Foundations and Methods of Political Science

Definition and Scope of Political Science

Political science is the scientific and social-scientific study of politics, power, governance, political behavior, institutions, laws, constitutions, and public policy. It examines how power is allocated and transferred in decision-making, how governments and international organizations operate, and how political systems influence outcomes such as stability, justice, peace, public health, and material well-being. Unlike political philosophy, which mainly evaluates politics according to normative values and ideals, political science emphasizes descriptive and explanatory analysis supported by empirical evidence, while also including normative approaches that recommend policies or assess political arrangements. The field has a broad scope and includes the study of domestic and comparative politics, international relations, public administration, public policy, political institutions, elections, public opinion, legislatures, judiciaries, foreign policy, political transitions, and crises. Political scientists use diverse methods, including surveys, experiments, case studies, historical and institutional analysis, ethnography, interviews, process tracing, game theory, formal modeling, and agent-based models. As a modern academic discipline, political science developed in the late nineteenth century and expanded through the behavioral revolution, quantitative research, formal modeling, and later methodological pluralism.

0/2 modes complete

Political Science and Political Philosophy

0/2 modes complete