Scholars lack unanimity about the nature of Political Science. Some scholars consider it as a Science, while others doubt its scientific components and consider it as an Art. Nature of Political Science According to Traditional Viewpoint Traditional thinkers do not consider Political Science as a science. Buckle believed, “In the present situation of knowledge, it is impossible to consider Political Science as science, rather in arts, it’s the most lacking art.”

Traditional view of Political Science considers it as an art and lays emphasis on should be. This implies that Political Science is not a science. Buckle, Kamte, Metland, Brojen, Burke, etc. thinkers did not consider Political Science as a science.

Following arguments can be given in this favour: 

1. Research and experiments are not possible: 

Natural science adopts the methods of observation and experiments along with presumptions and hypothesis, whereas in Political Science, hypothesis is possible, but it cannot be tested through research and experiments.

2. Difficult to establish cause – effect relationship: 

Basic feature of science is that cause – effect relationship can be established. Political Science works on imagination, possiblility and probability. So, a clear and visible cause – effect relationship cannot be established in Political Science. So, Political Science is not a science.

3. Lack of exact measurements: 

There are many modern equipments for exact measurements in science, whereas in political science, political behaviour and thinking of human beings is studied who are affected by various feelings, emotions, etc. Exact measure of these feeling is not possible.

4. Absence of acceptable universal methodology: 

Political Science lacks the universally – accepted methodology, which is there in natural sciences. So it cannot be considered as a science.

5. Lack of correct predictions: 

Science has fixed rules and accurate predictions can be made on the basis of exact laws of generalizations, but this is not possible in Political Science. Only assumptions are possible here.

6. Difference in nature of subject matter: 

The subject matter of natural science includes inanimate objects, whereas subject matter of Political Science includes living human beings. Their behaviour is not inanimate and uniform like that of a substance.

Nature of Political Science according to modern view: 

point Supporters of modern view of Political Science consider it a science. They want to make it a complete science. Thinkers like Bodin, Hobbes, Bryse, Bluntschli, Laski, Finer and Jelineck accepted Political Science as a science. It is not right to compare Political Science with natural science. This is basically a social science and it has all the main features in this regard.

Following arguments can be given for Political Science being a science: 

1. Systematic and organised knowledge: 

Just as natural sciences are systematic, organised and catogerised, Political Science also explains the knowledge of state, government, political organisations, assumptions and methodologies in the same way.

2. Experiments are possible: 

Political Science is a social science. So laboratory methods of experiments is not possible here, still it is possible to carry out experiments in Political Science. Many such experments have been done in history.

3. Relation between cause – effect is possible: 

Generalisation and cause – effect relationship is possible in Political Science in some cases.

4. Predictions are possible: 

It is not possible to predict in Political Science as exactly and correctly as in natural sciences, still predictions are possible in Political Science, like weather forecast.

5. Universal methodology: 

Universal methodology also exists in Political Science just like other sciences. For example, the following statement of Lord Acton is accepted universally, “Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”