WHAT IS POLITICAL SCIENCE?

Political Science is one of the Social Sciences. It is the subject that deals with study of politics.

It can simply be put as the Science of Politics.

This brings us to two important words: Science and Politics.

What is Science?

Science is defined as “a systematically organized body of knowledge on a particular subject”.

What is Politics?

• Activity of state or any of its organs

Examples: Making laws, executing these laws, protection of individuals, etc.

• Activity of man towards the state

Examples: Filing grievances, giving feedback on policy matters, voting, etc.

• Activity of a state towards other states

Examples: Signing treaties with other states, engaging in war and peaceful activities etc.

These activities can be physical as well as mental. For example: the theories and philosophy revolving around the state and its activities.

Therefore, politics is an activity with state as the central actor.

However, politics originated even before the formation of the state and will continue even if the state discontinues or disappears.

• Firstly, before the formation of a state, certain political activities were essential, which have contributed for the formation of the state.
• Secondly,They may continue even after the fall of the state, because, these activities will aim at a replacement of state with a better organisation or will still have to do the functions of the state, even during its absence.

Therefore politics as a physical and mental activity existed and will remain to exist with or without the state, but still will remain, related to the state.

So we arrive arrive at this comprehensive definition of Political Science:

“Political Science is a systematic study that deals with all the matters -theoretical and practical, what is and what ought to be (real and ideal), actual and hypothetical, past, present and future, – related to State, relationship between human and the state, state and the state as well” Annapurna Krishjeev.