What is Political Science?
Political science is governed by five myths: l) that it studies politics; 2) that it is scientific; 3) that it is possible to study politics separated off from economics, sociology, psychology and history; 4) that the state in our democratic capitalist society is politically neutral, that is available as a set of institutions and mechanisms to whatever group wins the election; and 5) that political science, as a discipline, advances the cause of democracy. Paradoxically, most political scientists, whose own work embodies at least some of these myths, would probably agree with a lot of the criticism that is implied in characterizing their beliefs as myths. These colleagues simply act as if they are true, because they don’t know what else to do and, in some cases, may be afraid not to. How else understand a poll of 500 political scientists in l964 that showed that two out of three “agreed” or “strongly agreed” that much scholarship in the discipline is “superficial and trivial”, and that
Political Science seeks an understanding of power in the relationships between individuals, groups and the state, as well as in the workings of modern government. The field of inquiry ranges from an analysis of global international relations to the study of individual behaviour, from the examination of public institutions to reflection on broad philosophical questions. The members of the Department of Political Science at the University of New Brunswick employ a wide range of approaches in their courses, including economic, sociological, philosophical and historical modes of analysis. What do the areas of Political Science cover? The discipline is sub-divided into several fields: political theory, Canadian politics, international relations and comparative politics. At the core are courses in political theory, embracing the classic writings of political philosophers as well as contemporary theorists. More empirical courses cover the political systems of Canada and various other countrie
If you have had “Government” in high school or “Educación Cívica” in your preparatoria, you already have some familiarity with Political Science. Your secondary education probably emphasized descriptions of institutions and citizenship training. Building upon this very important foundation, Political Science is both “deeper” and “broader” at the college level. Not to mention more interesting! With regard to “depth,” we strive to explain, analyze, and interpret political phenomena. For example, do democracies go to war against other democracies? What are the causes and effects of regional integration schemes, such as NAFTA? How do Latinos, our largest and fastest growing minority, affect the U.S. political system? In studying diverse political phenomena, most fields in our discipline emphasize the scientific method; hence, the name “Political Science.” Drawing on their expertise, many political scientists also advocate changes when they believe that current institutions, processes, or p
