Scope of Political Science

As political scientists never arrived at a university accepted definition of political science, the scope and subject matter of political science have always remained a matter for debate. Scope of political science consequently depends on how one defines the subject.

The traditional or classical political thinkers defined political science as the science of the state. Political science to them had been primarily a study of the state. As Garner says “Political Science begins and ends with the state.” Consequently in classical political science, elements of the state, its origin, nature, structure, functions and ends remain the primary concern of political analysis. Study of political philosophy is also an integral part of this variety of political science.

Population, territory, government and sovereignty are accepted as basic constituents of a state. Analysis of population and territory involves analysis of citizenship. Rights, duties and liberties of citizens naturally fall within the jurisdiction of Political Science. Analysis of government makes different theories of governmental functions and organisations an integral part of the study of Political Science. Analysis of sovereignty of the state inevitably involves the study of power, both formal and informal. Laws through which state’s sovereign authority is expressed, also fall within the purview of Political science.

Analysis of the origin of the state leads to the study of different theories of state origin – both speculative and historical. Theories of Divine origin and social contract are examples of speculative theories whereas theories of force or evolution are historical theories of state origin.

Analysis of nature and structure of the state involves the study of different kinds of state, such as a monarchy or republic. It also is concerned with the study of government as an integral part of the state. Naturally, different components of government, the executive, the legislature and the judiciary are also included in the study of political science. Different types of government such as the unitary or federal, Cabinet or Presidential fall within the scope of political analysis. Study of government is also intertwined with the study of such things as public opinion and political parties which are outside the formal structure of the state but which are very relevant to the operations of government.

Finally, classical political science deals with the ends of the state. As a result, study of political philosophy becomes an integral part of the study of political science, adding an ideal dimension to it.

Modern political scientists look upon the discipline as essentially a study of power relationships between individuals and groups within the state. Thus all mechanism such as pressure groups through which power is achieved, distributed and destroyed also become integral parts of political analysis. Thus modern political scientists add a new dimension to political science, which may be identified as power dimension. Modern political scientists look upon the state as basically a human grouping in the larger context of human society. Hence as inter-group bargain for power is a subject-matter of political science, similarly inter-state power relationship i.e. international relation also has become an inseparable part of political science.

In conclusion, one may say that the scope of Political Science is what the classical and modern political scientists consider it to be. The UNESCO has summed it up as consisting of (i) Political Theory (ii) Political Institutions (iii) Parties and Public opinion and (iv) International Relations.