Topic 2: Introduction to Politics and Political Science

• “Man is by nature a political animal.” - Aristotle
• The term “politics” came from the Greek word “polis or city-state”
• The term “politics” came from the Greek word “polis or city-state”
• Politics is the activity through which people make, preserve, and amend the general rules under which they live.
• Politics is linked to the phenomena of conflict and cooperation
• The essence of social existence is politics and that two or more men interacting with one another are invariably involved in a political relationship.
• Political science is the study of the state in all its elements, aspects, and relationships such as its government, its organs and institutions which the state functions.
• Political science is the study of the state in all its elements, aspects, and relationships such as its government, its organs and institutions which the state functions.
• Political Science - It is also a systematic study of politics.
• Political Science - It is also concerned with the associations of human beings into a body politic or a political community (organized under government and law).
• Political theory - relating to the origin, form, behavior, and purposes of the state are dealt with (De Leon, 2008).
• Political theory - A political thought which explains the political ideas and beliefs of a group of people (Ayson and Reyes, 2000).
• Public law - this refers to the constitutional and legal principles/rules governing sovereign states, governments and individuals in their relationship with one another (Ayson and Reyes, 2000).
• Public law - This includes: (a) organization of governments; (b) the limitations upon government authority; (c) the powers and duties of governmental offices and officers; and (d) the obligations of one state to another (De Leon, 2008).
• Government - this deals with the government set-up of a state on both national and local levels.
• Government - It covers the state constitution, laws, citizenship, structures of the various levels of government, the election process, the judicial system, political parties and interest groups, and foreign affairs (Ayson and Reyes, 2000).
• Public administration - This is focused on the methods and techniques used in the actual management of state affairs by the executive, legislative, and judicial branch of government (De Leon, 2008).
• Public administration - It also has become an important machinery with expanding activities and functions including the determination and adoption of appropriate measures pursuant to the rule-making power of legislative bodies (Ayson and Reyes, 2000).
• Scope of politics and political science

  • Political theory
  • Public law
  • Government
  • Public administration
• The history is past politics and the politics present history.
• The historical approach employs knowledge of the past to interpret present and probable developments in political phenomena.
• History - Analysis of the causes and factors that influence the state’s growth and development, thus, knowledge of historical foundations will help political thinkers to analyze and describe present political phenomena, and enable them to provide direction and meaning for the future.
• Political science without history is hollow and baseless; history without political science has no fruit; and political science without history has no root (Dr. J. Seeley)
• Economic conditions affect the organization, development, and activities of states, which in turn modify or even prescribe economic conditions.
• Economics - It is a branch of study that concerns the problem of allocating scarce resources to attain optimum satisfaction of society’s unlimited wants.
• Economics - To gain insights on how the government shapes and determines economic policies on the use of resources in order to achieve the best of national goals - the economic welfare of the people.
• Sociology and Anthropology - Concerned with the origins and nature of social control and governmental authority, with the abiding influences of race, culture upon society, and with the patterns of collective human behavior.
• Sociology and Anthropology - The study of social problems which are also problems of the government such as investigations and inquiries on crime, marital relations problems, juvenile delinquency, housing problems, and among others may later become interesting and basic subjects of legislation.
• A government cannot become effective without at least a measure of legitimacy; it cannot retain its legitimacy unless it becomes effective (Pennock and Smith)
• A government cannot become effective without at least a measure of legitimacy; it cannot retain its legitimacy unless it becomes effective (Pennock and Smith)
• Sociology and Anthropology - A government cannot become effective without at least a measure of legitimacy; it cannot retain its legitimacy unless it becomes effective (Pennock and Smith)
• Psychology - This promotes the studies on mental and emotional processes motivating the political behavior of individuals and groups.
• Psychology - This can also be appreciated in the study of public opinion which is influenced by (2) factors: propaganda and pressure groups.
• Geography - This discusses aspects related to external political problems, national power, and trade relations.
• Geopolitics is a science which emphasizes that the domestic and foreign policies of a state are dependent upon it physical environment, thus, the location of a state is an important factor in its growth, development, and survival.
• Philosophy - Concepts in framing constitutions and laws.
• Philosophy - This involves political theories such as the origin of state and democracy.
• Philosophy - It also presented a man an alternative vision of the state.
• To discover the principles that should be adhered to in public affairs and to study the operations of government in order to demonstrate what is good, to criticize that is bad or inefficient, and to suggest improvements. (Essentials of politics and political science)
• Findings and conclusions may be of immense practical use to constitution-makers, legislators, executives, and judges who need models of norms that can be applied to immediate situations. (Essentials of politics and political science)