Approaches to the study of Political Science
An approach is a way of looking at and then explaining a particular phenomenon. An approach consists of a criteria of selection-Criteria employed in selecting and data to bring to bear; it consists of standards governing the inclusion and exclusion of questions and data. The problem may be small or big. The explanation may be normative or empirical; qualitative or quantitative. The result is a generalised statement summarising actions. Approach is a precursor of a theory and approach can be transformed into a theory if and when its function extends beyond the selection of problems and data about the subject under study.
Traditional Approaches
Philosophical approach:-Philosophical approach is also known as speculative or metaphysical approach. This method is deductive in its approach and starts with certain self-evident general propositions and then confirms or denies the facts. It starts with some abstract view of human nature and draws conclusions from that view concerning the nature, functions and aims of the State. Conclusions thus drawn are then sought to be harmonized with the actual facts of history and/or political life modifying its conclusions necessary .
Historical approach:-The salient feature of historical approach is to throw focus on the past or over a selected period of time as well as on a sequence of selected events within a particular phase so as to find out an explanation of "what institutions are, and are tending to be, move/more in knowledge of what they have been and how they came to be, what they are than in the analysis of them as they stand."
The historical approach is criticised on the following grounds :-
(1)History generally does not repeat itself. So its value is limited.
( 2)History does not deal with values.
(3) In history, most of the resemblances are superficial. One may draw misleading conclusions.
(4) Some examples of the past may not be useful now because of changing conditions.
(5) One may draw misleading conclusions because of superficial resemblances. The investigations may be made with emotional influences and personal prejudices of the investigator.
Legal Approach:-The legal approach is also called judicial approach. In legal approach, the study of politics is linked with the study of legal and judicial processes and institutions created by the State for maintaining a political organisation. The themes of law and justice are treated not as the affairs of jurisprudence only but are linked to the State as the State is regarded to be the maintainer of an effective and equitable system of law and order. Matters relating to the organisation, jurisdiction and independence of judicial institutions, therefore, become an essential concern of a political theorist.
Institutional Approach :- The institutional approach is also called structural approach as it gives importance to organisations, interest groups and structures. The institutional approach lays emphasis on the formal structures of a political organisation like legislature, executive and judiciary. Some analysts like Herman Finer may include the study of political parties, too, considering them also to be institutions. This approach covers both the formal and the informal institutions.
Sociological Approach :- Sociological approach regards the State mainly as a social organisation. As a member of society, every individual learns many things. The totality of what he has learned from society is called political culture. Political culture is a way of political life, a method of thinking, glancing and feeling.
According to sociological approach, ample data was available in sociology to lay down certain empirical rules of political behaviour. The elements of kinship, race, religion, language and such others will have more influence on political structure and activities that are present in any society.
Psychological Approach :- Psychological approach gives much importance to instincts, habits, emotions, etc. As it is individuals who act in different capacities in the political system, their psychology would reflect in their political roles too. The political behaviour of the leaders, of the legislators and the executives, to name a few, can be understood well when the studies are based on the psychological approach .
Economic Approach :- Much of politics is economically influenced. Economic factors are the motivating factors in politics. Economic approach in the study of politics can be traced back to the ancient thinkers like Plato and Aristotle. They gave importance to economic conditions and distribution of wealth in a State. The form of government depends much on them. There can be no peace and revolutions break out if economic inequality prevails.
System Approach The genesis of the system theory can be traced back to the writings of Ludwig Von Bertanllanfy, a biologist in 1920. His emphasis was on the unification of all sciences, which is a sheet anchor or general system theory. The meaning of the general system is that a group objects or elements standing in some structural relationship to one another and interacting with certain characteristic processes.
Behavioural Approach
Behavioural approach is a modern empirical approach which revolutioned political science. It was developed from the 1940s and reached its climax in the 1960s. Graham Wallas and Arthur Bentley are the first writers on this approach. In fact, political thinkers like Machiavelli, Locke, Mill and others studied the political behaviour of man to some extent.
The central point of the behavioural approach is that the study of facts relating to human behaviour in any capacity or context can give more valid and useful knowledge. In the case of political science too, human behaviour exhibits useful information, and its measurable and useful propositions can be formulated to tackle the present problems.
Davia Easton has laid down the following intellectual foundation stones or assumptions of behaviouralism :
Regularities:-There are same uniformities in the political behaviour of human beings that can be shaped into theories. On the basis of uniformities we can explain and predict the political phenomenon. For example, some voters vote for the same party in all the elections. If we link up this behaviour with the social status, economic position and caste composition of the voters we find a uniformity in the behaviour pattern.
Verification :- Every aspect of study must be verified by concrete realities of the situation. The knowledge to be valid should consist of : (i) propositions that have been subject to empirical tests; (ii) that evidence must be based on observation; and (iii) conclude that they have carried out a large number of studies of attitude underlying political behaviour.
Techniques:- Correct techniques of sampling, scaling, etc. must be adopted for acquiring and interpreting data.
Ar Quantified evidence.-Data of study should be quantified and measured. Then the conclusions can be verified on the basis of quantified evidence.
Values:-Political science is a scientific study of politics in its functional aspect carried through empirical methods. It has nothing to do with moral or ethical questions.
Systematization.-The study in every field of political science must be systematic, theory oriented and theory directed. The behaviouralist theory does not consist of speculation, but of prediction, analytical explanation and scientific reasoning.
Pure science.-Behaviouralists insist on, what they call, "the pure science approach." The theoretical understanding may lead to the application of this knowledge to problems of life.
Integration.-Politics is one of the social sciences. The study of political phenomena requires some understanding of how the economic, cultural and other phenomena in society are unfolding themselves. If an effort is made to detach the political man from the economic, social or cultural man, it would not be possible to understand his political behaviour in its true character. So integration of all social sciences is necessary for the real understanding of political phenomena.
- Tapan Mandal
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