Page 19 - DLIS407_INFORMATION AND LITERATURE SURVEY IN SOCIAL SCIENCES

Information and Literature Survey in Social Sciences

Notes principles for the construction of a civil polity, or state that would not be subject to destruction from
within. Still, because of a lack of a definite terminology and methodology (which are essential to all
sciences), the boundaries and limits of political science were yet not set. Theoretical and practical
politics did not necessarily agree with one another. Political philosophy had for along time occupied
the forefront of political discussion and reflection as evidenced by Locke’s and Hegel’s speculations
on the ideal citizen and ideal state. Indeed, according to J.H. Hallowell, political philosophy is not
so much concerned with political institutions as with the ideas and aspirations embodied in these
institutions. Furthermore, the idea that because political philosophy deals with the basic questions
regarding the nature of the state, citizenship, obligation and political ideals, it can be considered as
the foundations of political science. What then should be the concern, content and object of such
as scientific inquiry of politics as to make it qualify for the name “political science”? By the middle 19th
century, the need for an accurate definition of political science was felt. French philosopher Paul Janet
(1823-1899) described political science as the part of social science concerned with the foundation of
the State, whilst Lord Acton thought it to be concerned with the development of the State
The remarks of Henry Sidgwick, voiced in his book “Elements of Politics” offer in this respect a most
useful insight:
The method commonly adopted in political reasoning that appeals to general principles is the following:
we assume certain general characteristics of social man — characteristics belonging not to mankind
universally, but to civilised man in the most advanced stage of his development: and we consider
what laws and institutions are likely to conduce most to the welfare of an aggregate of such beings
living in social relations.
In another passage, he addresses the need for a practical goal for political science:
…ordinary political reasonings have some practical aim in view: to determine whether either the
constitution or the action of government ought to be modified in a certain proposed manner. Hence
the primary aim of our study must be similarly practical: we must endeavour to determine what
ought to be, so far as the constitution and action of government are concerned, as distinct from
what is or has been.
Political science cannot and must not restrict itself purely to the study of man’s political behaviour
and activities within the state; it must seek to place them in their rightful social, historical and cultural
context. This stance has been reinforced and further developed in modern times by many contemporary
writers, notably, American ones. Almond and Powell proposed a variety of cultural and functional
ways to measure the political development of societies, criticising the limitedness and formalism of
traditional political science. The concern for terminological clarity and precision was responsible
for the introduction of terms like, “political systems”, “political structure” and “political culture or
socialisation” which focus more on the interaction of man within a political frame. According to de
Jouvenel, political activity is the moving of man by man.
The dynamic and extensive scope of Political Science can well be illustrated by Harold Laswell’s
saying that Politics is who gets what, how and when.
Politics then is not just about the government of the State, but also about the forces and influences
behind every other social institution governed by definite rules and laws, like churches, corporations,
trade unions, etc. Politics became thus more concerned with human interaction in societies. According
to Robert Dahl, apolitical system is any persistent pattern of human relationship that involve, to a
significant extent, rule or authority. Nearly all human associations tend to become political and are
influenced by or directly influence a government’s policies.

Recent Developments

In 2000, the perestroika movement in political science was introduced as a reaction against what
supporters of movement called the mathe maticization of political science. Those who identified with

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