What is Political Science? | Definition, Studies, Pros vs Cons

Political activity was always a part of human civilization. With this activity, society decides in which direction its progress will be. It is one activity human society has been practising since the dawn of civilization. For this reason, philosophers and scholars are studying and analyzing the effect of political activity on society. This study is known as political science. By studying political science, one can understand how previous political decisions have affected society. This subject also analyzes the governing system, public policy, political theory, etc. Let’s learn what political science is and what are the advantages and disadvantages of this subject.

Key Takeaways

  1. Political science is a social science that studies government, politics, and public policies at the local, national, and international levels, as well as political behavior, political systems, and political ideologies.
  2. Political scientists use various research methods, including surveys, interviews, case studies, and statistical analysis, to understand and explain political phenomena and inform policy decisions.
  3. Political science is a diverse and interdisciplinary field encompassing subfields like comparative politics, international relations, political theory, public administration, and public policy.
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Studies Related to Political Science

Political Science is a branch of social science which analyzes a society’s political activity, governing system, and political behaviour. The study of political science is a conglomerate of multiple subfields like political theory, political methodology, public administration, public policy, political economy, and international relations. Political science also correlates with other social-economic factors like philosophy, history, economics, and social policy.

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Humans have been studying political science for a long time. Historians have found evidence of political science study from 2500 old Greek civilization. At this time, Aristotle and Plato were renowned theorists on this subject. In ancient China, the great philosopher Confucius was another political science scholar. The modern form of political science evolved in the mid-19th century.  Great philosophers like Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Montesquieu, Thomas Jefferson, and others laid the foundation of modern political science.

Recently, all major universities worldwide let students study political science. For example, the University of Birmingham, Oxford University, Cambridge University, and The University of Edinburgh offer some of the best courses in political science. In these courses, students can study different political campaigns, conflicts, administrative processes, etc., to learn from them. Political Science is a subject that studies the evolution of human society.

Advantages of Political Science

The biggest advantage of political science is that the subject lets us see how previous political decisions affect society. It also lets us understands how different political ideology formed in different parts of the world. This subject also gives the scholars full information about different governing systems and their impact on society. The study of political science explores various effects of political activity on society. This subject is very beneficial to those people who are interested in political activities and the governing system. People associated with public administration study this subject to increase their political knowledge.

Disadvantages of Political Science

Political science is a vast subject with multiple subparts. For this reason, it takes a lot of time to study this subject to gain a substantial understanding. Anyone who is not motivated enough may find it boring. Another disadvantage of political science is that it is a constantly evolving subject. Therefore, some past political rulings are irrelevant in today’s modern political environment. Another disadvantage of political science study is that it offers limited career opportunities.

References
  1. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1955071
  2. https://www.jstor.org/stable/1953762
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Last Updated : 13 July, 2023

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18 thoughts on “What is Political Science? | Definition, Studies, Pros vs Cons”

  1. Political science has such a rich history and legacy. It’s crucial to recognize the foundations laid out by remarkable philosophers.

    Reply
  2. Interesting post! Political science studies can indeed contribute valuable insights to public policy and governance.

    Reply

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