Chapter 2

POLITICAL SCIENCE AND OTHER SOCIAL SCIENCES

Man is a social animal. His social life has many dimensions political, economic, sociological,
psychological, historical etc. Social sciences deal with this multi-dimensional man, his collective
life, social behaviour, organisations and activities. All of these dimensions of man are interconnected leading to interrelationship among various social sciences. Political science, being one
of the social sciences dealing with the political aspect of social man, has close connections with
other social sciences. The modem approach in the study of social sciences is primarily
interdisciplinary. It means that scholars of one specialized social science should work in
coordination with scholars of other disciplines. This has resulted in a great deal of overlapping of
disciplines. Interdisciplinary study has resulted in a rapid development of theoretical and applied
aspects of politics and the sharpening of tools of research and analysis in the present century.
Political Science and History
Political Science and History are very closely connected. Jellinek remarked: It is almost a
common-place today to affirm the necessity of historical study as a basis for a proper
understanding of institutions, whether they be political, legal, or social.1 E.H. Carr holds that "the
dual function of history (is) to enable man to understand the society of the past and to increase
his mastery over the society of the present"} The cause and effect relationship of social
phenomena can be understood by scientific understanding of history. History furnishes the
political scientist the raw materials for comparison and induction. The relation of political science
and history is well brought out in words of Seeley: "History without Political Science has no fruit.
Political Science without history has no root". In the words of Freeman, "history is past politics
and politics is present history". While political science is dependent on history for its material, it
must be made clear that history supplies only part of its material. Again, all facts of history are not
useful to political science. Garner rightly points out that not all of history is "past politics". Much of
it like the history of art, of science, of inventions, discoveries, military campaigns, language,
customs, dress, industries, religious controversies has little, if any, relation to politics and
affords no material for political investigation. Political Science selects relevant facts out of history.
All political institutions are products of history. Without historical foundations, political
science becomes merely speculative and abstract. History is a vast storehouse of facts and
information from which political science draw its relevant materials for generalizations. Lipson
writes: "with its chronological treatment, history offers to the student of politics a sense of growth
and development and thus affords insight into the process of social change". Political science has
influence on history. Political ideas of thought leaders have contributed in shaping human history.
Political revolutions and political concepts like democracy, liberty, equality and political ideologies
like liberalism, nationalism and socialism have substantially influenced the history of societies.
Garner aptly observes: "to interpret history in its true significance we must study that politically.
Behaviouralism with its stress on empirical method has undermined the importance of
historical method in recent political studies. Traditional method relied more on history as it
believed that history can assist in understanding the present and act as a guide for the future.
Political Science and Economics
Political Science and economics are very closely related and cover a common ground to a large
extent. Early writers on economics considered their subject as a branch of political science and
termed it political economy.
Politics influences substantially the economic system. The state formulates the economic
policies and regulates the economy. Production and distribution of wealth, price control, trade,
taxation, government ownership of public utilities, banking, export-import and such other
economic activities are regulated by political decision-making. The solution of many economic
problems must come through political channels. Indeed many of the complex problems of the
modern state are essentially economic in character: the reduction of economic disparity, removal

of poverty and unemployment, the adjustment of the claims of capital and labour, nationalization
and the achievement of a welfare state. The modern state, Galbraith writes, is an "Industrial
State".
On the other hand, political and social life is profoundly influenced by economic
conditions. Karl Marx regarded politics as a part of political economy and maintained that the
economic basis of society influences politics which belongs to the superstructure. Political
movements and revolutions are profoundly influenced by economic causes. All political ideologies
like liberalism, socialism, imperialism, fascism have an economic basis. The political behaviour of
man and various organized groups is influenced by economic factors. The main functions of
modern welfare state are basically economic. There are economic motives behind many political
policies. Political norms like liberty, equality, rights, justice are very often evaluated on an
economic basis.
Thus there is close relationship between political and economic life. The interaction of the
two disciplines has resulted in the increasing importance given to political economy in recent
years.
Political Science and Sociology
No two social sciences are as closely related as political science and sociology. Sociology is the
fundamental social science. It is the root of all the social sciences. It is the most comprehensive
social science which studies all aspects of the life of man in society. In the words of Small, it is the
"science of men in their associated processes".
Sociology has a much wider scope than political science. It is a study of society in all its
manifestations, while political science is primarily a study of the state and government. In other
words, sociology deals with man in all his social relations, while political science deals with the
man in his political relations. Sociology deals with both organized and unorganised communities
and groups, while political science is concerned with organised political communities. The subject
of sociology is social man and that of political science is political man.
The relation between the two sciences is well brought out by Garner. He writes:
"Sociology derives from political science knowledge of the facts regarding the organization and
activities of the state, while political science derives in large measure from sociology its
knowledge of the origin of political authority and the laws of social control". State and politics
cannot be studied objectively without an understanding of the general laws of social development.
Political institutions and processes are influenced by social forces and factors. Not only does
sociology influence political science, but politics also influences the social system. The political
system controls and regulates social forces and customs. Politics engineers the process of
peaceful social change and is engaged in maintaining social stability and cooperation. Political
control is the most important and the most effective among all forms of social control.
Contemporary political studies have borrowed concepts, methods and techniques of
research from sociology. The current sociological impact on the study of politics can be traced
back to the influence of Max Weber. Interdisciplinary study of political science and sociology got
tremendous fillip with the emergence of political behaviouralism. A new branch of study named
political sociology has emerged as a result of the interaction between political science and
sociology. G. Sartori has observed that politics has got socialised and society has got politicised
in the present times to such an extent that politics cannot be studied in isolation from sociology.
Political Science and Psychology
Psychology is the science of mental attitudes and human behaviour. It studies human instincts,
attitudes, sentiments and emotions. It has been emphasized that scientific study of social
phenomena must have a psychological basis. Psychological factors have become increasingly
important for understanding what people believe about politics and how they act in political
situations. Study of political behaviour has assumed great significance under the impact of

behaviouralism in political studies.

The psychological approach in political science goes back to 1908 when A. F. Bentley's
"The Process of Government" and Graham Wallas's "Human Nature in Politics" were published.
The psychological approach received further impetus from Chicago School political scientists
such as C. E Merrium, Stuart Rice, George Catlin and Harold Lasswell. Modern writers like Tarde,
Le Bon, McDougall, Graham Wallas, Baldwin and Ellwood have attempted to explain and
interpret political and social phenomena through the laws of psychology.
Governments to be stable and popular must reflect the mental ideas and moral
sentiments of the people who are subject to its control. Modern governments have devised subtle
methods of the psychological manipulation of the masses. Public opinion is being moulded by
ingenious propaganda as in politics the art of controlling the mass mind is increasingly becoming
the key to political power and stability.
Political Science and Ethics
Political science has close historical links with philosophy and ethics. Initially, the study of state in
Greece was a part of ethics. Ethics as a branch of study investigates the laws of morality and
formulates rules of conduct. Ethics is the science of the moral order while political science is the
science of the political order. Both have to deal with questions of right and wrong, good and bad,
just and unjust.
Plato conceived the notion of an ideal state in his 'Republic' and believed that the state
should train men in a life of virtue. The end of the state, according to Aristotle, is good life for the
citizens. Modern idealists like Rousseau, Kant, Hegel and Green have accepted the state as an
ethical institution which creates conditions for the fullest development of human personality. Lord
Acton goes so far as to say: "The great question is to discover, not what governments prescribe,
but what they ought to prescribe". Fox held that what is morally wrong can never be politically
right. Gandhi's lasting contribution to politics is his insistence upon the spiritualization of politics
i.e., application of truth, non-violence, love, self-suffering to man's social and political life.
The end of the state has been formulated by the greatest political thinkers in terms of
moral values. The state exists to promote social and moral good on the largest possible scale. A
good citizen is possible in a good state and perfect state cannot be conceived where wrong
ethical principles prevail. Laws are obeyed with greater readiness if they are based on the moral
ideas of the community. Politics also influences ethics. Politics safeguards the ethical norms of a
society. The state acts as the guardian of social morality. The attempts of some contemporary
political scientists to create a value-free political science have not been successful. David Easton
aptly observes: "The goal of value-free research is a myth... The utility of political research stems
from the fact that it helps men to decide upon the kind of political system they would prefer and to
understand how to go about changing social policy to obtain it. The inspiration behind political
science is clearly ethical."
Political Science and Jurisprudence
The state is a social phenomenon as well as a legal institution. From the legal point of view, the
state is a person with rights and duties. It is a juristic personality subject to the process of law.
The state operates through law and hence jurisprudence, as the science of law, is closely related
to politics. Strictly jurisprudence is a subdivision of political science but on account of its vast
scope and technical nature it is studied as a separate branch of study.
Jurisprudence has several branches, namely, civil law, criminal law, constitutional law,
international law etc. Constitutional law defines the organs of the state, their relations to one
another, and the rights and duties of individuals. International law regulates the relations of states
and various international organizations: If law influences politics, politics also influences law.
Different political systems have different legal systems; Laws tend to be a reflex of a particular
social pattern and are influenced by the nature of the political system.

Political Science and Anthropology

Anthropology deals with man as a social being. It deals with the origin, classification and relations
of races, languages and cultures found in different localities. Politics uses the vast material
gathered by anthropology.
Physical anthropology dealing with the conditions of primitive men and their environment
facilitates the study of the origin and evolution of various political institutions. Similarly social or
cultural anthropology dealing with the growth and interpretation of customs, traditions, habits and
religious beliefs etc., explains the forces and factors operating in political institutions.
Anthropological data have assumed great importance in the study of the formation of national
character.
Political Science and Geography
Many writers have emphasized the influence of geographical conditions and physical
environment upon national character. Even national policies have been shown to be determined
by such conditions. The influence of climate, topography, character of the soil, insularity, the
presence or absence of mountains, rivers and outlets to the sea has been emphasized by various
political thinkers from Aristotle to the present. Notable among them are Bodin, Rousseau,
Montesquieu and Buckle. The emphasis upon geographical factors as determinants of state
policy and governmental functioning has resulted in the development of a new science known as
Geopolitics. Since territory is an important element of the state, geographical factors naturally
influence political activities. These factors have assumed great significance especially in the field
of defence strategy.
Political Science and Statistics
Statistics is concerned with systematic collection, analysis and presentation of numerical data.
Von Mohl described statistics as a means through which a picture of existing political and social
conditions could be obtained. Social phenomena and the results of governmental action are
quantitatively measured by it. Statistical findings "serve as a guide for administrative action, as a
basis for legislation, and as a means for testing the expediency or effectiveness of political
policies". Therefore, all governments collect statistical information concerning finance, trade,
military and economic resources, social conditions of the people etc. Behavioural approach to the
study of political science has put excessive stress on statistical methods (quantification,
techniques), thereby contributing a lot to the scientific character of political science.
The foregoing discussion clearly shows the intimate relation of political science to other
social sciences. A proper understanding of political institutions, processes and phenomena calls
for reliance upon a number of sister disciplines. Specialization of social sciences should not lead
to narrow compartmentalization. Interdisciplinary approach to the study of social sciences has
resulted in the blurring of rigid boundaries of various disciplines and highlighting the need for
mutual exchange and interaction among social scientists.