehend political phenomena through context (e.g., interviews, case studies).
Quantitative Methods: Employ statistical analysis for numerical data evaluation (e.g., surveys).
Comparative Methods: Involve assessing political systems or phenomena across various contexts.

Globalization: Raises questions about national sovereignty and political frameworks.
Environmental Politics: Focus on governance addressing climate change and sustainability.
Human Rights: Continuous global struggles for rights and freedoms.
Populism: Emergence of populist movements affecting democracy and stability.