Political Science and Its Nature

Ms. Lanifel C. Manalo, MPA

Member, Sangguniang Bayan
Municipality of San Pascual
DEFINITION OF POLITICAL SCIENCE

Derived from the Greek words polis meaning city-state,

polity meaning government, and politeia meaning
constitution and Latin word scire meaning science or to
know
Study of the state, its institutions, laws, and processes
(Dannug and Campanilla)
Science of state (R.G. Gettell) Science of politics (Sir Frederick Pollock)
 BIRTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL
SCIENCE
14th Century B.C. Aristotle wrote Politics, the first systematic wok on
political affairs
Aristotle became the Father of Political Science

427 – 347 B.C. Plato wrote The Republic, Western World’s first
systematic analysis of political processes and the
reason for the state

Plato is known to be the first political scientist and

is credited as the parent of political philosophy
BIRTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF POLITICAL
SCIENCE
Stages in the study of Religious Stage, Metaphysical Stage, Modern Stage
Political Science
The government with its leaders and laws was considered as
Religious Stage divine or divinely-inspired.

The state was considered as a human institution (no longer

Metaphysical Stage divine) but it was worshipped as a perfect institution.

The state was still considered as a human institution but it

Modern Stage was deemed capable of being improved by rulers and
subjects according to certain principles and laws.
Niccolo Machiavelli ushered this stage with The Prince,
making himself often credited as the Father of Modern
Politics
 ACTIVITY 1: Reaction Paper

Review and analyze Machiavelli's 10-Point Prescription

on Effective Political Leadership.
Write your observations and reactions on a short bond
paper.

Margins: 1” all sides

Font: 12, Arial
Spacing: 1.5
Maximum: 5 pages
  
RUBRICS
Exceptional Excellent Adequate Limited Minimal
Achievement Achievement Achievement Achievement Achievement
(5 points) (4 points) (3 points) (2 points) (1 point)

Broad and definite; Limited Predictable paper Brief and superficial No ideas
Content
Loaded with legal information; communicated
  basis; Used enough Uses few legal basis
credible sources and not enough
credible sources

Clear organization Definite Some organization Lacks organization No organization

Organization
with transitions organization
Paragraphing connecting words or
phrases

Precise word choice Good word choice Adequate word Imprecise language Inadequate word
Word Choice
and figurative and figurative choice and choice
  language used at language used at figurative language
least three times least twice used at once
 POLITICAL SIENCE as a SCIENCE

Scholars did not recognize political as “science” because of the

following reasons:

Political science has no standard criteria or natural laws to observe

and evaluate its findings;

The raw materials of political science are human beings and their activities;
But human beings are unpredictable, there can be no scientific accuracy in politics.

There is no consensus of opinion among political scientists about

their methods and conclusions.
 POLITICAL SIENCE as a SCIENCE

The following are the reasons why political science finally won its
spurs as a science:

The term “science” applies to political science, since it has become

a systematic field of study, with its theories, principles and laws; and

Modern political scientists use empirical methods, mathematics and

statistics, and logic for their research and analyses.
Why study Political Science?

Ours is the age of politics, in which government has become the

business of everybody;

Enables us to know more about our rights and duties as citizens, the
structure and functions of the different branches of government, and
our relations with other countries;

Broadens man’s cultural background; and

Provides the needed background for those who intend to enter the
professions of law, foreign service, public administration, business,
education, and journalism.
Fields of Political Science

Political Theory The study of theories and doctrines on the origin, form, behavior, and
purposes of the state and government; a.k.a. political philosophy
The field of political science focused on the study of legal rules and
Public Law principles governing states, governments, and individuals as they relate
with one another.

Government The field studies the structure and functions of both national and local
governments within the context of one-state or country.
It is critical and in-depth study of the macro-politics of different states.
Comparative This field focuses in analyzing the similarities and differences among
Government states relative to their executive, legislative, and judicial branches of
government, as well as their fundamental laws, functions, political
cultures and traditions.
Fields of Political Science

International It is the study of foreign policies of countries, international

Relations organizations and international law.

This area of political science deals with the actual management of the
Public government in the realms of administrative organization and personnel
Administration and human resource management, fiscal management, and management
of public relations.

As a field of political science, it is concerned with the assessment and

Public Policy evaluation of various policies, pursued by the government in areas like
education, defense, and health

It is a critical inquiry into the various societal forces that exert influence
Political on political decision and action. (i.e. political parties, pressure groups,
Dynamics public opinion and propaganda)
Fields of Political Science

This particular area of political science looks into government’s exercise

Government
of corporate or business function, as well as its regulatory function in the
and Business economy of state; a.k.a. political economy

This domain in the study of political science focuses on the essential role
Legislature played by the law making body in rule-making, as well as the politics
behind legislation.

This field delves on critically analyzing influences of population,

Geopolitics resources, and the physical environment of a country on its local and
international politics.
Scope of Political Science

I. Political Theory III. Parties, Groups and Public

1. History of Political Ideas Opinion
2. Political Theory and Methodology 1. Political Parties and Elections
II. Political Institutions 2. Pressure Groups and
Associations
1. The Constitution
3. Public Opinion
2. National Government (Executive,
Legislative, Judiciary) IV. International Relations
3. Local Government 4. International Politics
4. Public Administration 5. International Organizations
5. Comparative Political Institutions 6. International Law
POLITICS
Study of the shaping and sharing of power (Lasswell, 1986)
Study of the power and the powerful; of influence and he influential; of rulers
and ruled; and of authority and authoritative (Dannug & Campanilla, 2004)
Art and science of governance; the means by which the will of the people is
arrives at and implemented (Dannug and Campanilla, 2004)
Capacity to say no to something dangerous and inimical to the interest of the
public (Salonga, 1995)
Pursuit and exercise of political power vital in making policy decisions binding
for the community and in distributing patronage and other governmental
benefits (Shafritz, 1988)
ELEMENTS OF POLITICS
Ability or the right to do something; the ability to exercise
Power authority over others

Feature of a leader or an institution that compels others to grant it

Authority obedience

Regulation or bylaw governing procedures in a public or private

Rule body; a regulation controlling the conduct and behavior of people

Act, process, or power of producing an effect without apparent

Influence exertion of tangible force, or direct exercise of command and
often without deliberate effort or intent
IMAGES OF POLITICS
Boardroom Politics (BORO)
Involves decision-making by business executives and professionals
with crucial consequences for the people

Bureaucratic Politics (BUREAU)

Involves rule-making and adjudication by government bureaucrats

Congress Politics (CON)

Involves making of policies by senators and congressmen that
affects both private and public interests
IMAGES OF POLITICS
Courtroom Politics (CORO)
Consists of orders and decisions made by prosecutors, justices, and
judges in reply to various interest groups and aggrieved individuals

Chief Executive Politics (CHEX)

Dominated by the President of the Philippines and local
government executives, owing to their exercise of discretionary
power.

Multimedia Politics (MUME)

Shaping of public opinion on issues of concern in society by the
newspaper, television, radio, and other forms of mass media
IMAGES OF POLITICS
Faith-Based Politics (FABA)
Decisions made by leaders and members of religious groups and
congregations, which have political implications
Game of the General Politics (GAGE)
Involves premeditated actions and decisions of police and military
officers and men to effect changes in the political arena

Civil Society Politics (CISO)

Pro-active lobbying by cause-oriented groups, people
organizations, and non-governmental organizations to influence
decision-making by government leaders.
IMAGES OF POLITICS
X-Men Politics (XEN)
People who do not directly take part in politics but are actively
engaged in fixing self-serving political decisions exemplify in this
image
 ISMS OF POLITICS
Use power and influence only for the sole purpose of achieving the greatest
Idealism “what
welfare for the is idealnumber;
greatest is good, what
JUSTICE, is good
EQUALITY is ideal”
and FAIRNESS

If you want to survive, even be successful, start by studying how people

Realism behave, not“power makes
how they ought right,
to behave; might
a desire is right”
to placate

Power and influence must be exercised through rational dispositions,

Rationalism “the force
discourses, of reason over the reason of force”
and decisions;

Believes that the world is still divided into bi-polar relations, that
Extremism “the reality
imperialism ofthe
dominates today is the
nation-state reality of forever”
relations
 ACTIVITY 1: Reaction Paper

1. Review and analyze Machiavelli's 10-Point Prescription on

Effective Political Leadership.
Write your observations and reactions on a short bond paper.
2. Given the opportunity to be the President of the Philippines
today, which among the isms of politics will be your guiding
principle? Why?
Margins: 1” all sides
Font: 12, Arial
Spacing: 1.5
Maximum: 5 pages
  
RUBRICS
Exceptional Excellent Adequate Limited Minimal
Achievement Achievement Achievement Achievement Achievement
(5 points) (4 points) (3 points) (2 points) (1 point)

Broad and definite; Limited Predictable paper Brief and superficial No ideas
Content
Loaded with legal information; communicated
  basis; Used enough Uses few legal basis
credible sources and not enough
credible sources

Clear organization Definite Some organization Lacks organization No organization

Organization
with transitions organization
Paragraphing connecting words or
phrases

Precise word choice Good word choice Adequate word Imprecise language Inadequate word
Word Choice
and figurative and figurative choice and choice
  language used at language used at figurative language
least three times least twice used at once