POL 101 Introduction to Political Science

POL 101 - INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE Introduction The concept 'politics' is one of the most contentious concepts in the world of social sciences. It defies a generally acceptable definition. It is one of the concepts that have been misused, abused and misconceived by different commentators....

POL 101 - INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE Introduction The concept 'politics' is one of the most contentious concepts in the world of social sciences. It defies a generally acceptable definition. It is one of the concepts that have been misused, abused and misconceived by different commentators. There are lots of misconceptions about politics. Layman's misconception about politics is that politics is about or concerned with public sector (parliament, election and cabinet) and had little relevance to other human activities. Also, that there is danger of confusing politics solely with party politics, (the intrigues and tricks of politicians seeking power. In other words, a layman thinks of politics in terms of public meetings, processions, slogans, demonstrations, demands, strikes, teargas, elections as well as false promises and false reports. This is why politics is being refers to as 'dirty game'. For systematic study of politics, it is essential to dispel such confusion and lift politics from the arena of vague impression to the level of scientific precision. Perhaps the earliest conception of politics is that which posits it as activities having to do with efficient organization and judicious administration of the collective affairs of an organized human community or *polis,* the Greek word that is the root of the term, politics. In this view, the purpose of politics is to facilitate secure and prosperous conditions in which everyone would be able to satisfy his needs and realize his full human potential. This was the conception that informed the thinking of ancient philosophers such as Plato (470 -- 399BC) and Aristotle (354 -- 322BC) about politics. Both thought of it in idealistic terms, as activity having to do with fashioning a structurally and functionally perfect human community that would be motivated at all times by the quest to promote justice and happiness for all her citizens. For Aristole (354 -- 322BC), Politics is the 'master science': that is, nothing less than the activity through which human beings attempt to improve their lives and create the good society. Politics is, above all, a social activity. It is always a dialogue, and never a monologue. From the beginning politics came to be associated with the state; in fact, the traditional writers considered political science as the science of the state, and have devoted themselves to: To a study of institutions of state, and To developing ideas concerning the nature of a perfect state. However, modern writers have increasingly recognized that politics does not operate strictly within the framework of an institutional set up but permeates the entire social fabric. Politics is now seen as a social process and it is practice in a 'political situation'. **The Political situation** Politics as a process operates in a particular situation which may be termed as political situation. [Allan Ball] said that: political activities.... Involves disagreements and the reconciliation of those disagreements. In other words, the essence of the political situation is conflict and resolution of that conflict. [ ] [Stephen Wasby] observed that: where there is politics, it is said, there is controversy, where there are issues, there is politics. Where no controversy exists, where no issues are being debated, politics does not exist. In a nutshell, the political process postulates the existence of a disagreement or conflict, and efforts for the resolution of that conflict through the authority of government.