Introduction to Political Science

All Things Political Science
17 Dec 201306:08
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRPolitical science systematically studies government, politics, and political behavior. It examines power relationships in society. Studying political science develops critical thinking skills to better understand current events and shades of grey in complex issues. Subdisciplines include American government, international relations, political theory, comparative politics, and political research methodology. A political science background prepares students for careers in government, nonprofits, business, journalism, education, and more by building analytical abilities.

Takeaways
  • πŸ˜ƒ Political science studies government, politics and political behavior
  • 😊 It examines power relationships in society
  • πŸ€” Studies impact of politics and government on daily life
  • πŸ“œ Examines legal rights and civil liberties
  • 🌍 Includes international relations, global issues
  • πŸ“š Covers political theory and philosophy
  • πŸ” Compares political systems around the world
  • πŸ“ˆ Uses quantitative methods to analyze politics
  • πŸ’Ό Diverse career paths for political science majors
  • 🀯 Develops critical thinking to understand complexity of political issues
Q & A
  • What are some of the main subdisciplines within political science?

    -Some of the main subdisciplines within political science are comparative politics, international relations, political theory/philosophy, public policy, research methodology, American government, and public administration.

  • What does the study of comparative politics involve?

    -The study of comparative politics involves analyzing different political systems and governments around the world. It can involve a thematic approach focused on concepts like nationalism or revolutions, or a country-specific approach looking at the domestic politics of particular nations.

  • How does political science help one better understand current events and news?

    -Studying political science helps develop critical thinking skills to better analyze current events and news reports. It provides context and background on political issues, systems, and theories to interpret events in a deeper, more nuanced way.

  • What career options are available with a political science degree?

    -Some career options with a political science degree include working in government at the local, state, or federal level, international organizations like the UN, non-profit/NGOs, business, journalism, teaching, law, and becoming an elected official.

  • How does political science relate to other social sciences?

    -Political science is a social science like sociology, psychology, or anthropology because it involves studying human behavior, specifically political behavior and power dynamics in society.

  • What does political science teach about analyzing complex issues?

    -Political science teaches that complex political issues often lack easy or simple solutions, and require nuanced analysis recognizing multiple perspectives and shades of grey rather than black-and-white thinking.

  • How does studying political theory help one understand politics?

    -Studying political theory and philosophy exposes students to great historical thinkers and their perspectives on power, human nature, justice, rights, and political systems - offering conceptual foundations to analyze real-world politics.

  • What aspects of everyday life are impacted by politics and government?

    -Many everyday aspects are shaped by government and politics, including policing, fire protection, education, infrastructure, civil rights and liberties, foreign policy, economic policy, and more.

  • How can political science inform citizens about their rights and laws?

    -Political science provides knowledge about legal rights, the constitution, the court system, civil liberties, and laws - helping citizens understand the rules and principles governing society.

  • What research methods are used in political science?

    -Political science uses quantitative methods like surveys, statistics, and data analysis as well as qualitative methods like case studies, interviews, and textual analysis to study political behavior and phenomena.

Outlines
00:00
😊 Defining and Explaining Political Science

The first paragraph defines political science as the systematic study of government and politics. It is a social science that studies political behavior and power relationships in society. The paragraph explains the broad nature of political science across subdisciplines like American government, international relations, political theory, comparative politics, and research methodology. It also discusses various career options with a political science degree, including working in government, nonprofits, international organizations, becoming an elected official, teaching, diplomacy, business, and journalism.

05:03
πŸ˜ƒ Why Study Political Science and Its Benefits

The second paragraph explains reasons to study political science and its benefits. It helps analyze current events and formulate stronger arguments by developing critical thinking skills and nuanced perspectives. Political science provides insight into legal rights, constitutions, fascinating aspects of people and society. It is ultimately a rewarding field of study for anyone interested in politics, people, and power structures in the world.

Mindmap
Keywords
πŸ’‘Political Science
Political Science is the academic study of politics and government. It examines political systems, institutions, behaviors, processes, and policies. This video emphasizes that political science focuses on power relationships and the factors that influence who gets access to power. It also notes that political science helps analyze and explain political events and phenomena.
πŸ’‘Government
Government refers to the system of people and institutions that make binding decisions for a society. The video gives examples like the police, fire department, and military as being parts of government. It also notes that government impacts daily life through policies and civil liberties.
πŸ’‘Power
Power in political science refers to the capacity to influence others and impose one's will. Forms of power discussed include hard military power, soft power like cultural influence, and political power from holding office. The distribution of power in society is a central issue examined.
πŸ’‘International Relations
International Relations is the subfield of political science focused on interactions between countries and global actors. The video highlights how IR examines issues like human rights, globalization, foreign policy, and different theoretical models. It looks at power dynamics on a global scale.
πŸ’‘Comparative Politics
Comparative Politics involves analyzing and contrasting different political systems and institutions around the world. The video describes thematic approaches like studying revolutions or country-specific analyses of domestic politics and issues.
πŸ’‘Political Theory
Political Theory subfield studies major philosophical questions and thinkers regarding the nature of power, human nature, ideologies like socialism and feminism. It develops conceptual foundations underlying politics and government.
πŸ’‘Public Policy
Public policy refers to binding laws, rules, and decisions made by government bodies. The video gives examples like policies on textbook costs as illustrations of how government policies impact daily life and shape socioeconomic outcomes.
πŸ’‘Political Behavior
Political behavior examines how individuals and groups behave in political settings, including voting, activism, party identification, and attitudes. Political science analyzes patterns in political behavior using social science methods.
πŸ’‘Critical Thinking
The video argues political science develops critical thinking skills like analyzing current events in depth, evaluating arguments, and understanding nuance versus black-and-white perspectives. It helps move beyond simplistic explanations.
πŸ’‘Civic Engagement
Studying political science can promote civic engagement by increasing political knowledge, efficacy, and interest in participation. The video notes it expands understanding of rights and the political system.
Highlights

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Transcripts
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