Political science is the study of
politics. It involves the study of structure and
process in
government - or any equivalent system that assures
safety, fairness, and
closure across a broad range of risks and access to
a broad range of commons for its human charges.
Accordingly, political scientists often study trade
unions, corporations, churches or other forms of
collective intelligence that are not "political" in
the sense of influencing law or executive decisions -
but have structure and process approaching that of
government in complexity and interconnection.
Political scientists study the allocation and
transfer of
power in decision making. Because of the complex
interaction of often conflicting interests, political
science is often an applied instance of
game theory.
Political processes are often associated with the
possibility or the prevention of
violence.
Since the end of the
World War II, the study of
International Relations, that is also part of
Law,
Economy,
Sociology, among others, became an important area of
Political Science. As the time passes,
International Relations studies get more and more
independent of Political Science, including the
methodology and scholars themselves.
One thing that complicates the study of political
science is that political scientists are themselves part
of the political process, since their teachings provide
the frameworks within which other commentators, such as
journalists, pressure-groups, politicians and the
electorate select what they see as the most viable
options.
The complex interplay of economic and political
choices is reflected in the field of
political economy, where economics and political
science overlap.
In the United States, political scientists look at a
variety of data including elections, public opinion (on
matters ranging from Social Security reform to foreign
policy), institutional roles (how the U.S. Congress
acts, where congressional power gravitates, how and when
the
Supreme Court acts, or does not act, etc.).
While historians look backward, seeking to explain
the past, political scientists try to illuminate the
politics of the present and predict those of the future.
See also:
list of literature on political science
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