Meaning, Natura and Scope of Political Science (VSAQs)
Political Science-1 | 1. Meaning, Nature & Scope of Political Science – VSAQs:
Welcome to VSAQs in Chapter 1: Meaning, Nature & Scope of Political Science. This page features the most crucial FAQs for Very Short Answer Questions. Each answer is provided in simple English and follows the exam format. This approach helps you focus on essential points and aim for top marks in your final exams.
VSAQ-1: Define Political Science (or) Give any two traditional definitions of Political Science.
Political Science is the academic study that dives deep into understanding how governments work, how political processes unfold, and how people behave in political contexts. It’s like examining how power and authority are distributed and used within different societies. Political Science covers a wide range of topics, including political theory, comparative politics, international relations, public administration, and political economy. By studying these areas, Political Science helps us understand how governments operate, how policies are made, and how these decisions affect our lives.
VSAQ-2: Mention any four points of significance of Political Science.
- Understanding Concepts and Theories: Political Science helps us grasp key ideas like power, authority, sovereignty, and political ideologies. It also introduces us to various theories that explain how politics works, giving us tools to analyze political events and systems.
- Study of Government Forms and Organs: This field explores how different parts of the government—like the legislature, executive, and judiciary—function. It helps us understand the structure of governments and how they make decisions that impact society.
- Awareness of Citizens’ Rights and Duties: Political Science teaches us about our rights and responsibilities as citizens. It explains how democratic processes work and encourages us to be informed and active participants in governance.
- Analysis of International Relations: The study of Political Science also covers global politics, looking at how countries interact with each other, how international organizations operate, and how conflicts or cooperation happen on the world stage.
VSAQ-3: Behaviouralism (or) Write about Behaviourism.
Behavioralism is an approach that focuses on what people do rather than what they think. Imagine studying people’s actions in politics—like how they vote or how they participate in protests—without getting into their personal thoughts or feelings. Behavioralism believes that behavior is shaped by the environment and experiences, and it emphasizes the importance of observing and measuring these actions in a scientific way. This approach is useful in areas like education and therapy, where understanding behavior is key.
VSAQ-4: Post-Behaviouralism
Post-Behavioralism came about as a response to Behavioralism within Political Science. While Behavioralism focused on observing and measuring political actions, Post-Behavioralism emphasized the need to consider ethics, values, and empirical facts together. Political scientists during this period started paying more attention to balancing moral considerations with the factual analysis of political events, leading to the development of theories that are not just based on data but also on real-world ethical implications.
VSAQ-5: Master Science
Aristotle called politics the “Master Science” because it touches every aspect of society. Politics isn’t just about government decisions; it’s about how all individual activities, political structures, and social institutions are organized and interact with one another. Politics, according to Aristotle, guides how society functions as a whole, making it a field of study that encompasses everything from individual behavior to the functioning of entire communities.
VSAQ-6: Write about any two modern definitions of Political Science.
Behavioral Approach: In today’s context, one common way to define Political Science is through the behavioral approach. This approach sees Political Science as the scientific study of political behavior and events, focusing on what people actually do in politics. Imagine it like studying voting patterns or how different groups influence government policies, but using data and careful observation to find patterns. It’s all about being objective and using numbers and research to understand how politics really works, just like scientists study natural phenomena.
Normative Approach: Another modern take on Political Science looks at it from a normative perspective. This approach doesn’t just describe or analyze what’s happening in politics but also asks what should happen. It’s like considering not only how laws are made but also whether they are fair or just. This definition brings in ethics, values, and moral judgments, suggesting that Political Science has a role in guiding decisions and policies toward what is right or good, not just what is.
VSAQ-7: What is meant by Sociology?
Sociology is the scientific study of how people live together in societies. It’s like a deep dive into understanding how human behavior and relationships work when people are part of a group, whether it’s a family, a community, or an entire country. Sociology explores everything from how culture shapes our actions to why some groups have more power or wealth than others. Imagine looking at how traditions are passed down in a family, or how cities grow and change over time—that’s what sociology does. It’s all about uncovering the hidden rules and patterns that guide how we interact with each other and how society is organized.