What are the 11 Branches of Political Science?

Political Science is the study of how government and public policy are made. The field of study has a broad range of topics, including constitutional law, international relations, public policy, and voting behavior. 

Political scientists study the interactions between individuals, groups, and the state, as well as the consequences of these interactions. This article will answer the question “what are the 11 branches of political science”.

What are the 11 Branches of Political Science?

The 11 branches of Political Science are the following:

• Comparative Politics
• International Relations
• Political Theory
• American Politics
• Political Economy
• Political Philosophy
• Public Policy
• Political Theory
• Public Administration
• Domestic Policy
• Human Rights

What is Political Science?

Political Science is the study of how individuals, groups, and states interact with one another in a political system. Political Science is the study of how people create, maintain, and change the political system and how that political system affects individuals and society. 

Political Science can also be defined as the science of politics because it studies the governments, politics, and public policies of a particular nation or group of nations. 

It is a broad subject that includes the study of the activities of government, both domestic and international. This can include topics such as ethics, sociology, law, economics, and international relations.

Political scientists use their knowledge to provide advice to political leaders, advise on how to run campaigns and elections, and advise on how to create public policy.

This field is important because it helps people understand how governments are formed, how they function, and how they impact our lives. Political Science can also be used to understand how certain countries’ governments work and the rules that govern their countries.

There are many different branches of Political Science which are further discussed below. 

Comparative Politics

Comparative politics is the study of how different societies and political systems work. There are many similarities between different societies and political systems, but there are also many differences. 

Comparative politics helps people understand how different societies and political systems compare to each other. It also focuses on how the political and social relations among people in different societies are affected by their different social, economic, and political structures.

International Relations

International Relations is the study of the interactions between nations and other types of international entities. It’s not limited to just the countries that are considered to be in a “country,” but also includes organizations, businesses, and individuals. 

The goal of International Relations is to provide a more complete understanding of what is happening in the world and how different countries, organizations, and individuals interact with each other.

Political Theory

Political theory is the study of how political institutions, power, and sovereignty are organized and exercised. Political theory is typically divided into two major categories: normative and positive. 

The normative side of political theory is concerned with the concepts of justice, rights, and legitimacy. The positive side of political theory is concerned with the study of power, interests, and decision-making.

American Politics

American politics is the study of the complex system of governance and policy, which has been developed and refined over the course of the history of the United States. 

The United States is a federal republic consisting of 50 states, each with its own government, legislature, and judiciary. The United States has three branches of government, each with its own functions and powers: the executive branch, legislative branch, and judicial branch.

Political Economy

Political economy is the study of how power, resources, and decision-making influence economic outcomes. Political economy is a subfield of economics and is often described as the study of how power shapes the economy. 

Political economy is an important branch of economic science because it studies how social systems and institutions shape the economy.

Political Philosophy

Political philosophy is the study of the fundamental nature of political life, what gives it its character, and how to make the best use of it. In order to understand political philosophy, one must first understand that there are two different types of political systems: democracy and dictatorship. 

In a democracy, the people decide on laws and the government decides on the policies for the country. In a dictatorship, the government is in charge of everything and the people have no say in anything.

Public Policy

Public policy is the set of laws, rules, and regulations that govern the activities of public institutions, such as the government, businesses, schools, and nonprofit organizations. 

Public policy includes everything from the law that gives the President of the United States the power to make treaties with other countries to the school policy on how many days of winter break students can take.

Political Theory

Political theory is the study of how society should be organized. Its practitioners, who are also called political theorists, attempt to understand the nature of political life and the means by which societies should be organized. 

Political theory is often divided into two main branches: normative political theory and positive political theory. Normative theorists focus on what a society should be like and how it should function. Positive theorists focus on how things actually are in a society and what can be done to improve it.

Public Administration

Public administration is the management of government and public affairs. It is concerned with the use of public resources, the creation of public policy, and planning for the future of society. 

Public administration can be used in any setting where there is a need for policies, decision-making, governance, and resource allocation. Public administration includes the work of governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, and private sector organizations.

Domestic Policy

Domestic Policy is the set of laws and rules that a country has for how it governs its own country. These laws are created to make the everyday life of citizens easier and more enjoyable. 

For example, in the United States, the domestic policy covers things like immigration, taxation, education, and healthcare. These policies also cover how to handle crime, what types of punishments to use, and how to help the poor.

Human Rights

Human rights is a branch of political science that deals with the rights and freedoms of people. Human rights are the most basic rights granted to all human beings. 

The theory of human rights dates back to the ancient Greek philosophers and was further developed by the Roman philosophers. Human rights are given to people by virtue of their humanity and are not granted by the state. 

These rights are given in order to protect people from being exploited or mistreated by other humans or by their own governments.

Conclusion

Political Science is the study of how society, governments, and public policy work. It is a way to understand how the government works and how the government can be changed. Political Science is a very diverse field of study that takes many different approaches. Some people choose to study the law, others may study international relations, and others may study economics.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): What are the 11 Branches of Political Science?

What do political theorists study?

Political theorists study how governments are organized, how power is divided, and how power is used. They also study the nature of law, justice, and legitimacy. Political theorists seek to understand how political institutions are related to one another and how they can be changed.

Who is the father of political science?

The father of political science is Aristotle who was born in 384 BC. He wrote about the importance of politics in his book Politics. Aristotle’s concepts about the family, society, economics, and politics have been influential on modern political science.

Which is the root word of politics?

The word derives from the Greek term politika, which means ‘affairs of the cities’. 

Reference

Almond, G. A. (1996). Political Science: The History of the. A new handbook of political science, (75-82), 50.

Patterson, M., & Monroe, K. R. (1998). Narrative in political science. Annual review of political science, 1(1), 315-331.

Almond, G. A. (1966). Political theory and political science. American Political Science Review, 60(4), 869-879.

Fields of Study | Political Science. Retrieved from https://polisci.duke.edu/undergraduate/offerings/fields

Three Branches of Natural Science: Physical, Earth & Life – Study.com. Retrieved from https://study.com/academy/lesson/three-branches-of-natural-science-physical-earth-life.html