A PROJECT

ON

Approaches To Political Science

{Submitted as a partial fulfillment of the requirements for ballb (hons) 5year}

{ Integrated Cource }

Session 2022-23

Submitted on : 25th Jan 2023

Submitted By: Keshav Narayan Harsh Submitted To:

Roll no. 66 Dr. Diptima Shukla

Semester 1 ( Faculty Of political science )

Section A

University Five Year Law College

University Of Rajasthan ,Jaipur

 Table Of Contents

Declaration of originality ......................................................................................1

Acknowledgements ............................................................................................... 2

Certificate ............................................................................................................. 3

Chapter -1: What Is Political Science ? .............................................................. 4-6

Chapter-2 : Approaches To Political Science ....................................................7-13

Chapter -3: Conclusion ....................................................................................... 14

Bibliography ....................................................................................................... 15
DECLARATION

I, Kesav Narayan Harsh, hereby, declare that this project titled “Approaches to Political Science
” is based on the original research work carried out by me under the guidance and supervision of
Dr. Diptima Shukla.

The interpretations put forth are based on my reading and understanding of the original texts.
The books, articles and websites etc. which have been relied upon by me have been duly
acknowledged at the respective places in the text.

For the present project which I am submitting to the university, no degree or diplomas been
conferred on me before, either in this or in any other university.

Date: 25th Jan 2023

Signature

Roll No. 66

Semester: I-A

1
ACKNOWLEDGMENT

I have written this project, “approaches to political sciences” under the supervision of Dr.
Diptima Shukla Faculty of Political Science, University Five Year Law College, University of
Rajasthan, Jaipur. His valuable suggestions herein have not only helped me immensely in
making this work but also in developing an analytical approach this work.

I found no words to express my sense of gratitude for Director Dr. Sanjula Thanvi’s constant
encouragement at every step.

I am extremely grateful to librarian and library staff of the college for the support and
cooperation extended by them from time to time.

………………………………………………

2
CERTIFICATE

Dr. Diptima Shukla

Faculty of Political Science

University Five Year Law College

University of Rajasthan, Jaipur

This is to certify that Kirti Shrivastava , student of semester 1 A of University Five Year Law
College , University of Rajasthan, Jaipur has carried out the project entitled “Approaches To
Political Science” Under my supervision and guidance. It is an investigation report of a minor
project . the student has completed research in my stipulated time and according to the norms
prescribed for the purpose.

3
 Chapter 1
What Is Political Science ?

The term which appears quite appropriate and which covers the meaning and the scope of both
the designation – “political philosophy” and “politics” and which embraces the range of both
theoretical politics and applied politics is ‘political science’. It is the most comprehensive term
which is widely accepted . it deals with both Theoretical and Applied Politics. On the theoretical
side it enters into the origin and nature of the state and on the practical side it deals with the
structure , function and form of political institutions and discuss the working of governments.
Paul Janet has given a very exact definition of Political Science. In his words, “political science
is that part of study which treats of the foundation of the state and the principles of
Government.” Bluntschli a famous Swiss writer , has also wisely remarked in this connection.
He says , “ politics is more an art than science which has to deal with the practical conduct or
guidance of the state where as Political Science is concerned with the foundation of the state , its
essentials nature , its forms and manifestations and its developments.” Thus it is quite clear that
the term ,Political Science , is the most appropriate designation for this science that conducts the
scientific study of the State and Government. 1

Political science, occasionally called politology, is a discipline of social science which deals
with systems of governance, and the analysis of political activities, political thoughts,
associated constitutions and political behavior.2

Political science comprises numerous subfields, including comparative politics, political

economy, international relations, political theory, public administration, public policy,
and political methodology. Furthermore, political science is related to, and draws upon, the fields

1
Agarwal, R.C. :Political theory : S.Chand Publication,2018
2
Definition from lexico powered by oxford univerdity press .retrieved 23 february 2020 .

4
of economics, law, sociology, history, philosophy, human geography, journalism, political
anthropology, and social policy.

Comparative politics is the science of comparison and teaching of different types of

constitutions, political actors, legislature and associated fields, all of them from an intrastate
perspective. International relations deals with the interaction between nation-states as well
as intergovernmental and transnational organizations. Political theory is more concerned with
contributions of various classical and contemporary thinkers and philosophers.3

Political science is methodologically diverse and appropriates many methods originating

in psychology, social research and cognitive neuroscience. Approaches
include positivism, interpretivism, rational choice theory, behaviouralism, structuralism, post-
structuralism, realism, institutionalism, and pluralism. Political science, as one of the social
sciences, uses methods and techniques that relate to the kinds of inquiries sought: primary
sources, such as historical documents and official records, secondary sources such as scholarly
journal articles, survey research, statistical analysis, case studies, experimental research, and
model building.

Definition of potitical science

(a) According to Paul Janet , “political science is the part of social science which treats of
the foundations of the state and the principles of Government”

(b) Bluntschli believes that “political science is a science which is concerned with the state
endeavours to understand and comprehend the state in its essential nature, various forms,
manifestations and developments.”

(c) Garris, famous german author is of the opinion that “political science deals with the
origin , development , purpose, and all political problems of the state .”

3
https://www.polisci.washington.edu/what-political-science

5
 (d) Gettle says, “ it is, thus, a study in the past , present and future , of political organizations
and political theories.”

(e) Accoding to lord Acon, “political science is concerned with state and with conditions
essential for its development.”

(f) Dr. Garner believes that “political science begins and ends with state.”

(g) According to leecock, “ political science deals with government.”

(h) Seelay says , “political science investigates the phenomena of government as political
economy deals with wealth , biology with life, algebra and numbers and geometry with
space and magnitude .”4

(i) As new approaches to the study of political science has been made with interaction of
new forces , Catlin defines political science as the study of “the act of human and social
control” or “the study of control relationship of wills.” There on the other hand german
writes who study it from sociological point of view and they regard it as “the problem of
power and social control.”5

If we closely study and analyse all the definations given above , we come to the
conclusion that the main subject of the study of political science is the state and
government.

4
Aggarwal,R.C. : Political Theory, S.Chand and company limited,2018
5
Robson, W.A.., ‘the university teaching of social sciences ‘ : political science (unesco)

6
 Chapter-2
Approaches To Political Science

Most authors do not make a distinction between the term approach and method to the study
of political science as they are synonyms. However in view of Dr J C Johari, „an approach is a
way of looking at and then explaining a given phenomenon which includes everything related to
the collection and selection of evidence necessary for investigation and analysis of hypotheses.
Methods on the other hand is a way of organising a theory for application to data. According to
Salvadori, method refers to the technical devices used for gathering data and the points of view
of the specialists. According to Van Dyke, “approaches consist of criteria for selecting problems
and relevant data whereas methods are procedures for getting and utilizing data”. Accordingly
approaches to the study of political science may be classified under two categories: the
traditional approach and the modern approach.6

In this chapter we will discuss about approaches to study political science.

Political problems have been subjected to different kinds of analysis since the beginning of
political thought. The phenomenon of state and the institutions and processes related to them
have aroused interest in thinking men. Various explanatory methods have been adopted to
enhance our understanding of the things political. These are called approaches. Approaches to
political analysis constitute a variety of orientations to looking at the world of politics. These are
useful in ordering the apparently disorganized and fragmented political phenomenon. Using a
particular set of concepts an approach seeks to provide a framework for explanation and
prediction.7

6
https://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/Political-Science/notes/political-theory-meaning-and-
approaches.html
7
http://www.chronicpoverty.org/uploads/publication_files/toolbox-2.4.pdf

7
Approaches can be classified into

(a) traditional

(b) modern.

The traditional-modern dichotomy is also based on a distinction regarding modes of analysis.

Philosophical, historical and institutional modes of analysis are associated with traditional
thinking. Modern approach to the study of political science is supposed to the value free,
empirical and behavioural.

Besides these two, there is also a Marxist approach towards political analysis which has assumed
considerable significance. It has its distinctive character in terms of methods and categories of
analysis.

Traditional Approach8

Traditional Approach is an amalgam of views on the nature and functions of the state in human
society expressed generally in philosophical and ethical terms. Since the days of Plato and
Aristotle the "great issues of politics" have revolved round the organization and operations of the
state and its relationships with society.

Following are the salient features traditionalist thinking-

(1) Accent on large questions- The issues raised and debated in traditional thought are "great
issues", to quote Lestie, Lipson. What would be the criteria for citizenship? How should
authority be organised and used? What should be the functions of the state and its legitimate
domain. These and similar other large questions appear in classical political thinking with a
degree or regularity.9

8
Gauba ,op (2010), an introduction to political theory , macmillion pubishers , delhi
9
https://www.kkhsou.in/main/polscience/approaches_polscience.html

8
(2) Normative overtone- Traditional thinking is characterised by a normative orientation. It
did not make only distinction between political and ethical questions. As far back as Plato,
Political thinkers have been concerned with 'What should be the size of the state', and 'What
is an ideal state' etc. Concepts like freedom and order have often been expressed in
preferential terms-as things that are most desired. In describing human nature or state of
nature Locke or Roussean have brought in their own views and preference, as distinguished
10
from historical anthropological facts.

(3) Philosophical Orientation- The philosophical approach takes in all aspects of man's
political activities, and has as its goal a statement of underlying principles concerning those
activities. It is comprehensive in scope and imaginative in spirit. Actual political activities
have often been judged against ideals postulated as state of nature, natural law, ideal polity
and so on. Plato's Republic, Hobbes Leviathan and other similar treatises represent a
tradition in political thinking that has always searched for deeper general principles
underlying the actual political activities.

(4) Legal Institutional bias- The institutional approach has been closely associated with a
legalistic orientation to government. Emphasis has been placed concurrently on laws, rules
and regulations that go to the determine the structure and processes of governmental
institutions (eg. legislature, court etc.) The Legal institutional approach has yielded valuable
studies on the formal and structural aspects of government. Its empirical character has
proved beneficial for political inquiries into the realities of governance. Methodically,
however, it has relied heavily on description rather than explanation, and has avoided deeper
questions concerning the creation, existence and operations of institutions.

Traditional approach with all the above qualities had made significant contribution to our
understanding of government and politics. It cannot be said to be historically specific. Even
now much of political thinking and governmental researches continue to have the
traditionalist orientation which demonstrates its intrinsic strength and value.

10
https://www.iilsindia.com/study-material/408778_1599930677.pdf

9
Modern Approach
As a reaction against the traditional approaches and in search of more scientific knowledge
about politics. Political Scientists have in recent times come out with a variety of
approaches. The first break through came with the emergence of the behavioural movement
in political science.
In the context of the steady development in the natural sciences and gradual sophistications
in the social sciences, a new awakening took place in political science roughly after the
second would war. A new movement was ushered in by a group of political scientists,
mostly in the USA, who expressed their dissatisfaction with the traditional approaches to
political science. This new brand of political scientists invited attention to the developments
in other social science such as sociology, psychology, anthropology etc. from which, they
felt, important lessons could be learnt by the political scientists. They were unhappy with the
study of traditional political sciences which did very little to apply the scientific and
statistical tools and methods of analysis in order to reach high level generalisation. Out of
this anger and #4 unhappiness of the new political scientists was born what is now
commonly known as behaviouralism in political science.

Behaviouralism
The essence of behaviouralist approach to political science is its central focus on political
behaviour. According to Heinz Evlan, the study of political behaviour in concerned with the
acts, attitude, preferences, and expectations of man in political contents. It is one of the
fundamental characteristics of the behavioural approach to political science that the unit of
analysis is the individual person in a political situation. Thus the behaviouralist studies the
behaviour of individuals whose interctions go to constitute group actions or collectivities.
For the first time, behaviouralism marked a systematic attempt to integrate political science
with the other behavioral sciences and there have been deliberate efforts to draw freely from
the store of knowledge of these sciences. Initially, the behavioural movement started more as
a reform movement intended to purge political science of into traditional role. Very soon
techniques, procedures and anlytical sophistications were introduced.
The intellectual foundations of behaviouralism have been slimmed up by David Easton as-

10
(1) Regularities
(2) verification
(3) techniques
(4) quantifications
(5) values
(6) systematization
(7) pure science
(8) integration

Post Behaviouralism
For a time the behavioural movement created a crisis within the discipline of political
science. It almost divided the political scientists into two warring camps of behaviouralists
and traditionalists. Fortunately, there is increasing awareness among the #5 political
scientists that the subject matter of the discipline is so complex that it is futile to think of its
systematic and orderly study with the help of single approach only, Also, a behaviouralist
must be modest enough to acknowledge that the study of man in the social context is a far
more complex pursuit than the study of objects in the natural sciences Behaviouralism has
proved its worth, yet it has its own limitations as well. In 1969, David Easton declared the
end of the behavioural revolution and the beginning of a new era in the study of politics; an
era popularly called Post Behaviouralism. Its main thesis in
(1) Relevance and
(2) Action. Relevance stands for orientation towards the brute realities of politics Mere
sophistication of methods and techniques is not enough. Political analysis must be turned to
social realities and social change. Otherwise, it is bound to be static and conservative. The
action part of post-behaviouralism is an exhortation for bearing the responsibility of social
change through social action. The tenets of the post-behavioural revolution, as Easton
observes, form a 'credo of relevance'. The essence of post behaviouralism thus lies in a
challenge to abstract theorising by the behaviouralists to the exclusion of the study of
relevant problems which have appeared in recent times in the shape of serious social crises

11
 and conflicts such as population explosion, environmental pollution, the prospect of nuclear
holocaust and so on.
Other Approaches
• Structural Functional Approach
• Systems Analysis
(Note : These two topics will be explained independently)
• Communication Theory
• Group Approach - This approach seeks to interpret government policy in terms of pulls
and pressures of different groups in the society.
• Decision Making Approach
• Conflict Approach
• Public Choice and Political Economy Approach.11

Marxist Approach
The discussion on approaches is incomplete without the presentation of the Marxist view of
politics. Marxist approach to politics includes not only the writings of Marx, Engles and
Lenin but also those of a galaxy of later writers such as Rosa Luxemburg, Trotsky, Gramsci
and others.
The individual, according to Marx, is individual-in-society. Without the society, the
individual has no meaning. This is different from the liberal view of the individual as
atomised, insular, and self-contained.
Next is the concept of society and according to Marx, all societies in history have been class
societies. The contending classes from freeman and slave, patrician and plebian, lord and
serf, guildmaster and journeyman to bourgeoisie and proletariat in the epoch of capitalism
have stood in constant opposition to one another. All class societies are characterised by
domination and conflict which are based on specific, concrete features of their mode of
production. Class domination has been a historical process signifying a constant attempt on
the part of the dominant classes to maintain and extend their domination of the society.

11
https://www.iilsindia.com/study-material/304736_1599930722.pdf

12
 In the Marxian perspective, politics can be understood only with reference to the nature of
prevailing societal conflict and domination. Politics is thus conceived in terms of the specific
articulation of class struggle.
Politics, economics, culture and ideology are all inseparably intertwined. The forces of
production at a particular stage of historical development are matched by definite relations a
production that characterize the society. The relations of production taken together constitute
the economic foundation of the society. The legal and political institutions (superstructure)
stand on this 'real foundation" of economic structure.
The real nature of politics in the Marxist view, has to be understood from the hidden basis
of the entire social structure. #7 Conclusion To sum up, these different approached are not
always exclusive and self-contained explanation of politics. The plurality of approaches
shows the complexity of politics in realty which is not amenable to a single explanatory
model. Also, there approaches demonstrate the need for drawing on the conceptual assets of
many disciplines to explain political phenomena. All are important in their own ways.12

12
https://www.polisci.washington.edu/what-political-science

13
 Chapter -3

Conclusion

To sum up, these different approached are not always exclusive and self-contained
explanation of politics. The plurality of approaches shows the complexity of politics in
realty which is not amenable to a single explanatory model. Also, there approaches
demonstrate the need for drawing on the conceptual assets of many disciplines to explain
political phenomena. All are important in their own ways.

Summarizing the approaches of political science :

The stusy of political science ans in the process of search for political truth certain procedure
must be followed . these procedure are defined as approaches methods ,techniques and
strategies. Approaches to study political science are grouped as traditional and modern
approaches.
Traditional approaches : traditional approaches are value based. These approaches put the
emphasis on value more than facts. Advocate of this approaches believe that the study of
political science cannot and should not be purely scientific . they stated that in social
science such as facts values are closely realated with each other . in politics ,emphasis
should not be on the facts but on the moral quality of political event. There are huge number
of traditional approaches such as philosophical ,institutional , legal and historical
approaches.
Modern approaches: after studying politics thinker of the later stage felt the necessity to
study politics from a new perspective. Thus , to minimize the deficiencies of the traditional
approaches , various new approaches have been advocated by the new political thinkers .
these new approaches are regarded as the “modern approaches” to the study of political
science . modern approaches are fact based approaches . they lay emphasis on factual study
of political events and try to arrive at scientific and definite conclusion . the aim of modern
approaches is to replace normativism with emperism. Therefore modern approaches are
marked by empirical investigation of relevant data.

14
 Bibliography

Book reference
Aggarwal,R.C. : Political Theory, S.Chand and company limited,2018

Web reference
https://www.civilserviceindia.com/subject/Political-Science/notes/political-theory-meaning-
and-approaches.html
http://www.chronicpoverty.org/uploads/publication_files/toolbox-2.4.pdf
https://www.iilsindia.com/study-material/408778_1599930677.pdf
https://www.iilsindia.com/study-material/304736_1599930722.pdf
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Political_science
https://www.ru.nl/politicalscience/profile/what-political-0/

15