Definition, Nature, and Development of Political Science

1. Political Science and International Relations Definition, object of interest and genesis of political science Operační program Vzdělávání pro konkurenceschopnostNázev projektu: Inovace magisterského studijního programu Fakulty ekonomiky a managementu Registrační číslo projektu: CZ.1.07/2.2.00/28.0326

2. Aim of the presentation • to briefly introduce the definition of political science as a social science discipline; • to explain its nature, structure and historical development; • to present the main political science schools and approaches to studying politics.

3. Presentation contents • Definition of political science • Characteristics of political science and its division • Historical development of political science • Main schools and directions of the contemporary political thought

4. Definition of political science • Political science, Politikwissenschaft, science politique • Political science – the multidisciplinary social science dealing with politics, political theories and international relations • Political science is focused on the description and evaluation of political phenomena, such as the functioning of the state and political system, power organizations and authorities, political ideology, meaning and behavior in relation to public policy and international relations

5. Definition of political science • Two basic methods: • Historically - semantic method • Functionally – structural method • According to historical-semantic methods is the notion of policy derived from the concept of polis, a city-state in ancient Greece meant the settlement, which was defensible, organized and independent • The term polis are, therefore, from the beginning of the associated properties such as organized coexistence of a large number of people, a certain sovereignty of this group, the use of military power and authority and certain inequality and hierarchy

6. Definition of political science • Over time, the concept of policy increasingly narrowed the issues of governance and the exercise of power. Change came with the advent of the Enlightenment school of thought in the 18th century • Aspect of the process of applying power is still in the focus, but we can also observe a tendency understanding politics as a broader term, including the solution of economic, social and cultural issues • According functionally structural method we can identify three essential political dimensions: • polity • policy • politics

7. Definition of political science

8. Definition of the political science • Key term: power • M. Weber: „Politics is the sharing of state's power between various groups, and political leaders are those who wield this power.“ • Henry A. Wallace: "Their final objective toward which all their deceit is directed is to capture political power so that, using the power of the state and the power of the market simultaneously, they may keep the common man in eternal subjection."

9. Characteristics of political science • The scope of the political science has been and is being studied by other scientific disciplines also. It is primarily about philosophy, history, sociology, psychology and economy • The gradual emergence of the specialised political science can be understood as the result of a natural division of labour between the social sciences • Division of political science (UNESCO 1950): • Political theories • Political institutions and systems • Political sociology • Foreign policy and international politics

10. Characteristics of political science • Alternative division – according the scope: • Normative political science • Comparative political science • Political parties and lobbies • Comparative federalism • Media • Public administration • International relations and organizations • Human rights

11. Historical development of p. science • Political science – modern science appeared in the 20th century • First attempts of scientific exploration of politics – Plato, Aristotle • Renaissance and Modern Times – Machiavelli, Bodin, Locke, Montesquieu, Hamilton • Modern and postmodern period – Marx, Weber, etc. • Political science, in the strict sense of the term, originated at the turn of the 19th and 20th century in the United States and after the WWII in Europe • On the European continent the political science was more focused on the state and state polities. • In the U.S., by contrast, political science was more focused on finding a precise measurement or analysis of the basic factors of political phenomena - based on empirical methods

12. Schools and directions of p. science • Normative-ontological school • Normative school is convinced of the existence of certain only possible and necessary norms inevitable for human existence, which may be adapted, but not essentially leaved • Empirical-analytic school • EAS is based on the assumption that in the social sciences, there is no objective truth, and the surrounding reality is a product of incomplete development, which can be reformed and regulated • Critical-dialectical school • CDS is based on the theoretical assumption that the reality of the world is the result rightful historical process, which can be explained and influenced on scientific basis

13. Political Science and International Relations Definition, object of interest and genesis of political science Operační program Vzdělávání pro konkurenceschopnostNázev projektu: Inovace magisterského studijního programu Fakulty ekonomiky a managementu Registrační číslo projektu: CZ.1.07/2.2.00/28.0326