APPROACHES TO THE STUDY OF POLITICS

There are basic approaches to study politics:

1. Political philosophy is the traditional approach in which the primary goal is to

understand the essence or truth about politics.
-This approach aims to establish what politics ought to be.
-As such, it is normative or prescriptive, analytical, speculative, and essentially
ethical.

1.a. normative or prescriptive because it prescribes standards or rules of conduct;

it establishes what “ought to be” the nature of politics and not “what it simply is.”
Socrates, Plato, and Aristotle are among the proponents of this approach.

1.b. analytical because the approach is to a large extent an examination and

literary analysis of the various classic writings of intellectuals and philosophers such
as Confucius, Lao tzu, Plato, Aristotle, St. Augustine, St. Thomas Aquinas,
Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau, and Marx, to name some.

1.c speculative because it entails abstract, theoretical and not scientific

explanations of the varied subjects of politics.

1.d. ethical because the approach basically presumes that ethics is the foundation
of politics; the ethical formation of the individual is a condition precedent the society’s
political formation. The questions raised under this approach are “what is the
essence of politics?”, “what is the ideal type of government?”, “who should be and
what are the attributes of a ruler?”, “what are the limits of the government?”, and
“what are rights and limits of individual freedom?”

2. Political science is the empirical approach in which it places little emphasis on

abstract and normative questions, and concentrates on a dispassionate and objective
description of the realities of politics. As such, it is descriptive, empirical, objective,
and it avoids ethics.

2.a. descriptive because it simply establishes “what politics is” and not “what it
ought to be;” it describes the political phenomenon but does not prescribe standards
or rules of conduct.

2.b. empirical because it studies only observable facts, and not abstract values and
concepts.

2.c. objective because it adheres strictly to the methods of the natural sciences; it
considers only the observable (quantifiable) facts that can be measured through the
scientific method. It avoids ethics, in that values are not within its scope; only directly
observable facts are studied.
POLITICAL SCIENCE DEFINED

Political science
-is the systematic study of political life
- Political scientists seek answers to such questions as “What reasons justify the actions of
government?” and “Whose interests are served by governments?”
- They study various forms of government as well as political parties, pressure groups,
elections, international relations, and public administration.
-All these are activities of individuals and groups and involve basic human relationships.
- Political science deals with such fundamental values as equality, freedom, justice, and
power.

A. Economics-
It deals with the control of all material resources, including goods and services, which
affect political structure within the power a nation and among groups of nations.
B. History
-Provides much of the material which raw with the political scientist works.

C. Law
- Especially public laws, supplies a framework of formal ideas for the political
scientists.
D. Philosophy
-Provides to Political Science knowledge of ideal human behavior, political values,
good and bad in political theory, right and wrong laws, policies and governmental
decisions and theory of ideal social-political institution

E. Sociology
-Provides understanding of the social developments that affect political life. .

Fields of Political Science .

Political Science may be divided into six main fields:

(1) political theory and philosophy,
(2) Comparative government,
(3) international relations,
(4) national government and politics,
(5) public administration,
(6) political behavior.

Importance of the study of Political Science

● Aristotle called political science the “master science.” He considered politics the
highest science because he thought all other sciences depended on it. The
knowledge of how to control the results of scientific work politically –in other words,
how to maintain peace –is probably the most important of all human endeavors.
 ● Political science is essential in the processes of government. The political scientist
studies these processes and operations of government agencies and departments.

● The work of political scientists provides a factual basis for criticism and reform
–probably the most important elements of democratic government.

● Political scientists also develop useful materials for the education of young people.
Without that kind of training for future citizens, a democratic society could prosper.

DEFINING GOVERNMENT
Government
● is one of humanity’s oldest and most important institutions

● From earliest times, some kind of government has been a vital part of every society.
This is because every society needs some people to make and enforce decision that
affect conduct within the group.

● refers to the process of exercising power in a group.

● It is said to possess “sovereignty” if it can successfully assert its claim to rule.

● And it is said to “legitimate” if its claim to rule (authority) is willingly accepted.
● Any formal or informal group –a family, a church, a club, a business, a trade
unionmaybe said to have government. But when we speak of government, we
generally mean public government, such as that of a nation, a state, a province, a
county, a city or a village.

Governance
● The word “governance” came from the Latin verb “gubernare,” or more originally from
the Greek word “kubernaein,” which means to “steer.” Basing on its etymology,
therefore,
● governance refers to the manner of steering or governing, or of directing and
controlling, a group of people or a state. ,
● governance is the exercise of authority; action, function, power, or manner of
government.
● governance is the complex process whereby some sectors of the society wield
power, and enact and promulgate public policies which directly affect human and
institutional interactions, and economic and social development. The power
exercised is always for the common good, as it is essential for demanding respect
and cooperation from the citizens and the state.
● a great deal about governance is the proper and effective utilization of resources.

Elements of government
These basic elements are
(1) rules of conduct,
(2) sovereignty
(3) legitimacy,
(4) jurisdiction,
(5) enforcement.