Class 11, Political Theory Chapter 1, Notes
MEANING AND SCOPE
Each discipline of study has its meaning and scope that marks its identity. If physics studies energy and economics studies man in relation to wealth, political science studies man in relation to some form of power or authority. Man lives in society and society implics peaceful, collective and organised life of huamn beings. Hence, power exists in some form in every society. If it were not so, horrible conditions would prevail what Hobbes calls state of nature and for whose elimination commonwealth is created. This is the reason that the study of this subject is as old as human civilisation, Oldest are the civilisations of China, India and Egypt. Hence, some matter for the study of politics may be traced in the 1 messages of the seers and the philosophers or in religious books. In course of time city-state emerged that was called 'polis' by the Greeks who called its government 'pality Aristotle combined these two words to make "Politics, In the beginning of the modern age Machiavelli used Roman words stats and stati and the English word 'state' came out of them.
In its ancient sense, politics is the study of state. It is a different matter that the meaning and nature of state have changed with the passage of time. If city-state system existed ancient times, feudal system emerged in the middle ages after the decline and disintegration of the Roman empire, nation state emerged in the modern age. Its development created imperialism and colonialism. The triumph of nationalism stimulated internationalism. The meaning and nature of state are undergoing a change in the present age of globalisation. This is the reason that the scope of study of political science is also widening. Now it is not merely a study of state and government, it is a study of power as well. As struggle for the sake of power is going on at every level-local, regional, national and international-stuff may be found at each level that enriches the scope of the study of this subject. Hence, David Held describes the meaning and scope of Political Science in these words "Politics is concerned with the transformative capacity of social agents, agencies and institutions, not merely with the government and governments."
STUDY MATERIAL OF POLITICAL THEORY
We may study the meaning and scope of political science in the following perspectives.
1. Study of State:
Generally,politics is regarded as the study of state. Garner says: "Politics begins and ends with the state." The Greeks studied city-state. So Sir John Seeley commented that to them political science was like a municipal science. The study of state is a very comprehensive subject. It covers past, present and future. A student of this subject seeks to know the state as it has been in the past, as it is in the present, a as it would be, or ought to be, in future. So Garner says, "In a general way. its fundamental problems include, first, an investigation of the origin and nature of the state: second, an inquiry into the nature, history and forms of political institutions; and, third, as a deduction therefrom, so far as possible, of the laws of political growth and development." So Gettell says: "Political Science is a historical investigation of what the state has been, an analytical study of what the state is, and a politico-ethical discussion of what the state should be."
2. Study of Government:
Gradually the distinction between state and government appeared. So this subject came to be treated as a study of state and govern ment. According to Paul Janet, "Politics is that part of social science which treats of the foundations of state and the principles of government." So says Seeley "Political Science investigates the phenomena of government as political economy deals with wealth, biology with life, algebra with numbers, and geometry with space and magnitude."
RESOLUTION OF POLITICAL DISPUTES BY REASONING
Politics creates disputes, it also resolves them. People create disputes of many kinds for the fulfilment of their objectives. If a party forms its government by getting success in the elections, the other parties form the opposition and then attack the party in power for its acts of commission and omission. Both sides take recourse to arguments and cross arguments. Hence, the dispute is somehow resolved. According to J.D.B. Miller, "The aim of politics is to create conflicts and then to resolve them."
Disputes may never have their end. If one dispute is resolved, new disputes arise. So there can be no final solution to any dispute. Today there may be peace, tomorrow there may be conflicts. It is the eternal law of politics.
That is, this process flows uninterruptedly due to which people remain invariably engaged in the solution of one problem after another. It is good that disputes are resolved peacefully. However, the process of argument and cross argument cannot resolve every conflict. Sometimes the situation becomes so ticklish or
It is true that man is a selfish and wicked creature, he is also a rational being. He invokes arguments for the justification of his actions. This fact is revealed in the serious deliberations of a legislature. The problem is ultimately solved by arriving at a conclusion after long or protracted discussion. Same is the case with the courts. The contending parties present their arguments and cross arguments before the court and then the matter is resolved on the basis of plausible arguments. This fact is revealed in the discussions at the international levels as a result of which some agreement or convention comes into being.
It is a fact that man creates disputes by his rational power. It is equally true that such a power of the people resolves disputes. If such a solution cannot be possible by the use of reason, the situation of direct confrontation arises.
•Necessity of Political Theory
There have been a number of great political philosophers from Plato and Aristude in ancient times to Lenin. Laski and Lasswell in the modern age who have made important contributions to the subject of political themy, Their writings are full of descriptions out of which political theories have developed. The study of such political theories has significance of its own. Each age of time has conflicts in society which provide stuff to the thoughts of the philosophers. According to Prof. Isaiah Berlin, "There can be no age without political theory." The study of political theory has its own importance. This is the subject which its father (Aristot) called "master science, Following arguments may be advanced in support of the necessity of its study:
1. By his nature and necessity man is a social and political creature.
He lives in society in which some form of power or authority is indispensable for maintaining peace and security, He must have knowledge about his social and political life
2 As a good citizen, man should know about his state and its government
The study of political theory alone can provide him knowledge about terms like liberty, rights, equality, justice, law, self rule etc.
3. Governments have many forms as monarchy, aristocracy, dictator-ship, democracy etc.
But all are not of the same kind. All have their merits and demerits. The knowledge of political theory may enable a person to distinguish between good and bad forms of government. He may grasp the meaning of Bryce that there can be no government better than democracy.
4. The aim of man should be to lead a good life.
This aim can be realised only in the state. Hence, a student of political theory makes a search for good or an ideal state. There may be different views, but the motivating force is the same. Plato places the philosopher-king at the top, Marx desires a socialist system, Gandhiji talks about Ram Raj.
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