Scope of political science Scope of political science is to study the past things that happened and use it correct the present and determine what the future will say about.

(1).Study of the form of the State as exits at present… (2).Study of the State in historical perspective… (3). Study of the ideal form of the State… (4). Behavioral concepts.

(A) Study of the Modern form of State(Study of the form of the State as exits at present)… (1). Ends of State… (2). Study of government as a means… (3).Study of different forms of government… (4). Study of relationship between the people and the government.

(B) Study of State in Historical Perspective.(1). When and how the State came into existence… (2). State in different Ages… (3). Study of the change in thinking in different ages… (4).Study of the Behavior of Bureaucracy… (5). Study of Behavioral concept… (6). Study of the methods of election and voting behavior…(7).Study of political parties and pressure groups… (8). Study of the Social Economic and Geographical conditions…(9). Study of Developing Nation… (10). Study of International politics & International Organization.

1. Political Theory:It deals with the definition and meaning of fundamental concepts of Political Science like state, government, law, liberty, equality, justice, sovereignty, separation of powers, methods of representation, forms of government, grounds of political obligation and various ideologies.A clear understanding of these basic terms and concepts is essential for the study of Political Science. A student of Political Science must start his lessons with political theory.2. Political Philosophy:

It is concerned with the theoretical and speculative consideration of the fundamental principles used by Political Science. Eminent political philosophers like Plato, Aristotle, Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, Hegel, Mill, Marx, and Gandhi have expressed their views on nature, functions and ends of the state and government.On the basis of their ideas, political theory defines political concepts. An important function of political philosophy has been to project values and ideals which political institutions strive hard to attain.3. Political Institutions:It is also concerned with the study of formal political institutions such as the state and the instrument through which it acts the government. Hence, the scope of Political Science extends to the study of the organisation and working of formal institutions like the legislature, the executive and the judiciary, and in these days, of the electorate and even the administration.The study of constitutions and political institutions of various countries (comparative politics) enables the political scientists to evolve sound and workable principles for the conduct of government.4. Political Dynamics:The term refers to the forces and processes at work in government and politics. They influence and explain political action. They include the study of political parties, pressure groups, interest groups, lobbies, public opinion, propaganda and political semantics (meaning of words) which influence and manipulate political behaviour and attitudes of individuals and groups.More recently, there has been a trend to extend the scope of Political Science into new areas of empirical investigation into political behaviour. Drawing upon the resources of other social sciences, Political Science has developed not only new techniques of analysis but new concepts like political culture, political socialisation and political communication to explain political phenomena.5. Public Administration:Public Administration is a major branch of Political Science and is emerging as an independent discipline in recent times. It deals with the organization, control and coordination of administrative machinery, personnel administration, financial administration, public relations, management, administrative law and adjudication etc. It also covers the study of local self-governing institutions like corporations, municipalities and Panchayati Raj institutions.6. International Relations and International Law:

International Law is a body of general principles and specific rules which regulate the relationship among states and international institutions. The study of international relations is a growing area of Political Science.It covers such important subjects as diplomacy, international politics, foreign policies and international organizations. In view of world peace, cooperation and even 'world government,' the need for strong international laws and sound international relations can hardly be exaggerated.

7. Relation between the State and the Individual:The perennial and central problem, with which Political Science is concerned, is to establish proper relationship between the state and individuals. The state guarantees certain rights and freedoms to individuals and regulates their conduct and action through the legal system.The proper adjustment between the authority and power of the state and liberty of the individuals is a knotty problem. Political Science deals with the proper sphere of state action, the limits of political control and the area of individual freedom.Thus, the scope of Political Science has been expanding in recent times. The social life of man has a direct or indirect influence on his political life. Political Science enters any sphere of life which has political implications.Modern Political Science in the era of post- behaviouralism deals with both empirical facts and value preferences. It is a combination of both science and philosophy. Hence it is a dynamic social science and its scope is ever expanding.

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Scope of Political Science:(a) Study of State and Government:

Since Political Science is the science of the State and the

Government, it conducts the scientific study of both the

State and the Government. It deals with the nature and

formation of the State and tries to understand various forms

and functions of the Government, just as the scholars differ

in regard to the definition of Political Science, so they differ

in regard to its scope too.

On the one hand Bluntschli, Garris and others believe that

the scope of Political Science is restricted to the study of the

State alone but on the other hand there are scholars like

Leacock, who attach more importance to the study of the

Government than to that of the State. Leacock maintains

that Political Science deals only with the Government.

Like Leacock Karl W. Deutsch says, "Because Politics is the

making of decision by public means, it is primarily

concerned with government, that is, with the direction and

self-direction of large communities of the people."

The term State does not occur in his definition of Political

Science, whereas Laski, Gilchrist and Gettell are of the

opinion that the scope of Political Science includes the study

of both the State and the Government. Bluntschli says,

"Political Science is a science which is concerned with the

State, endeavors to understand and comprehend the State in

its essential nature, various forms, manifestations and

developments."

But according to Janet, a French writer, "It is that part of

social science which treats of the foundations of the State

and the principles of the Government." If we closely and

carefully study Political Science, we come to know that

despite the difference found between the State and the

Government, the scope of one cannot be separated from that

of the other. The State is an agency under which the

Government functions.

The State is imaginary and it is the Government that gives it

a practical shape. Therefore, one is the complement of the

other. The existence of the State is not possible in the

absence of the Government. This is the reason why Laski,

Gilchrist, Gattell and others have included the study of both

the State and the Government in the scope of Political

Science.

(b) Study of Associations and Institutions:

The scope of Political science also includes the study of

associations and institutions. In this connection Dr. Garner

has very aptly observed: "In organised way the fundamental

problems of Political Science include, first, an investigation

of the origin and the nature of the State, second, an inquiry

into nature, history and forms of political institutions and

third, deduction there-from, so far as possible, of laws of

political growth and development."

In other words, we study in Political Science the origin and

the development of the State and many other political

institutions and associations. There are many types of

institutions in a country or in a society and the State an

institution that stands supreme — controls all of them. These

institutions are useful to the nation and have their utility in

society. This is the reason why we study, in Political Science,

these institutions along with the State.

(c) Study of National and International Problems and

the Political Study of Man:

The term Political Science is intimately related to the

English word "Politics" which itself has been derived from

the Greek word "Polis". It stands for a city-state. In ancient

times Greece was divided into small city-states and the

affairs related to those city-states were known as Politics.

But now the meaning of t he word "Politics" is not

considered to be so narrow. These days Political Science is

not limited to the city-states only but it deals with the

national and the international problems. Despite this it will

not be wrong to say that the scope of Political Science

includes the political study of man also, otherwise the study

of Political Science will remain incomplete.

Herman Heller has laid stress on this point in 'Encyclopedia

of Social Sciences'. He writes, "It may be said that the

character of Political Science in all of its parts is determined

by its basic pre-supposition regarding man."

Explaining the scope of Political Science, Burgess has

pointed out that the modern demands of land-extension,

representative government and national unity have made

Political Science not only the science of political

independence but that of state sovereignty also. According

to Laski, “The study of Political Science concerns itself with

the life of man in relation to organised states.”

(d) Study of Past, Present and Future Development of

State:

The scope of Political Science includes the study of the past,

present and future developments of the State. Dealing with

the scope of Political Science Gettell writes: "In its historical

aspects, Political Science deals with the origin of the state

and the development of political theories in the past....In

dealing with the present it attempts to describe and classify

existing political institutions and ideas. Political Science also

looks to the future, to the improving political organisations

and activities in the light of changing conditions and

changing ethical standards.”

It is thus a study of the State in the past, present and future;

of political organisation and political function; of political

institutions and political theories. In other words Political

Science attempts to explain the meaning and the essential,

nature of the State and deals with the laws of its progress

and development.

It throws a shade of light on its origin, form, structure and

its dealings with other States and international

organisations. The study of Political Science also includes a

historical survey of the origin of the State and its evolution.

Its scope is not restricted to the study of the past and the

present alone, but it directs the future course of the

development of the State. It gives timely suggestions with a

view to improving the political institutions and modifying

political activities so as to meet the new demands of the

changing world.

A close and careful analysis of Political Science reveals to us

that its scope embraces the study of both the State and the

Government. But the existence of the State is not possible in

the absence of Government. The State is imaginary and it is

the Government that gives the State concrete shape. There

can be no State without Government.

Laski goes to the extent of maintaining that the State in

reality means the Government. Thus, it is quite clear that the

agency which acts on behalf of the State is an integral part

of the State. Therefore, the study of the State must include

the study of the Government which forms an integrated part

of the State.

Political Science studies the Government, its form, structure

and its functions. The main subject of our study seems to be

the State round which the entire machinery of the

Government rotates. Explaining the scope of Political

Science, Professor R. N. Gilchrist writes:

The scope of Political Science is determined by the inquiries

that arise in connection with the State. These inquiries may

broadly be classed under the State as it is, the State as it has

been, the State as it ought to be." Under the heading—what

the State is? —We study the present nature of the State.

It throws light on the origin and the meaning of the State

and its essential elements. It also includes the principles, the

working and the classification of the modern forms of the

Government. It deals with the essential nature of the State

and its relation with the citizens. Under this heading we

study the scope and nature of the State.

For example, 'State', according to Aristotle, "came into

existence originating in the bare needs of life and continuing

its existence for the sake of good life." It means that the

State aims at doing maximum good to common man. Our

Constitution deals in detail with this matter in the Directive

Principles of State Policy.

Now India has become a welfare State. It pays more

attention to the education, health and other facilities given

to the citizens. In nineteenth century the Individualists

though that the chief functions of the State were three: to

protect the country from foreign invasion; to maintain law

and order; and to let the mutual agreements come into

being. State of this nature was known as the Police-State.

But the concept of the State has completely changed today.

It had become a welfare State. Consequently its scope has

widened and its functions have increased in number. With

the increase in its functions, its powers also have increased.

There is hardly a field of life which it does not regulate.

Under the heading—what the State has been?—we study a

historical survey of the workings of the government or the

historical development of the State and of ideas concerning

the State. By this study we come to know what part religion,

blood-relation and political consciousness have played in the

development of the State.

Under this heading we also study ancient political

institutions and administrations so that we may have the

knowledge of the systematic development of modern

institutions. By studying ancient political history we also

come to know the fact that the nature of the State, in the

beginning, was like that of a tribe and its functions were

limited.

But step by step its simple nature underwent changes and it

became a complex State. Now the complex laws of the State

have started controlling each and every sphere of human

life. Under this heading we also study how States in ancient

times were formed out of small tribes and how they became

big national states later on. The present national states of

France, England Germany and Italy started developing only

after fifteenth century.

The Statesmen of the world learnt from the defective

working of the League of Nations and when they founded the

U.N., they improved it considerably. We discuss the aims

and obligations of an ideal state and consider those moral

principles which help it to become a welfare State (not a

Police-State) so that it may aim at doing maximum possible

good to mankind.

Under this heading we also study what will be the nature of

the State in future. The political philosophers firmly believe

that in order to save human civilization from annihilation in

Third World War, we have to change the present nature of

the national States and transfer their sovereignty to the

international associations like U.N.

In future the ultimate nature of the State ought to be like

that of a world federation. Treitschke, a German scholar,

writes in this connection, "First, it should aim to determine

from a consideration of the actual world of States the

fundamental idea of State; second, it should consider

historically what the people have chosen, what they have

created, what they have attained in political life and how;

and third, through this means it should determine historical

law and moral imperatives. As such, it is applied in history".

While Professor Willoughby believes that generally speaking

there are three great topics with which Political Science has

to deal: State, government and law. In his book, "One

World", Mr. Bandal Wilky has recognised the oneness of the

entire human society. It confirms that Political Science is a

deep study of all the political problems of the world. It is a

dynamic study of the dynamic political nature of man. Its

scope embraces all the political ideas and institutions. Every

kind of political institution or association is relevant to the

subject of Political Science.

Nature of Political Science There are different views on the nature of politics Aristotle, Bodin, Hobbes, Bluntschli, Montesquieu, few is, Sedgwick, Jellinek, etc, hold that politics is a science.But writers like J.S. Hill, Maitland, Collin, Barker, etc, maintain that is only on art.1. Politics is a SciencePolitics is considered as science on the following grounds.(1).Politics can be studied in a systematic manner. (2).It is said that experimentation is possible in politics.

(3). Political Science, like other Sciences, has absolute and universal laws. (4). It is possible to make predictions in politics, but in a limbed are. (5).These are certain principles and methods on which political thinkers unanimously agree. (6). Politics is a subject which has scientific nature. (7).at present, politics has attained modernity.

2. Politics is not a Science(1). Politics has no absolute and universal laws like physical sciences or exact sciences. (2). It does not observe the theory of cause and effect which is the basis of all Sciences. (3). The subject of politics has not developed in a steady, regular and continuous manner. (4). Scientific methods of observation and experimentation cannot be applied to politics.