Political
Theory &
Concepts
PSCI
Module-I
What is Political Science
• Political science is a part of social science that deals with the political
problems of human beings and the subject matter of political science
is political institutions (State, Government, Judiciary, Parliament,
Pressure groups, Political Parties, etc.), Political behavior, and
activities of humans, etc. It is also related to other social science
subjects like history, sociology, philosophy, economics, etc.
Meaning of Political Science
• Political Science comprises of two words ‘political’ and ‘science’.
• The term ‘politics’ is derived from the Greek word ‘polis’ which
means the ‘city-state’ (a generalised form of political organization
existing in ancient Greece).
• Science is the systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the
physical and natural world through observation, evidence and
experiment.
• So political science is the branch of knowledge that deals with
systematic study of the structure and behaviour of the state and
political institutions through scientific analysis
Meaning of Political Science
• The great Greek philosopher Aristotle was the first to use the term
‘politics’ and is therefore regarded as the ‘father of Political Science’.
In his famous book, "Politics", Aristotle has asserted: "Man is by
nature a political animal and he, who by nature and not by mere
accident is without state, is either above humanity or below it”.
Definition of Political Science
• Traditional definition: These early definitions of political science dealt
generally with state and government.
• Paul Janet, “Political Science is that part of social science which treats
the foundations of the State and the principles of government.”
(Kapur, A.C. Principles of Political Science, S. Chand & Company Ltd.,
New Delhi, 2006, p.17)
• Stephen Leacock, “Political Science deals with the Government”
(Agarwal,R.C.: Political Theory- Principles of Political Science, S. Chand
& Company Ltd., New Delhi, 2007, p.3).
Definition of Political Science
• Modern Definition: In the beginning of the 20th century there
developed a new way of looking at political science. This new
approach is known as behavioural approach. The main thrust of the
new view is the treatment of politics as an activity and a process.
• Harold Laswell: “Politics is the study of influence and the influential”
or “the study of the shaping and sharing of power”
Definition of Political Science
• David Easton: “Politics is the authoritative allocation of values.”
• Andrew Heywood: “Politics can be defined as an activity through
which people make, preserve and amend the general rules under
which they live.”
(Source: Agarwal,R.C.: Political Theory- Principles of Political Science, S.
Chand & Company Ltd., New Delhi, 2007)
Nature of Political Science
• Politics is not only a mere institution of governance but also a
mechanism for achieving societal goals.
• Nature of Political Science is a social science concerned with the
theory and practice of politics and the description and analysis of
political systems and political behavior.
• It includes matters concerning the allocation and transfer of power in
decision making, the roles, and governance systems, including
governments and international organizations, political behavior, and
public policies.
Nature of Political Science
• Political science is a study of the state in the past, present, and future
of the political organization, political processes, and political functions
of political institutions and political theories.
• Political science has several subfields, including political theory,
public policy, national politics, international relations, human rights,
environmental politics, and comparative politics.
Scope of Political Science
• It is a dynamic and social science. That’s why it’s scope or subject
matter is always changing.
• Until the nineteenth century, its field of discussion was state-
centered. At present, the state and any other issues that touch
people’s political life are included in the discussion of political science.
• The Scope of political science can be divided into two categories.
[Link]-Centric
[Link]-State-Centric
State-Centric
• The state is the ultimate expression of socialized life. People’s political
life revolves around the state. As a result, the personality of the
socialized people develops, and peaceful social life is possible. There
is no doubt that the state is the central subject of political science.
• 1. Study of Government
• This state was again embodied through the government. The state
cannot be imagined without the government. The state fulfilled its
goals through the government. The discussion of the state as well as
the government becomes necessary.
State-Centric
• 2. Study of the History of the State
• The idea of the present state remains incomplete if we do not discuss
the history of the state. In the context of the past and present
discussion of the state, it is necessary to see how this institution
evolved from the past to the present.
• 3. Study of Laws
• In addition to the state and the government, laws enacted by the
government are also included in the discussion of political science.
The government passes laws on behalf of the state and maintains
peace. So the discussion of law is another matter of political science.
State-Centric
• 4. Study of International Relations and International laws
• The interaction between the citizen and the state is influenced by multiple issues.
The flow of international events affects national life.
• It also deals with international relations and international laws. It includes
international organizations like the United Nations, International Monetary Fund,
and The World Bank.
• 5. Study of Theoretical and Applied Political Science
• Theoretical discussions of political science are about the origin, nature, ideology,
independence, law, etc. of the state.
• On the other hand, the classification of government, functions, legislation, functions
of political institutions, international customs, treaties, and diplomacy are the main
topics of applied discussion in it.
Non-State-Centric Discussion
• Modern political scientists think that at present political science deals
not only with the state but with non-governmental organizations and
individuals or groups of political activities, pressure groups, etc.
• 1. Study of Influence and Influential
• In modern times many political scientists have emphasized influence
as a subject of political science. The tendency of behavioral statesmen
is particularly observed.
• The influential people of society control the distribution of goods or
values, and this is exactly the reason why it is necessary to discuss
political science with influence and influential.
Non-State-Centric Discussion
• 2. Study of Conflict and Disagreement
• Disagreements and disputes create politics. That means the political
situation is created when the work on which there is disagreement is
organized, and that is when the law needs to be created and enacted.
• According to eminent scientists, politics prevails when there is
disagreement, and politics is about resolving that conflict.
• It can be said that it also deals with the conflict and disagreements which
are occurred in any society and finding out the resolution of those conflicts.
Non-State-Centric Discussion
• 3. Study of Authoritative Allocation of Values
• According to Political scientist David Easton, it deals with the
authoritative allocation of values. “Political Science be described as
the study of the authoritative allocation of values for society”.
• The word value here refers to the needs and wants of socialized
people. What is valuable to a person is what he needs. It is not
possible to meet all the needs of all people in any society because
every society has a shortage of resources.
Non-State-Centric Discussion
• Society must constantly decide how much care needs to be met based
on limited resources. That is, in Easton’s language, how the value will
be fixed or how its allocation will be.
• Authority makes this important decision for society. The process of
making this decision by the authority is called the allocation of values.
• 4. Study of Political Dynamics
• The study of political dynamics is very important because it deals with
the current forces at work in government and politics. It includes the
study of political parties, pressure groups, public opinion, lobbies, etc.