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According to Easton, “Politics is the authoritative allocation of values. ”Concept of political system is much wider than the concepts of state, government and constitution. Political system includes formal organisation of state and government as well as the informal elements that affect them. Modern thinkers like David Easton and Almond consider Political Science as study of political system.

State and governance give emphasis on the study of formal and legal aspect of political life, whereas, under political system, it is attempted to derive the knowledge about political truths while going into the roots of these formal legal studies.

Traditional definitions lay emphasis on the philosophical, historical and legal methods of study in Political Science.

Two main differences in traditional and modern Political Science are as under: 

1. Difference in definition: 

Traditional political thinkers consider Political Science as a subject to study state and government, whereas the subject matter of modern Political Science is not only limited to state and government, but it also includes political behaviour of man. Study of power, influence and decision – making process is also included in modern Political Science. 

2. Difference in values: 

Traditional political thinkers believe in values. They believe in ethics and morality and they are supporters of the philosophical view. On the contrary, modern political thinkers are supporters of study that is free of values. They believe that political thinkers should keep themselves aloof from morality, values, ethics and prejudices, and instead, encourage scientific study and research.

Political Science is not a science. Buckle, Comte, Metland, Emos, Beard, Burke and Brojen, etc. political thinkers did not consider it a science.

Following arguments can be given in favour of the fact that Political Science is not a science:

1. Lack of universal concepts. 

2. Differences regarding meaning, definition and study methods of Political Science. 

3. Observation and experiments are not possible. 

4. It is not possible to measure political activities. 

5. Lack of fixed and continuous theories of Political Science. 

6. Difference in nature of subject matter 

7. Hard to establish cause-effect relationship. 

8. Lack of absolute and fixed predictions.

Traditional Political Science believes in values, whereas modern Political Science is value – free.

• Possibility of executing the practical knowledge in practice, 
• Political Science being value-based.

(d) All these

1. Emphasis on scientific methods: 

The main feature of modern view of Political Science is the use of scientific methods. Modern view uses study techniques developed by natural sciences and other social sciences. Comparative, research, experimental, psychological, behavioural and experiential methods are some of these. 

2. Inter – disciplinary view: 

Modern view of Political Science give emphasis on inter – disciplinary aspect. Various disciplines of society are inter-related and affect each other. No political behaviour can be understood by alienating it from economic, social, psychological and cultural concepts of different social sciences. Thus, the realistic study of special behaviour of man is done using the inter – disciplinary view.

The modern point of view of Political Science has expanded the scope of its study. Now political activities are also studied in Political Science, along with the study of state and government. It includes the study of non – political elements along with the political behaviour of man, and also the elements influencing man’s political behaviour. It has started taking help of mathematical, statistical and research methods.

All these statistical and objective methods have made Political Science an empirical science. These methods have widened the scope of Political Science and created dialogues and interactions among different social sciences. This has helped in problem solving also. So, modern view point makes Political Science a science.

Herbert Simon was the first thinker who related philosophical and economic thoughts. He was a supporter of modern view of Political Science. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1978. His work Administrative Behaviours is considered an important work to study the process of decision making. He has considered Political Science as a science of decision making. He thought that decision means choosing one out of many options.

When there is a problem, then there are many solutions. Decision maker has to choose any one of them to get maximum profit or the desired aim. Intelligence of a man is in selecting that option which can give maximum positive and minimum negative results. According to Simon, decision making should be based on logical choice. He considered that Political Science is study of government and the main objective of the government is decision making. So, Political Science can be called as a science of decision making.

Political Science cannot be considered as a science. Two arguments are as following: 

1. Research and experiements like science are not possible: 

Research and experiments are not possible in Political Science. Subject matter of natural sciences includes non – living things like summer, winter, sound, light, etc.

So experiments can easily be carried out in laboratories and correct and exact evaluations can be made, whereas, Political Science is a social science. Its subject matter includes living and emotional human being and his behaviour that keeps changing according to circumstances.

2. Relation of cause -effect cannot be established easily: 

This is one of the basic fundamentals of science that cause – effect relation can be established in it. Political Science works on assumption, probability and approximation. So, cause – effect relationship cannot be established in Poltical Science and it cannot be called a science.

Difference between traditional and modern views of Political Science: 

1. Differences of Definitions: 

Traditional thinkers consider Political Science as a study of state and government. As Garner has written, “Political Science begins and ends with the state”. In contrast to this, modern thinkers are of the view that Political Science is study of man’s political behaviour. As lass well and Kaplin have said, “Political Science is the study of shaping and sharing of power”.

2. Difference in Nature: 

Traditional thinkers of Political Science consider it as an ‘Art’ and give emphasis on ‘should be’. As Buckle believed, “In the present situation of knowledge Political Science far from being a science, it is the most lacking Art”. Since ages, Manu, Kautilya, Shukra, etc. Indian political thinkers had defined it as an art of governance. Ancient Greek thinkers like Plato also considered it as an art of government, whereas modern political thinkers consider Political Science as science and lay emphasis on relavant, data-based objective and mathematical study.

3. Differences in study methods: 

Traditional Political Science uses philosophical, historical and comparative methods for study. These methods are old and unrefined. On the other hand, study of modern Political Science uses statistical experiential – based and inter-disciplinary methods. Modern political thinkers analyse and predict man’s political behaviour and experienced truths related to it.

4. Differences regarding values: 

Traditional view of Political Science is free of values. It is affected by subjective and individual approach. Traditional thinkers believed in ethics and morality. Whereas, modem view of Political Science gives no emphasis on it. According to modern view, political thinkers keep themselves separated from morality, values, ethics and prejudices and carry on research using scientific methods.

5. Differences in Aim and Purpose: 

Purpose of traditional Political Science is achievement of good life. On the other hand, purpose of modern political science is not achievement of good life, but it is to explain the political happenings in their real perspective. Modern political thinkers are of the view that a political thinker cannot be a passive onlooker, but he has to try to solve the problems.

6. Differences in scope: 

Under traditional Political Science, present, past and future of a state is studied, along with organs, methods and responsibilities of governments. Whereas, modern political thinkers do not study institutions, rather they study methods. They like to study who makes the law, who decides to make laws and the real process of law – making, rather than studying the executive or parliament.

Traditional View:

‘Politics’ word has been derived from the Greek word ‘Polis’, which means ‘City state’. The study or knowledge of city – state and its related life, happenings, activities, behaviour and organisations is politics. 

Political Science is defined into four types according to traditional view:

• As the study of state. 
•  As the study of government. 
•  As the study of state and government. 
• As the study of state, government and man. In the words of Garner, “Political science begins and ends with the state.” 

Traditional thinkers consider Political Science as a subject that studies state, government and man. It is impossible to think about the government in the absence of the state as the government uses the power given by the state. State is an abstract concept without the government and man is the primary unit of the state. So, according to traditional view, Political Science is a study of inter – relationship between State, government and man.

Nature: 

According to traditional view, Political Science is the study of state, government and its organs, and duties of political institutions, man; and inter – relations of man and state. This view is idealistic, philosophical and ethical. This view gives importance to values, morals and ethics.

Scope: 

Scope of Political Science means the extent of its subject matter. Different traditional thinkers and the UNESCO have included the following in the subject matter of Political Science:

1. Study of political life of man. 

2. Study of state. 

3. Study of government. 

4. Study of local, national and international problems. 

5. Study of political parties and pressure groups. 

6. Study of political philosophy and ideologies. 

7. Study of international relationships. 

8. Study of diplomacy. 

9. Study of local government. 

10.Study of international organisations. 

11.Study of international laws.

Modern View Meaning: 

According to modern view, Political Science is related to systematic and organised study of state, government and different aspects and relationships of the society with government. 

According to modern view, Political Science can be defined in four parts: 

• Political Science is study of human activities. 
• Study of Power. 
• Study of political arrangements. 
• Study of decision – making process.

Modern Political Science gives emphasis on study of political behaviour of man, political activities and all those informal aspects that affect politics rather than the study of government and state only. In this way, modern view is more empirical and practical than the traditional view.

Nature: 

According to modern view, political behaviour of man is to be studied in Political Science and all political institutions also are to be studied in realistic aspects.

Scope: 

Modern view, which is wide and practical, came into existence after the Second World war. 

According to this view, following topics are included in the subject matter of Political Science: 

• Study of political behaviour of man 
• Study of political processes 
• Study of power 
•  Inter disciplinary study 
• Use of scientific methods 
• Study of various ideologies and philosophies

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.”

Traditional view is a disciplinary concept, whereas modern view is a inter-disciplinary concept.

Most definitions of Political Science give importance to state and government, but ignoret man who is an important part of the state and the government. Political Science is incomplete without study of man. Different branches of social science study different aspects of human life, in which, Political Science studies the political aspect of human life. State and government decide control and organise political aspect of man’s life and man also affects the state and the government.

According to Laski, ” The study of politics concerns itself with the life of man in relation to organised states.”According to Gettell, “Political science studies human life as a political unit.”According to Herman Heller, “The universal form of political science is determined by the past fundamental beliefs related to man.”

Plato has considered Political Science as the supreme art of governance.

Aristotle, Bodin, Hobbes, Laski.

The main features of traditional point of view of Political Science are as follows: 

1. Traditional view of Political Science is idealistic, philosophical and Utopian. It gives emphasis on values, ideals and morals. 

2. It lays emphasis on historical and explanatory methods, and considers the state, the government and institutions as matter of study. 

3. According to traditional view, definitions of Political Science can be divided into four categories: 

• As the study of state. 
• As the study of government. 
• As the study of state and government. 
• As the study of state, government and the individual. 

4. These views make a fine distinction between Political Science and other social sciences. 

5. It holds a static view towards politics as it is at institutional.

Manu, Shukra, Kautilya, Brihaspati, etc.

This statement has been given by Demock.

(a)  Gilchrist

(d) All these

Inter-disciplinary and experiential methods.

• Statistical method 
• Experiential method 
•  System analysis method 
•  Inter-disciplinary method.

According to David Easton, “Political system is an authoritative allocation of values in any society.”

Some political thinkers are of the view that Political Science is the study of both state and government. 

It becomes clear from the following definitions : 

• According to R.N. Gilchrist, “Political Science deals with the general problems of the state and organisation of the government.” 
•  According to Demock, “Political Science is concerned with the state and its means and government.” 
•  According to Paul Janet, “Political Science is that part of social science which deals with the foundation of the state and principles of the government.” 

It becomes clear from the above definitions that government is necessary for the fulfilment of purposes of state. At the same time, it is impossible to think of a government without the state. So, both, state and government are studied in Political Science.

Scholars like Garner, Gettell, Bluntschli and Garris, etc. has defined Political Science as study of state. 

For example: 

1. According to Garner, “Political Science begins and ends with the state.” 

2. According to Gettell, “Political Science is an historical investigation of what the state has been, analytical study of what the state is and politico – ethical discussion of what the state ought to be.” 

3. According to Bluntschli, “Political Science is the science which is concerned with the state in its fundamental conditions, its essential nature, its various forms of manifestation and its development.”

4. According to Garris, “Political Science considers the state as an institution of power in the totality or its relation, its origins, its setting, its objects, its ethical significance, its economic problems, its life conditions, its financial sides, its ends, etc.”

Political thinkers Sir John Seeley, Leacock, Paul Janet, etc had defined Political Science as study of government. 

• According to John Seeley, “Political Science investigates the phenomenon of the government as economy deals with wealth, Biology with life, Algebra with numbers and Geometry with space and magnitude.” 
• According to Leacock, “Political Science deals with government.” 
• According to Paul Janet, “Political Science is that part of social sciences which treats with the foundation of the state and principle of the governments.”

(a) study of state and government

• Philosophical method 
• Historical method 
•  Comparative method.

The knowledge that maintained balance between the efforts done for ‘Treyi’ and ‘Varta’, was called ‘Anvikshiki’.

According to Laski, “Study of Political Science is related to the lives of men connected with the organised state.”

‘In modern times, ‘Politics’ is explained as a systematic and arranged study of state, government and different aspects and relationships of the society.

‘Politics’ has been derived from the Greek word ‘Polis’, which means ‘city – state’.

Aristotle has described the word ‘Politics’ as a study of city – state and its problems related to life, activities, happenings and behaviours.

Comparison between traditional and modern definitions of Political Science:

• Traditional definitions of Political Science explain its meaning in narrow perspective, whereas modern definitions explain its meaning in broad and wide perspective. 
• Traditional definitions give emphasis on political organisation, whereas modern definitions give emphasis on political process. 
• Traditional definitions give emphasis on ethics and morals, whereas modern definitions give emphais on the study of facts. 
• Traditional definitions give importance to study methods like philosophical, historical and legal, whereas modern definitions give emphasis on interdisciplinary and experiential methods. 
• Traditional definitions consider Political Science as a subject to study formal organisations like state and government, whereas modern definitions include study of both formal organisations as well as informal elements like power, influence political system and decision-making process.

According to the Paris Conference of UNESCO in 1948, the following topics can be included in the scope of Political Science:

1. Political theories: 

Study of history of political thoughts and political theories. 

2. Political organisations: 

Comparative study of constitutions, National governments, Local government, state governments, public administration, social and economic works of the governments and political institutions. 

3. Political parties, pressure groups and public opinion: 

Study of political behavour of political parties, pressure groups, etc. and public opinion and process of involvement of general public in government. 

4. international relations: 

Study of international politics, international relation and administration. These topics were accepted by the scholars all over the word as a part of the scope of Political Science which were put forward in the Paris Conference of UNESCO in 1948.

That knowledge which gave education about agriculture, animal rearing, handicraft and business was called Varta’.

The knowledge that included knowledge of Vedas, Vedangas and ethical and spiritual subjects was called Treyi Vidya.

Varta the knowledge related to materialistic achievements and money-making.

Organisational arrangement of enforcement in accordance with the criteria of Anvikshiki for the fulfilment of materialistic and spirtual purpose of human life has been called as ‘Dandaniti’.

• Treyi 
•  Varta 
•  Anvikshiki 
•  Dandaniti

This was said by Acharya Shukra.

 This statement is by Buckle.

Dandaniti is used in ancient Indian philosophy for today’s Political Science.

Principle of welfare state is adopted in Political Science to make human life more comfortable.

(d) All of these

 “Political Science is all art, philosophy and science.”Catlin said this.

(d) Systematic study