The subject of political science

Political science has long existed as a separate body of knowledge about politics. But, despite this, this term has not consolidated a single definite understanding. From the very first days of the emergence of science, the subject of political science was supplemented and refined. Her methods have also been constantly improved.

The main object of study is the world of politics. This is the opinion of most researchers. The subject of political science is a complex of concepts through which it describes the existing political reality. However, as is known, this reality is dual. On the one hand, politics is a real relationship, a practice concerning management, power. On the other hand, it is a world of absolutely subjective judgments and intentions regarding the human values that influence the adoption of appropriate decisions.

The fact that the subject of political science has different interpretations is due to the many-valued forms of the existence of science. An understanding of this issue is directly influenced by the national characteristics of its development.

There are two conventionally distinguished points of view on the subject of political science. Each of them has additional shades.

Supporters of normative policy strive to create a universal science. They see it as an organization, activity and form of government or state, their relations with other states and with citizens from the standpoint of order, justice and profit. The subject of political science in this case is political institutions as a means of expressing it. This point of view is popular in Western Europe. There political science was isolated from the constitutional law, hence the analogy with political institutions.

Adherents of the second point of view see the subject of political science in the system of relations concerning power. They consider this area of life existing independently, on an equal basis with economic, spiritual, social, etc. In this case, politics is not only a set of institutions and institutions that give it shape and direct action. It also includes all activities that are related to relations with the authorities. This interpretation is characteristic of the political science of England and America.

At the end of the 20th century, changes took place in the world that provoked rapprochement of the two approaches. Old ideas about the functions of politics and its factors were transformed in connection with the collapse of the communist system and the formation of a different order. In this situation, the best understanding of it will be the combination of the theory of science and pragmatics.

Discussion on the subject of political science allows us to draw the following conclusions. First, the boundaries of its object are determined by the space in which public power is formed and functions. Secondly, the subject of political science depends on the political tradition. And, thirdly, its object is made up of ideas about science, their logical construction, connectivity, expressed by the main categories of political science, that is, its most general concepts.

Politics is a kind of social reality that develops in the course of the exchange of information between people. And also in the process of forming in them the same ideas about the role of power, its sense and organization. A working definition of the subject of this science may sound as follows: political science is a science that studies the structure, distribution and implementation of political power. All this is realized in the course of interaction of the individual with state bodies and society. The meaning of various ways of communication is to make such political decisions that are aimed at meeting the needs that are significant for everyone.