Political Science by Asif Majid

            As defined by Repko, political science is a field that explores "the nature and practice of systems of government and of individuals and groups pursuing power" (85).  After identifying this as the base phenomena from which political science operates, he then connects political science to other disciplines, indicating that it is "influenced by theories from sociology, economics, and psychology" (91).  In terms of disciplinary techniques, the American Political Science Association indicates that political science "uses both humanistic and scientific perspectives" to examine the world; Repko agrees, writing that political science "does not have a single big methodological device all its own" (107).

            Major theories of political science include realism, constructivism, pluralism, game theory, and democratic peace theory, among others.  At the most basic level, these theories are used as structures upon which political scientists draw to understand what occurs around them.  Realism reflects a mentality that states are the primary actors on the world stage, while constructivism argues that societies play a key role in developing the world of international relations.  In this way, at least within some subfields, political science is interdisciplinary.  Pluralism indicates that decisions are made within the context of governmental institutions, and non-governmental institutions are, more or less, on the outside trying to get in.  Game theory analyzes different decision-making motivations, and various models like stag hunt, prisoner's dilemma, and chicken are derived from here.  Democratic peace theory is perhaps the one that maintains the most clout because of its growing truth.  It argues that liberal democracies never go to war with one another.  This theory has, time and time again, been affirmed by various global situations, so long as a liberal democracy is appropriately defined.

            As a discipline, political science has multiple geneses, including in Ancient Greece with Socrates, in Ancient India with Chanakya, and in Ancient China with Confucian and Taoist thought.  Each one of these areas emphasized different elements of importance, but the type that prevails in the West today is the evolved version of the Greek form.  It is based on individualism and works like Plato's The Republic.  Symbolically, political science is represented in various ways, depending on what type of political thought it reflects.  One worthwhile symbol is a set of scales, representing justice and balance.  Another symbol, since politics is also largely the study of power, could be a lightning bolt or a raised fist.

            Political science has certainly been combined with other disciplines, specifically within its subfields.  Political philosophy is largely reflective of thought experiments and other analytic explorations, while theories like constructivism within international relations blend political science and sociology.  Also, political science is heavily seeded in the history of governmental institutions, and is increasingly reliant on and intertwined with economics, particularly in the West.  This occurs because of the prevailing economic theory that individuals act primarily out of self-interest, which connects to individuals seeking power for personal benefit and gain.  Additionally, the role of markets and money in politics cannot be overstated, contributing to this disciplinary intermixing.

American Political Science Association. "What is Political Science?" the american political science association. 2011. 22 Feb 2011. http://www.apsanet.org/content_9181.cfm

Repko, Allen F. Interdisciplinary Research. Los Angeles: Sage Publications, Inc., 2008.