It is the systematic study of the state & government
The word political came from the Greek word
“polis” meaning city equivalent to a sovereign state
It is the basic knowledge & understanding of the state & the principles & ideas which underlie its organization & activities
It is primarily concerned with the association of human beings in a body politic or a political community
Fields of political science:
1. Political Theory
2. Public Law
3. Government
4. Comparative Government
5. International Relations
6. Public Administration
7. Public Policy
8. Political Dynamics
9. Government & Business
10. Legislature Geopolitics
Values & Uses of Political Science:
1. Awareness of the importance & impact of government on people’s lives
2. Education for citizenship
3. Development of civic values
4. Preparation for various careers & professions
The Concept of Governance 1. Transparency of government 2. Simplicity of procedures 3. Responsibility 4. Fight against corruption 5. Individual freedom & collective expression 6. An independent judicial system
Concepts of State & Government
State is a community of persons more or less numerous , permanently occupying a definite portion of territory , having a government of their own to which a great body of inhabitants render obedience & enjoying freedom from external control
Elements of the State:
1. People
2. Territory
3. Government
4. Sovereignty
Origin of States
1. Divine right theory
2. Necessity or force theory
3. Paternalistic theory
4. Rousseau’s Social Contract Theory
5. Hobbes’ Social Contract Theory
6. Locke’s Social Contract Theory
7. Instinctive Theory
8. Economic Theory
9. Historical or Evolutionary Theory
State Distinguished from Nation
1. A state is a political concept, while a nation an ethnic concept
2. A state is not subject to external control while a nation may or may not be independent from external control
3. A single