The Origins and Evolution of Political Science
Political Science: Origin and Evolution
During the Industrial Revolution and the liberal revolutions of the nineteenth century, a need for social criticism emerged to assess the political changes occurring and their impact on society. Concern for social change, combined with the development of the scientific method, led to the fusion of these fields, resulting in the social sciences. Consequently, sociology and political science arose, initially associated with jurisprudence and political philosophy.
Historical Foundations
Political science is a relatively new discipline. Some scholars trace its birth to the fifteenth century with Niccolo Machiavelli, who advocated for the separation of morality and politics. Others argue the term was popularized by Paul Janet in his mid-nineteenth-century work, History of Political Science and its Relation to Morals.
The Aristotelian Contribution
It is impossible to ignore the contributions of Aristotle. While his work was conditioned by the civilization of his time, he established an empirical foundation for political science by focusing on facts and the secularization of politics. His assertion that "man is a political animal" rendered political life natural and free from mythological explanation.
Politics and Power
Science, as an activity seeking to understand reality, is influenced by the power relationships within a society. Knowledge is often shaped or constrained by the prevailing power structures. Consequently, there are numerous intersections between politics and other human activities, such as:
- Politics and Art
- Politics and Education
- Politics and Social Organization
Ultimately, no human activity is entirely unrelated to politics. The primary aim of political science is to study the power exercised by human groups, whether at a local, national, or international level. The state remains the central object of modern political thought, from Machiavelli to Marx.
Methodology in Political Science
Political scientists utilize various social science methods. Giovanni Sartori distinguishes four primary methods, listed in decreasing order of control:
- Experimental method
- Statistical method
- Comparative method
- Historical method
Additional approaches include observation, as well as inductive and deductive reasoning.