Lesson 1 - What is

Political Science?

The great Greek

philosopher
Aristotle once
called political
science the master
science. In this
lesson, you'll learn
what political
science is, different
subfields in the
discipline, and why
the study of
political science is
important.

Political Science Defined

Peter is a political scientist who works at one of several think tanks in Washington, D.C.
A think tank is an organization that engages in research to solve particular problems,
such as economic, political, technological, defense, and social problems. Peter's
research focuses on the application of political science to solve pressing political and
policy problems. According to the American Political Science Association, political
science'is the study of governments, public policies and political processes, systems,
and political behavior.'

Why It's Important

As political scientist Harold Lasswell has explained, politics is the process of
determining who gets what, when they get it, and how they get it. This is why Aristotle
viewed political science as the master science - because politics affects pretty much
every other human social endeavor.
Political science helps us understand politics. If you can understand something, you
have a better chance of making it work in the manner you want. In other words, you
have a better chance of helping to determine who gets what, when they get it, and how
they get it. Let's look at an example.
Peter is studying the problem of healthcare in the United States. The United States
pretty much spends more money per capita on healthcare than other countries but
ranks well below many countries in healthcare outcomes. Adding to this problem is the
public misconception that the United States healthcare system produces better results
than systems in other countries that spend much less.
Peter's job as a researcher for his think tank is to examine the political problem of
healthcare and come up with policy recommendations to solve the problem. This
requires the study of political institutions, public policy, political behavior, and
philosophical concepts, such as justice, equality, fairness, and liberty. He then needs to
determine how these political factors relate and interact with a wide range of issues
affecting the healthcare system, including economics, public and private finance, law,
healthcare services, insurance, and ethics.