Telangana TSBIE TS Inter 1st Year Political Science Study Material 1st Lesson Meaning, Nature and Scope of Political Science Textbook Questions and Answers.
TS Inter 1st Year Political Science Study Material 1st Lesson Meaning, Nature and Scope of Political Science
Long Answer Questions
Question 1.
Define Political Science and explain its scope.
Answer:
Introduction :
Political Science is a premier social science. It is mainly concerned with the study of the state in its relation with Society, Citizens, Associations and the world at large. Aristotle is regarded as the Father of Political Science. He wrote famous book “THE POLITICS”.
Meaning :
The word politics is derived from the ancient Greek word “POLIS” meaning city. State and polity from ‘Poletieia’ meaning government of constitution. Politics came to mean the study of state and government and the Institutions of the state.
Definitions :
Political Scientists gave various definitions on Political Science. They are as follows:
1. J.W. GARNER :
“Political Science begins and Ends with the State”.
2. R.G. GETTLE :
“Political Science is” The historical investigation of the state in the past, an analytical study of the state of present and what the state ought to be in the future”.
3. ROBERT DAHL :
“Political Science is the Scientific study of importance of power, Authority and influence.”
Scope of Political Science :
The scope of Political Science means the subject matter covered by it or the topics which are included in its study. It may be explained in the follow-ing ways :
i) Study of man in relation to the Society, State and Government :
Political science is concerned with the perennial and central issue of establishing proper relationship among state, society and government with individual. Aristotle stated that Man is a social and political animal as well.
ii) Study of State :
Political science explains the origin, evolution and purpose of the state and its intimate relationship between the state and the citizens. It explains the various theories of the origin of the state and it also studies the nature, functions and various theo¬ries of the state.
iii) Study of the Government :
Scope of political science includes the study of government. Political science explains the relationship between state and government. The state realises it’s aims and objectives through the government. Government formulates various policies, programs and their implementation for well being of the people. Political science also studies various forms and structures of the government and their merits and demerits.
iv) Study of Associations and Institutions :
There are several associations and institutions which influence the life of the individual. Political science studies various associations, institutions and their relationship with the state. Political science explains structure, nature and functions of the various associations and institutions. It also studies voluntary organisations and their role in the political processes.
v) Study of Rights and Duties :
Scope of Political Science includes the study or rights and duties of citizens. In recent times, issues relating to civil rights, human rights and civil society got significance in the study of political science.
vi) Studies of National and International Issues :
The scope of Political science comprises the study of national and international affairs. The political science deals with the matters relating to nation state, territorial integrity and it’s sovereignty. It also studies inter-national aspects like armaments and disarmaments, balance of power, defence and security studies. It also covers international law, international organisations etc.,
vii) Study of Comparative Government and Polities :
The importance of the comparative study of government and politics has been increased in recent times. Political science covers the study of various world governments, their structures and functions. It studies the relationship among the different political systems in the world.
viii) Study of Modem Political Analysis :
The 20th century political science is regarded as a study of sharing and shaping of power, and it’s execution in a day to day political process. Political science studies the modem concepts like, political socialisation, political participation, political development, political culture and political communication.
ix) Study of Public Policies :
Modem political scientist like David Easton, Gabriel A. Almond, Charles Merriam argued that ‘political science is a policy science’. They considered political science as the study of formulation, execution and evaluation of public policies. They also emphasised the study of political parties, pressure groups, mass media and organs of the governments and their influence in the formulation of the public policies. It also studies major polices like Agriculture policy, Industrial policy, Environmental policy, Reservation policy and Education policy etc.
Thus, the scope of political science has, in recent times, extended to the study of above concepts and theories and has become one of the most Relevant social sciences.
Question 2.
Write about the importance of Political Science.
Answer:
Introduction :
Political Science is a premier social science. It is mainly concerned with the study of the state in its relation with Society, Citizens, Associations and the world at large. Aristotle is regarded as the Father of Political Science. He wrote famous book “THE POLITICS”.
Meaning :
The word politics is derived from the ancient Greek word “POLIS” meaning city. State and polity from ‘Poletieia’ meaning government of constitution. Politics came to mean the study of state and government and the Institutions of the state.
Definitions :
Political Scientists gave various definitions on Political Science. They are as follows :
1. J.W. GARNER :
“Political Science begins and Ends with the State”.
2. R.G. GETTLE :
“Political Science is” The historical investigation of the state in the past, an analytical study of the state of present and what the state ought to be in the future”.
3. ROBERT DAHL :
“Political Science is the Scientific study of importance of power, Authority and influence.”
The political science helps to bring out certain changes in the political system and also suggests solutions for the political problems. It also helps to promote good citizenship and formation of responsible government susceptible to public opinion.
1. Political Science explains concepts and theories :
Political Science studies the relations between the individual, society and state. It helps to protect the liberty and freedom of the individuals. Study of Political Science aids to know the political theories, concepts and ethical principles useful for the creation of a progressive society.
2. Political Science examines forms and organs of the government :
‘The study of Political Science enhances the knowledge of the systems of government. It details about monarchy, aristocracy, democracy, dictatorship and other forms of goverment. It speaks about the organs of the government like legislature, executive and judiciary, their functions and inter relations.
3. Political Science enlightens on rights and duties :
Fundamental rights are essential for the people to lead a good life in a political society. The observations made in Political Science help to enlighten the citizens about their respective rights and duties …… all their pros and cons to contribute for a good citizenship.
4. Political Science provides knowledge of the political thinkers :
The study of Political Science provides knowledge of the political thinkers and theories which had influenced the world in different times. There were many political theories, which became popular in different times. The philosophers like Rousseau and Voltaire laid the foundations for French Revolution through their works. In the same way, the writings of Karl Marx led to a revolution in Russia and the ideas of Mao led to a revolutionary trend in China. Mahatma Gandhi provided constructive political leadership to Indian freedom struggle. The study of political science educates about political thinkers.
5. Political science deals with International Relations :
The significance of the Political Science gradually increased as many Sovereign independent countries joined the world political system. It speaks about the inevitable co-operation between different countries. The international relations as a network became very important due to the Industrial Revolution, and its effects. Modernisation, technological development and transport facilities led to formation of regional groups between neighboring countries resulting in growing importance of international relations. Study of Political Science enlightens about all these subjects in detail.
6. Political Science explains world organisations :
The United Nations Organisation has been putting continuous efforts to promote peace, co-operation and friendship among nations of the world. Its agencies are spread throughout the world undertaking various activities for the development of human kind. Political Science acquaints us with all these matters.
Question 3.
Discuss the relationship of Political Science with history and economics.
Answer:
Political Science has intimate relation with other social sciences like History and Economics. Such inter-relation between political science and History as well as relation between political science and Economics can be detailed as below.
a. Political Science – History
b. Political Science – Economics.
a. Political Science – History :
History describes the past. The development of man¬kind and society can be known through History. History being the .story of man, functions as a treasure house of human experiences. It is like a laboratory to all social sciences. The political, economic, social, cultural, religious and literary activity of man can be known only through History. It describes different associations of man from earliest times. History conveys information to the present society, the developments in the past in the areas like state, civilization, culture, religion and economic activity. History is a written record of different events, movements, their causes and inter-relations. History provides information to study the political activity in the past. The birth and development of political ideas and institutions is known through history.
“History without Political Science has no fruit.
Political Science without History has no root”
There has been continuous transformation and development of political institutions since the earliest period of History. The evolution of different political institutions through the ages is recorded in History. History is the foundation of Political Science. A comparative study of the previous political institutions and the contemporary political activity provides a scope to find ideal and stable political institutions in future. The knowledge of political activity is very much essential to understand the events like founding of the Indian National Congress, the French Revolution, the Russian Revolution and the theories like the two Nation Theory of the Muslim League and also to estimate their impact.
In the same way it is possible to study the concepts proposed by Plato, Aristotle and other Philosophers in the light of the knowledge of history of Ancient Europe. Different political thinkers like Machiavelli, Montesquieu and Lord Bryce developed their respective theories basing on the information found in history. As Robbon opined, it is essential for a student to know about the history of his own race to study the constitution and foreign policy of his race. The knowledge of Political Science is essential to history, in the same way as the knowledge of History to Political Science. History and Political Science can contribute for the development of any civilised society in the spirit of mutual co-operation.
b. Political Science – Economics :
Economics studies the aspects like wealth, production, distribution and exchange of goods. It studies about various methods to accumulate wealth. Economics is a sociological study of the aspects like wealth, production and distribution. All the social institutions and political theories place the human life on a right track. A clearly defined political system is very essential for a man to become a good and ideal citizen. Economics helps in different ways to study the human welfare.
Economics tries to co-ordinate file methods of satisfying unlimited wants with limited resources. Lack of peace and dissatisfaction prevail in a society when the economic needs are not satisfied. The Primary needs like food, clothing, shelter, education and medical aid are to be satisfied. Otherwise life becomes sorrowfuL If the basic needs are not satisfied, the individual has to spend all his energy for that purpose only. A poverty sticken society gives scope for the prevalence of immorality and anti-social elements. An individual suffering from hunger, ignorance, ill health cannot be in a position to assess his political aims and responsibilities. He resorts to many crimes to satisfy his hunger. Such individual entertains a spirit to adopt illegal means for his progress. He cannot use his rights properly and discharge his duties. A citizen without basic needs cannot understand the value of right to vote. The communists feel that democracy cannot be successful without a socialist economy. Aristotle, warned that economic inequalities lead to social revolutions.
Even though Political Science and Economics are two different disciplines, their common aim is the welfare of people. The policies related to the production, consumption, proper use of exchange units, removing inflation, contributing for the accumulation of national wealth, promotion of industrial development are very much a part of the activities of a modem State. The impact of economic policies is very much considerable on all the above policies. It is quite possible to solve many economic problems through a political system only.
Short Answer Questions
Question 1.
Write about the relationship of Political Science with sociology.
Answer:
The knowledge of Sociology is essential to a political scientist. It is essential to study the sociological roots to understand the nature of the State. The Greeks never conceived any difference between society and State. In the opinion of Greek philosophers, State is not only a political system but also a social system of commendable value. Social customs help to systematise social set up and social life. The political scientists give importance to the trends of socialisation to understand the behaviour of the citizen as an individual and part of a community.
Of late, political sociology developed as a special science. This very factor shows how much functional is the impact of social institutions on political life. Political parties, groups and public opinion are subjected to the influence of social factors. The political changes in a State cannot be understood without the knowledge of the social conditions and institutions. For instance, an indepth study of political activity in India needs a study of the social factors like caste, religion, area and language and also processes related to them.
As Political Science discusses the organised groups of people, Sociology studies both organised and unorganised groups. Political Science deals with all the political institutions in the past, present and future. Sociology discusses the rise and growth of all institutions in a society in the past and present.
Question 2.
Write about the relationship of Political Science with economics.
Answer:
Political Science – Economics :
Economics studies the aspects like wealth, production, distribution and exchange of goods. It studies about various methods to accumulate wealth. Economics is a sociological study of the aspects like wealth, production and distribution. All the social institutions and political theories place the human life on a right track. A clearly defined political system is very essential for a man to become a good and ideal citizen. Economics helps in different ways to study the human welfare.
Economics tries to co-ordinate the methods of satisfying unlimited wants with limited resources. Lack of peace and dissatisfaction prevail in a society when the economic needs are not satisfied. The Primary needs like food, clothing, shelter, education and medical aid are to be satisfied. Otherwise life becomes sorrowful. If the basic needs are not satisfied, the individual has to spend all his energy for that purpose only. A poverty sticken society gives scope for the prevalence of immorality and anti-social elements. An individual suffering from hunger, ignorance, ill-health cannot be in a position to assess his political aims and responsibilities.
He resorts to many crimes to satisfy his hunger. Such individual entertains a spirit to adopt illegal means for his progress. He cannot use his rights properly and discharge his duties. A citizen without basic needs cannot understand the value of right to vote. The communists feel that democracy cannot be successful without a socialist economy. Aristotle, warned that economic inequalities lead to social revolutions.
Even though Political Science and Economics are two different disciplines, their common aim is the welfare of people. The policies related to the production, consumption, proper use of exchange units, removing inflation, contributing for the accumulation of national wealth, promotion of industrial development are very much a part of the activities of a modem State. The impact of economic policies is very much considerable on all the above policies. It is quite possible to solve many economic problems through a political system only.
Question 3.
What is the nature of Political Science?
Answer:
The traditional writers considered the study of state and government as the proper sphere of political science. The state and government are both closely related. There can be no state without government. The sate and government, therefore, have been the central subjects of the study of political science.”
In the period after the Second World War, political scientists in the West developed new theories and concepts in the discipline of political science. American political scientist, Harold Lasswell, in the 1930 s, defined politics as the science of the study of power because the state is a structure of power and the business of the political scientists is to examine ‘Who gets Power, When and How” ?. Twenty years later during 1950 s, a school of thinking shifted the emphasis and redefined politics as a policy-making science. Modem writers have expanded the scope of political science. They describe political science ‘as the science of the study of power’, or a policy-making science; or a fundamental activity in every organized group of human life.
Broadly speaking, the study of Political Science developed in two strands: the normative and the empirical. In the normative studies of political science, the main focus is on norms, values and goals or ends of political life and activity. Most of the studies of the concepts such as liberty, equality, justice and empowerment and the study of ideologies are covered under normative studies. The empirical studies, both quantitative and qualitative, focus on facts and the actual processes or means that subscribe to the achievement of goals. The study of the functioning Of government and other institutions and the human interactions in different capacities come under empirical studies. These include, the studies on public policy, voting behaviour, political parties, pressure groups and social movements.
Question 4.
Write a brief note on Evolution of Political Science.
Answer:
The beginning of a study of politics (or political thinking) is traced to the ancient Greek philosophers like Socrates, Plato and Aristotle. Among these, Aristotle- is regarded as the father of Political Science because of his objective and systematic (scientific) study of the affairs of the government and politics. Aristotle used the term ‘politics’ to designate the science of the state. He called ‘politics’ a ‘Master Science’ as it covered almost all the activities of individuals in society that includes political and social institutions. In fact, politics was a comprehensive concept for the Greeks. However, the Greek concept of politics underwent changes over the centuries. In other words, the Greek concept of politics is no more valid today. The study of politics has acquired a wider meaning in the modem times.
As a matter of fact, with the evolution of the systems of production through different stages (e.g., hunters and food-gatherers, to agriculture and then to industry/factory) social and economic institutions become important, and so also political organizations evolved and progressed. This resulted in a distinction between three spheres of human activities, namely, ‘politics’, ‘social’ and ’economics’. Henceforth, Political Science came to be defined as ‘science of state and government. Thus, the detailed study of the evolution of the State, its functions and the government constituted the subject matter of the study of Political Science.
With the influence of the study of Behaviourism in natural Sciences, the behavioural Movement has been initiated in Social Sciences. After the Second world war, the behavioural movement which had emerged in 1920’s, became very popular movement in 1950’s. This movement was led by American Political Scientists like Charles Marrium, Gabriel Almond, David Easton etc. Behaviouralism emphasises on the study of political behaviour, perceptions of the individuals towards their own political system. Hence the study of political science confined itself to the study of political behaviour in an organised society. The study area of political science also extends to policy formulation, implementation and evaluation of the political systems. Hence, the political science is also called as policy science. The concept of policy science was propounded by J. Lasswell.
Very Short Answer Questions
Question 1.
Define Political Science.
Answer:
Political Scientists gave various definitions on Political Science. They are as follows.
1. J.W. GARNER :
“Political Science begins and ends with the State”.
2. R.G. GETTLE :
“Political Science is” The historical investigation of the state in the past, an analytical study of the state of present and what the state ought to be in the future”.
3. ROBERT DAHL :
“Political Science is the Scientific study of importance of power, Authority and influence.”
Question 2.
Mention any four points of significance of Political Science.
Answer:
- Political Science explains concepts and theories.
- Political Science enlightens on Rights and Duties.
- Political Science provides knowledge of the political thinkers.
- Political Science deals with International Relations.
Question 3.
What is meant by sociology?
Answer:
Sociology is the root of all social sciences. Sociology studies the changes in different social institutions. It discusses the social, ethical, economic and cultural systems in a society. It also studies the human relations, social conditions, origin, growth and development of different systems, their respective forms, the rules, customs and traditions.
Question 4.
How Political Science is different from economics?
Answer:
Political Science differs from Economics in many respects which are as follows :
- Political Science is normative whereas economics is descriptive
- Political Science deals with values whereas Economics deals with prices.
- Political Science is concerned with people whereas economics is concerned with things.
- The scope of Political Science is much wider than that of Economics
- Political Science tries to secure social welfare through administration whereas economics through better distribution of wealth.
Question 5.
Behaviouralism.
Answer:
It is a modem interdisciplinary approach in Political Science. It seeks to make political Science a real Science. It originated in 1925 but became popular in the USA after the second World War. David Easton, Robert Dahl, Gabriel Almond are important supporters of this approach. It studies political behaviour of people by using Scientific methods of data collection. It is a protest against the Traditional Approach.
Question 6.
Post – Behaviouralism.
Answer:
Post – Behaviouralism is a reaction to Behaviouralism. It brought a change of perspective in political science. Post behaviouralism considered ethics and values as equally important along with the facts and methods.
Question 7.
Master Science.
Answer:
Aristotle used the term ‘Politics’ to designate the science of the state. He called ‘Politics’ a “Master Science” as it covered almost all the activities of Individuals in Society that includes Political and Social Institutions.
Question 8.
Aristotle.
Answer:
The Ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle is regarded as the Father of Political Science because of his objective and scientific study of the affairs of the government and politics. Aristotle used the term ‘Politics’ to designate the science of the state. He called politics a Master Science. He was the disciple of Plato.