Political Science Overview

Political Science

• Political science is a social science discipline studying politics, government, and public administration.
• It examines power distribution and exercise, decision-making processes, and the relationship between individuals and the state.

Subfields of Political Science

• Comparative Politics: Analyses political systems across countries, focusing similarities and differences in institutions, structures, and behaviours. Explains variations in political outcomes.
• American Politics: Examines the American political system, including history, institutions (Congress, Presidency, Courts), actors (parties, interest groups), and policy-making.
• International Relations: Studies interactions between states, international organizations, non-state actors, and individuals. Covers war, peace, diplomacy, trade, and globalization.
• Political Theory: Explores fundamental questions about politics, government, and justice. Examines the philosophical roots of political ideas and prominent thinkers.
• Public Administration: Focuses on implementing public policies and understanding bureaucratic behaviour. Examines the organization and management of government agencies, and their role in policy delivery.

Key Concepts in Political Science

• Power: The ability to influence or control others through coercion, persuasion, or authority.
• Authority: The legitimate right to exercise power stemming from social norms and institutions.
• Legitimacy: The acceptance of power by the governed. A legitimate government enjoys public support.
• Sovereignty: A state's supreme authority within its territory, not challengeable by other powers.
• Democracy: A system where citizens participate in decision-making, typically involving free and fair elections, right protection, and rule of law.
• Authoritarianism: A government concentrating power in a single person or group, limiting freedoms, and suppressing dissent (e.g., dictatorships, monarchies).
• Ideology: A set of values, beliefs, and ideas providing a worldview, understanding political phenomena, and advocating policies (e.g., liberalism, conservatism, socialism, fascism).

Methods of Political Science Research

• Qualitative Methods: In-depth analysis of textual data (interviews, historical documents, speeches) for contextual understanding.
• Quantitative Methods: Statistical analysis of numerical data (surveys, experiments, datasets) to reveal trends, patterns, and causal relationships.
• Comparative Method: Analyzing similarities and differences across cases (countries, systems) to identify patterns and draw conclusions.
• Case Study Method: In-depth investigation of a specific political event, issue, or country for detailed insights.

Key Issues in Contemporary Political Science

• Globalization: Increasing interconnectedness raising political issues about economics, security, and culture.
• Political Instability: Crises and conflicts impacting state stability and relations.
• Political Participation: Concerns regarding citizen engagement and participation in democracy.
• Political Extremism: The rise of extremist ideologies and groups and their impact on political systems.
• Political Representation: Issues related to representing diverse interests and ensuring citizens are heard.

Explore the fundamentals of political science, including its definition and key subfields like Comparative Politics, American Politics, and International Relations. Understand the relationship between politics, government, and public administration. Dive into how power is distributed and exercised across various systems.