SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

(1) Imparting Knowledge of the State:

However, the primary aim of the study of Political Science is to inculcate knowledge of the State, its origin,
nature, structure and functions. Knowledge about the State is of great significance to modern man.

(2) Imparting Knowledge of government and administration:

The administrators, political leaders and diplomats, who conduct the affairs of the State, also require sound
knowledge of Political Science in order to perform their functions with efficiency. An administrator who has
no knowledge of Political Science is bound to be; i failure. The principles and norms established In the
scholars in political science are of immense utility and value to the executives, legislators and judges.
Political science is said to be a science of statesmanship and leadership.

(3) Imparting Knowledge about the world:

However, apart from these utilitarian considerations, the acquisition of know ledge of political science
enriches one's mind and widens one's intellectual horizon. In order to know what is happening in the world
around us at least an elementary knowledge of political science is necessary. In the modern age an individual
cannot lead an isolated life. Each country has to maintain relations with other countries of the world.

(4) Creation of democratic values:

The study of Political Science has assumed special importance in modern times in all democratic countries. The
success of democracy depends upon the political consciousness of its people. The study of political science
makes people conscious of their rights and duties. It also makes them vigilant unless the citizens of a country
are vigilant, alert, intelligent and patriotic; there is no possibility of successful working of democracy in that
country. It is rightly said that "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty".

(5) Creation of good citizenship:

The study of Political Science is valuable for creating good citizenship and securing unity of the nation. It
makes citizens conscious of national, objectives and goals. Laski said that good citizenship implies "the
contribution of one's instructed judgment to public good". It can be developed by the study of political
science. Political Science teaches the lessons and virtues of good citizenship.

(6) Lesson of co-operation and toleration:

Political science also teaches the lesson of co-operation, adjustment and toleration. Society cannot
prosper without cooperation. Man should learn how to co-operate and adjust himself with his fellow-beings.
People of all walks of life should co-operate for the better development of the country. Toleration is also
necessary in society.

NATURE

Politics is not only a mere institution of governance but also a mechanism for achieving societal goals.
Political science is a social science concerned with the theory and practice of politics and the description
and analysis of political systems and political behaviour. It includes matters concerning the allocation and
transfer of power in decision making, the roles and systems of governance including governments and
international organizations, political behavior and public policies.

Political science is thus a study of the state in the past, present and future;

of political organization, political processes and political functions;

of political institutions and political theories.

Political science has several subfields, including: political theory, public policy, national politics,
international relations, human rights, environment politics and comparative politics.

SCOPE OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

Political science is the most important branch of social science and its chief concern is with the political
behaviour of individuals, groups of individuals, agencies, institutions, organisation et al. Since all these are
subject to change and they are changing continuously the subject matter of political science is bound to
change, so also the scope of Political Science.

Now the interesting fact is that various scholars and political scientists have made sincere attempts to view
its scope from their respective angles and perspective resulting in wide variations in the treatment of scope.

A renowned author has analysed the scope of Political Science from four different angles and these are:
Politics as the art of government, politics as public affairs, politics as compromise and consensus, politics as
power and distribution of resources. But this categorization of scope of political science cannot be treated
as final because the emergence of new phenomena and situation will Impact the decision making process of
government, government and governed relation, attitude of people towards politics and government, people’s
ideas about the functions of state etc.

No serious thinker can neglect all “these issue whilst analysing politics. Two or three decades ago even a
well-versed political scientist paid little thought and attention to globalization and neo-liberalism. But today
these two concepts have covered a significant portion of the subject while analysing the scope, we must note
it.

DEFINITION OF STATE

A state is a compulsory political organization with a centralized government that maintains a monopoly of the
legitimate use of force within a certain geographical territory.

Many human societies have been governed by states for millennia, however for most of pre-history people lived
in stateless societies. The first states arose about 5,500 years ago in conjunction with rapid growth of cities,
invention of writing, and codification of new forms of religion. Over time, a variety of different forms
developed, employing a variety of justifications for their existence (such as divine right, the theory of
the social contract, etc.). Today, however, the modern nation-state is the predominant form of state to which
people are subject.

ELEMENTS OF STATE

1. Population:

The state is a human institution. So population is its primary element. There is no hard and fast rule about
population. The ancient Greek writers like Plato and Aristotle favoured a small population. According to
Plato, an ideal state should have a population of 5040.

2. Territory:

A definite and more or less permanent territory is also regarded as an essential element of the state. In
modern times, the citizens are bound together by residence on a common territory. Land, water and air space
comprise the territory of a state.

As in population, so in territory, no limit can be laid down. Small states and large ones exist side by side. We
have tiny states like San Marino with an area of less than twenty-five square miles. On the other hand, there
are giant states like the Russian Republic, China, U. S. A., and Australia with millions of square miles.

3. Government:

A people occupying a definite territory cannot form a state unless they are politically organized i.e., unless
they possess a government. Government is the political organization of the state. It is the concrete and visible
instrument of state power.

According to Garner, government is the agency through which "common policies are determined and by which
common affairs are regulated." The state wills and acts through the government. Government must be
effective; it must possess the capacity to maintain order and enforce obedience. Without a government there
would be lawlessness and anarchy and ultimately the state would be dissolved.

Government consists of three organs, namely, legislature, executive and judiciary. The legislature makes
laws; the executive enforces laws while the judiciary adjudicates cases or disputes.

4. Sovereignty:

By far the most important characteristic of the state is its sovereignty. It is the characteristic which
distinguishes the state from all other associations. It denotes the supreme power or the final authority from
which there is no appeal.

Sovereignty has two aspects internal and external. Internally viewed, the state has supreme power over all
individuals and associations within its fixed area. It can compel obedience of its people to its laws and
commands. Externally viewed, the state is free from control of any foreign state or alien rule. Before
independence India was not a state as it was ruled by the British.

KINDS OF GOVERNMENT

DEMOCRACY

Modern governments are complex and are shaped by historical and political events like wars and colonialism.
A democracy is governed of the people, by the people and for the people. Here citizens of the country can run
for public office. This means the boys in the street get to decide who is in charge of what equipment is in the
pile. Of course, each boy will nominate the person who best represents his interests.

Democratic elections could be city-wide for municipal governance, state-wide for state governance or nation-
wide for central governance. When the population goes to vote, they vote for a candidate in their area. When
the candidate wins, the political party he belongs to also wins. The party with maximum votes forms the
government.
What happens here? People enjoy freedom.

DICTATORSHIP

In contrast, a dictatorship where a single individual has gained power through force and everyone has to
follow his policies. He’s the big bully. The boys have little to no voice in such a system. Oftentimes the advisors
who control the equipment kit are his close friends. Examples of dictators are Adolf Hitler in Germany and
Fidel Castro of Cuba.

Sometimes you have what is known as a ‘benevolent dictatorship.’ This is when the dictator maintains his
position as the head of the country for the sake of the country instead of self interest. Most dictatorships
like to portray themselves in the international community as benevolent but it is not always so.
What happens here? Many people are unhappy in this system.

MONARCHY

A monarchy is another form of government where there is one head of state. In this system a king or queen
rules the country for as long as they are alive. The crown is inherited, usually by the first born of the family.

In earlier days, monarchs used to have absolute powers and owned all the public land. Pharaohs for example,
claimed to be representatives of the Gods on earth. But nowadays, even democracies like Great Britain,
Sweden, and Spain have kings who are nominal heads of state. Still it is their signature that turns a bill into a
law.
What happens here? Things work well if the king is a good sportsman and cares about street cricket by
choosing the right boys to be prefect of the equipment kit.

THEOCRACY

In countries where any religious institution holds power over the king, the form of government is called a
theocracy. Several Islamic nations fall into this category.
What happens here? It’s like saying everyone must eat cucumber sandwiches for lunch every day.

TOTALITARIAN

There are totalitarian governments where a single group of friends have had control of the pile of equipment
for decades. It is like dictatorship by a party instead of an individual. The regime maintains complete control
of the country by not allowing any other people to form a political party.

They control all aspects of a citizen’s public and private life through art, science, and educational
propaganda. The former Soviet Union and Vietnam are examples of totalitarian governments.
What happens here? It’s like having the same class prefect term after term.

REPUBLIC

Some nations are republics, such as the USA. It is a democratic model – people are elected
to government office by voters. It is however, headed by a single individual whose office is also elected by the
people – the President.

What happens here? This is nicer – everyone gets to be prefect for a while.

ANARCHY

And finally, a country that is usually in the throes of a war or civil unrest and no functioning government is
said to be in a state of anarchy.

What happens here? This is somewhat like the snack at someone’s place after a particularly gruelling game of
street cricket– mum has a tough time cleaning up afterwards.

Project
Ask your teacher to divide you into teams. The size of each team will depend on how many people are in the class,
of course. Each team must pick a form of government and get to rule for the day. Discuss what happens in the
classroom during the rule of each government. Is the room cleaner? Is the blackboard / whiteboard kept
ready for the teacher’s use? Is there less bullying? Which rule is more fun for ALL?