Political science as a science explores the political life of society, the stagesthe development of political thought, the history of the folding of political doctrines, political systems, relations and processes, world political processes, political culture and consciousness.
Political science as a science studies the interrelationship of politics with the life of man and society. Politics affects the everyday life of people in general and the fate of individual individuals.
Political science as a science passed in its formation three stages.
The first period began in ancient times andlasted until the New Time. For the first time, knowledge of politics began to be analyzed and generalized by Plato, Aristotle in Ancient Greece. Philosophers defined politics as the state and public management of Polis. In the countries of the East, citizens' participation in politics was limited, so special works on government were not created there.
Because of this situation, two points of viewto the place of personality in political relations. According to the first citizens should take part in the life of the state and control the bureaucracy. This is the approach of Western countries. According to the second point of view, an ordinary person should not seek to participate in political life. This is the prerogative of professionals. This approach is typical for the countries of the East. It was believed that under this state of affairs, politicians would not go against the people.
Currently, the interpretation of the policy severalis different. It is defined as the activity of governing the state, as well as the relationship between people and power. Politics also refers to the art of winning the masses by the ability to persuade.
The second period of the formation of the science of politicscovers the New Time and lasts until the middle of the XIX century. Of great importance for the formation of political science thought were the works of Machiavelli, Hobbes, Spinoza, Locke, Rousseau. During this period, the most important knowledge and ideas about politics, power and the state are formed. The landmark of scientific thought was the work of N. Machiavelli "Sovereign", in which he raised the issue of the relationship between morality and politics. In his opinion, politics should be outside morality ("the end justifies the means").
The third period of the development of scientific knowledge of politicsbegan with the end of the XIX century. So began modern political science. At this time, political science was separated into an independent science. The participation of citizens in the political life of Europe has significantly increased with the introduction of elections. There was a need to manage new processes.
In 1857, in America, at Columbia University, the 1st school of science on politics arose. In 1949, at the initiative of UNESCO, an international association of political sciences was established.
At this time, the object, object, scientific tasks of political science is formulated. In most countries this scientific discipline was included in the list of subjects for study in higher education.
Political science as a science is connected with many other sciences and academic disciplines: philosophy, jurisprudence, sociology, economics, ethnography, history, psychology, geography, etc.
Political science develops in two directions - boththeoretical knowledge and applied science, focused on achieving practically meaningful results. In this regard, the methods used by political science are also divided into theoretical and applied. Their list is very extensive: general methods (analysis, induction, modeling, etc.), system method, behaviourist method, sociological method, etc.
For example, comparative political science, beingone of the directions of political science, the comparison method is used as the main method. She studies politics by comparing and comparing similar phenomena that occur in different areas of political life (political parties, processes, attitudes, institutions, regimes, political culture, etc.)
The subjects of politics are the state, social groups (classes, strata), political organizations (parties, trade unions), political elite.
