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INTRODUCTION TO POLITICAL SCIENCE

CHAPTER 1
Introduction to Political Science
Prepared by:
Ms. Nurfaizah Abbdullah
University Technology MARA, Sabah Branch
 TOPICS COVERED
1.1 Definitions of Political Science
1.2 Is Political Science a science?
1.3 Scope of Political Science:
1.3.1 Public Administration
1.3.2 Political theory
1.3.3 Comparative Politics
1.3.4 International Relations
1.4 Relationship of Political Science with other Social Sciences:
1.4.1 Economy
1.4.2 History
1.4.3 Law
1.4.4 Sociology
1.4.5 Psychology
1.5 Methods of Studying Political Science
1.4.1 Scientific Methods
1.5.2 Non-scientific Methods

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 What Is Political Science?
Politics
Greek word Polis (city-state) the study of a city i.e. state
Aristotle man is by nature a political animal.
Laswell (1958) Politics is who gets what, when and how.
Redekop (1983) - refers to all activity whose main purpose is one
or more of the following:
1. To reshape or influence governmental structures of processes;
2. To influence or replace governmental office holders;
3. To influence the formation of public policies;
4. To influence the implementation of public policies;
5. To generate public awareness of , and response to, governmental,
processes, personnel and policies; or
6. To gain a place of influence or power within government
Science
Latin word Scientia (knowledge)
Zimmermann & Britt (2012)- Science is a systematic and logical approach
to discovering how things in the universe work.
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 Definition of Political Science
Aristotle
master science
Jean Bodin (1530-1596)
French political philosopher coined the term political science (science politique).
Focus on the characteristic of the state gave political science an abiding concern for the
organization of institutions related to law.
Reinforced by Montesquieu (1689-1755)
French philosopher.
Argued that all the functions of government could be encompassed within the
categories of legislation, execution and the adjudication of law.
Bluntschli- the science, which is concerned with the state, which
endeavors to understand and comprehend the state in its fundamental
conditions, in its essential nature, its various forms of manifestation, its
development
Laswell (1958)- who gets what, when, how
Moten & Islam (2006) - political science studies not only the state but
also the society as a whole in so far as they are related to the various
institutions of the state. NFA 4
 Is Political Science is a Science?
Political science is the body of systematized knowledge.

Consists of several steps; formulation of the problem,

observation, classification, hypothesis, verification and
prediction.

Political science follows this scientific method while

studying a social phenomenon. i.e political scientists
observes the voting behavior in particular constituency
systematically.

Thus, political science is an empirical science that

accumulates both quantified and qualitative data.
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Political science cannot be
scientific because:
Cannot be reproduced in a
laboratory.
Political science deals with dynamic
human beings and not with static
objects.
Human beings are also self-
consciousness with the capacity for
altering and planning behavior.
Thus, scientific approach would not
explain clearly what is happening in
politics.
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Politics can be scientific
because:
Political science studies human
behavior. Though human behavior is
complex but such behavior follows
regular patterns
They are discoverable and verifiable
through careful and systematic
observations
On the basis of these observations
and by the use of statistics and
mathematics, laws can be formulated
on how politics operates
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 Plato, Aristotle, Al-
Farabi, Ibn Rushd, St.
Methods of managing Augustine, Al-
and administering Political Mawardi, Hobbes,
government. Theory Locke, Rousseau,
Montesquieu,Weber,
Marx, etc.

Scope of
Public International
administration Political relations
Science

Executive, legislative,
judicial bodies, United Nations, the
constitutions, laws, Organization of
administrative Comparative Islamic Conference,
organizations, politics and the Arab League.
policies, political government ASEAN, European
parties & processes, Union, etc.
economic, etc.
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 Economy

Psychology History
Relationship
of Political
Science with
other Social
Sciences

Sociology Law

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 Political Science and Economics
Economics allocating scarce resources to
fulfil optimum satisfaction of societys
unlimited wants.

Government can use the economics formula

in redistributing the resources.

E.g. budget, income, welfare state, labour,

unemployment, taxes, etc.
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 Political Science and History
History the past situation, phenomena

Political scientists make a study of a state and its political

institutions based on history in knowing the states origin,
its growth and development, and its institutions.

Knowledge of the past (history) is used in analyzing and

describing present political phenomena, and consequently
providing lesson for the future.

Compare and contrast various cases and try look for

generalization.

E.g. Political parties in Malaysia

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 Political Science and Law
Law rules of conduct

Laws are formulated, administered and

enforced by the government

E.g. Law in Malaysia is made by the legislative in

parliament.

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Political Science and Sociology
Sociology the study of society as a whole.
Such as crime, religion, family, state, race and
social class, beliefs, culture, and social stability,
radical change in whole societies.

It enriches political science by its

contributions to the study of social problems
which are also problems of the governments.
E.g. housing problems policy

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 Political Science and Psychology
Psychology deals with human behaviour and
explains the motives of human actions.

It has contributed greatly to political sciences

understanding of such phenomena as nationalism,
revolutionary leadership, voting behaviour and
causes of war.

Studies of political personalities. E.g. Hitler, Stalin,

Gandhi, Mao Zedong

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 Methods of studying Political
Science

Scientific methods Non scientific

methods

Case study
Historical
Survey
Philosophical
Experimental
Comparative
Statistical/ quatitative

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 S
Case Study C
I
E
N
It is where a group of society, a community or race is T
studied wholly. I
F
The result of the case study over one particular society c
is applied to all other societies in a community.
Result is gained through observation and experience.
By observing any changes that occur in one society,
various assumptions can be applied to the community
as a whole.
E.g. Case study on the voting behaviour in Kelantan

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 S
Survey C
I
E
It aims to obtain data from target samples/population. N
T
A surveys question requires respondents to answer a I
YES/NO response. F
A questionnaire can take the form of structured or c
non-structured, closed or open.
A structured questionnaire refers to one which asks a
set of clearly defined answers which lead to
predetermined result.
Non-structured survey questionnaire means simply the
opposite.
E.g. Survey on the satisfaction towards the governing
party in Malaysia

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 S
Experimental C
I
E
Sir George Lewis: Cannot treat the body politic as a N
corpus vile and vary its circumstances at our pleasure T
for the sake of only ascertaining abstract truth I
cannot do what experimenter does in chemistry. F
c

e.g. The constitution of India is committed to

prohibition. The Tek Chand Committee was appointed
by the Government of India to recommend a uniform
policy persistent demand for the separation of the
judiciary from the executive- experiment was tried in a
few states and now the same has been adopted in
almost all the states.

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 S
Statistical/ Quantitative C
I
E
N
A method attempting to describe and measure T
I
the political phenomena in quantitative terms. F
Can be applied to the study of political opinion c

and political parties.

The method must be used with great care as it
can be manipulated to suit anyone purposes.
It is used to quantifying things such as public
opinion polls, voting motivation, occupational
trends and economic power of a state.

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 N
Historical method O
N

S
Methods looked at past events and codify the C
results of the events. I
E
What have happened in the past determined N
T
what we do in the future. I
F
Knowing the past helps understanding the c
present
History justifies the good and the bad sides of
all events.
E.g. 13th May 1969 Riot in Malaysia
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 N
Philosophical method O
N

S
This method originates from studying the C
history, comparative study and conclusions I
E
made on certain political phenomena. N
T
It was founded by several philosopher I
researchers such as Plato, Aristotle, Karl Marx, F
c
Rousseau and Hegel.
The ideas of these philosophers on certain
issues can be studied, analysed and compared.
E.g. Communism vs. Capitalism
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 N
O
Comparative method N

S
The comparison method helps in refining the way a C
government governs. I
By comparing : identify strengths and weaknesses of a E
political institution. N
T
The method can determine common causes and effects I
of the events experienced by the past and current F
political institutions. c

Comparison methods must consider the differences in

human nature such as manners, customs, habits and
environment.
E.g. U.S.A vs. Malaysia

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Political Science is Not Politics
POLITICIANS
i. Love power
ii. Seek popularity
iii. Practical thinking
iv. Hold firm views
v. See short-term payoff
vi. Plan for next election
vii. Respond to groups
viii.Seek name recognition
POLITICAL SCIENTISTS
i. Are skeptical of power
ii. Seek accuracy
iii. Abstract thinking
iv. Reach tentative conclusions
see long-term consequences
v. Plan for next publication
vi. Seek good of whole
vii. Seek professional prestige

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REFERENCES

Abdul Rashid Moten, Syed Serajul Islam. Intoduction to

Political Science. Singapore: Thomson, 2006, 2nd Edition.

Roskin, M.G. et al. Political Science. An Introduction. New

Jersey: Pearson Printice Hall, 2003.

Q&A
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