Political Sociology PDF

Define Political Sociology and discuss its scope. Ans. Political sociology is a branch of social science. Political science starts with the state and examines how it affects society, whereas political sociology starts with sociology and examines how it affects the state. Thus, focusing on political...

Define Political Sociology and discuss its scope. Ans. Political sociology is a branch of social science. Political science starts with the state and examines how it affects society, whereas political sociology starts with sociology and examines how it affects the state. Thus, focusing on political sociology, it includes the entire social life. Political sociology is a new science that studies the mutual relations between state and society. According to Lipset, “If the stability of society is the central issue for all sociology, then a specific institutional structure or political regime in the social condition of democracy is the main subject of political sociology.” Thus, political sociology believes in the mutual relationship between sociology and politics in which equal emphasis is given to both social and political variables. According to Kozer, “State is that branch of sociology which studies the causes and consequences of distribution of power among the societies within the society and the social and political conflicts which result in changes in the appropriation of power. According to Greer and Alliens, “State sociology is interested in the study of the structure of the state, the nature of monopoly due to its nature and conditions of legitimacy and its exercise by the state, the nature of sub- units and their relationship with the state.” In this way, political sociology is a subject which is made up of political science and sociology, but now it has discovered its subject matter independently and has established itself as an independent science. In this way we can say that ‘Sociology of Politics’ itself is ‘Political Sociology’, but something more needs to be included in it. Thus, different definitions confuse the student of sociology. Therefore, it is necessary to understand its characteristics and nature before studying political sociology. 1. It is not political science – Political sociology is not political science. It neither studies the state nor has any connection with the rules or arts of the state. Political sociology is concerned only with those events related to the state for whose cause and effect social factors can be considered responsible. 2. It is not sociology of politics – Sociology of politics deals with social facts which are related to the state. Whereas political sociology studies the factors, developments and facts affecting the state. Therefore, it can be said that political sociology is not only social but also political. 3. It is the solution to the contradictions between state and society – Both political science and sociology study their respective fields from a traditional perspective. There is a contradiction in the views of both the state and the society. Political sociology explains the interrelationships between state and society on the basis of a new method. On the basis of the above characteristics, we can say that political sociology is an independent social science. Scope of Political Sociology: Many scholars have expressed their opinions regarding the nature and scope of study of political sociology. Lipset and Roque have clearly stated that political sociology is an interdisciplinary hybrid which views political and social explanatory variables as self- sufficient but interacting variables. In modern times, political sociology is progressing at a very fast pace. But has it also achieved maturity through the intensity of movement? To know whether political sociology is a mature subject or not, we will have to study its field of study. The study area of political sociology is as follows- 1. Social Foundation of Political Order – Political sociology believes that political order is determined on the basis of social organization and cultural values. The most important problem of political order is that it is determined on the basis of struggle for power. Political sociology is not concerned with the formal order of governance; it determines the political order on the basis of struggle for power. As tom batmore Let us clarify that the center of politics is power. Therefore, it can be said that political sociology studies the struggle for power. 2. Social bases of Political Behavior – Political sociologists study the behavior of individuals in politics. They try to know why a person votes the way he does.” The above statement means that what kind of motivations motivate a person to behave politically, as Parsons and Shilp have identified three types of motivations (beliefs, Emotional and evaluative motivations) have been discussed. On what basis does a person determine the choice he makes while casting his vote in an election or casting a vote? What is his role in political movements, political committees and groups, And on what basis he (person) behaves, all these are studied in political sociology. 3. Social Aspects of Political Process – Political sociology studies many political processes under its field, the details of which are as follows- (i) Types of organized groups in politics – Formation of groups as a political process is an important process in every society. Many different types of groups are found in every political system. Here we consider it appropriate to give the example of Indian society. Because the diversity of groups is clearly visible in the Indian political system. We can mainly separate Indian political groups on the basis of two ideologies. First, groups with leftist ideas and second, right- wing groups. Apart from the right wing groups, there are also religious political groups, linguistic political groups, regional political groups and ethnic political groups etc. which prevent political polarization. In contrast, there are only two types of groups in the American political system and Russia or China or other communist political  systems allow the formation of only one political group. Thus political sociology studies the types of political groups in different societies. (ii) Bases of Interactions – Political sociology studies the interactions going on in the groups found under the political system. Under this, a political sociologist studies the effects of political movements, political groups and interest groups on the political system as well as how they change the political system. Or provide them stability. Most of the sociologists of the world agree about the above field of study. But Lipset says that “the social condition of democracy is the center point of political sociology.” The social conditions of democracy is the prime concern of political sociology. Thus Lipset limits political sociology to the social conditions of democracy. Greer and Orleans state that political sociology studies a specific type of social structure, which can be called ‘state’. Both the above scholars have explained the following subject areas of political sociology. 1. The Structure of the State – The main subject area of political sociology is the structure of the state. The first responsibility of political sociology is to study the processes going on in a state and the interactive relationships between the major organs of the state. 2. The Nature and Conditions of Legitimacy – Apart from the structure of the state, the subject area of political sociology also includes the nature of legislations etc. There are different types of laws in each state. The study of the impact of these laws on the society and the status of respect for laws or legislations in the society is also a major subject of political sociology. 3. Political system – study of community and voting behaviour – In the field of political sociology, the sociological bases of various political systems are studied. Political sociology studies the functions of these political systems in the context of the general functions of social systems. 4. Centralization of economic power and study of political decision- In the field of political sociology, political structures, institutions and its centralization of financial power are studied. In political sociology, the main functions and effects of government are studied in traditional and modern social systems; it also studies the cultural basis of political power. Political leadership, political parties, pressure groups, voting behaviour etc. are the main subjects of its study area. Thus, it studies voting behaviour in different political systems and various social, economic, religious and regional problems that affect it.  5. Study of government system and elite class – Bureaucracy and elite class have a special place in the modern system. Therefore, in this field their nature, structure, types, behavior etc. are studied. 6. Study of political movements and interest groups – In modern times, study of public opinion, propaganda, political movements, political change and interest groups are considered important subjects of study of political sociology. Political institutions are changeable. Therefore, political change, processes and means are studied in political sociology. 7. Study of democratic society – place of democracy in the present political system. Is considered paramount. Therefore, democratic society has become a major subject of political sociology. Under this democratic society, relationships with families, religion, caste, education system, economic and political conditions etc. are studied. 8. Study of war and peace – National and international war and peace are studied in the field of political sociology. In the present times, there have been many systems of war. At the international level, the market of cold war sometimes becomes hot and sometimes it leads to hot war. This is the reason that the world had to face two world wars in the 20th century. Today, the expression of war, the causes of war and the political and social functions of war are specifically analyzed. Similarly, by developing the means of peacekeeping, the path to national and international peace is paved. 9. Study of power, authority and justification – In the field of political sociology, the correct principles of power, authority and justification are studied. Power, authority and justification are the main bases which determine the foundation of politics. 10. Study of the problems of political parties, elective committees and oligarchy – Political parties are especially studied in political sociology, because the modern era is the era of democracy and the pillar of this democracy is the political party. In its field, problems related to various types of elective committees and oligarchy are studied. 11. Study of political revolution – Under political sociology, various theories related to political revolution, causes of revolution, viewpoints related to revolution and its basic elements are analyzed. Thus, it can be said that political revolution is a very broad approach which affects the entire social, economic and political environment.  12. Study of political institutions – In political sociology, the effect of social and economic conditions on political institutions as well as the effect of political institutions on social and economic structures is studied. In the course of studying the above mentioned subjects in the field of political sociology, Greers and Orleans included in its subject matter the structure of the state, the nature of its legitimacy, the monopoly on power by the state and its use and the nature of its sub- units and their relation to the state. Various problems are studied. On the basis of the principles stated by Michel, it can be said that the surveys or descriptions given regarding the subject matter of political sociology are complete and adequate and can be accepted as the official distribution of the field of study. According to Bruce and Selznick, political sociology is mainly related to the basic conditions affecting government and politics. According to them, political sociology can be divided into three major areas. (a) Social basis of political system – Under this, the method of dependence on social organization and cultural values regulates the struggle for power and political sociology has to consider the basic constitutional questions. (b) Social basis of political behavior: Under this, the political status of people and the political system are studied. © Social aspects of the political process: Under this, how interest- affected groups, political parties, movements change the political system is studied. Thus, according to Cashel, political sociology can be defined as the study of those areas that relate formal government structures to the larger environment in which they operate. After studying the views of various scholars about the subject matter of political sociology, we come to the conclusion that its subject matter includes different types of political systems, political committees, political behavior, influence, power, authority, social environment etc. The subjects are studied specifically. Therefore, like other social sciences, political sociology is also a social science whose existence is superior to other social sciences. In today’s politics of international conflict and deceit, understanding not only national politics but also international politics is essential for peace. In this context the role of political sociology is very important.