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Meaning and Scope of Political Science | ISC Class 11

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Political ScienceISC Class 11 · Introduction to Political Science and State

Meaning and Scope of Political Science (ISC Class 11 Political Science)

Updated 17 October 2026 · Fact-checked

Political science is the systematic study of the state, government and power. The classical view (Garner: it begins and ends with the state) studies institutions and values; the modern view (Lasswell, Easton) studies power, behaviour and the political system. Its scope covers political theory, comparative politics, international relations, public administration and political economy.

Notice that one subject branches into five areas, and that it is studied through both the classical view of the state and the modern view of power.

Illustration drawn for QuestionBuddy.

Understand Meaning and Scope of Political Science

Origin of the word. Politics comes from the Greek polis, the city-state; Aristotle, called the father of political science, regarded it as the master science.

Classical view. The study of the state and government: origin, nature, institutions, purposes. Garner: "Political science begins and ends with the State." Gettell: a historical study of what the state has been, an analytical study of what it is and a moral study of what it ought to be. Features: formal institutions, history, philosophy and law, concern with values.

Modern view. The study of power, political activity and the political system, including behaviour. Lasswell: the shaping and sharing of power ("who gets what, when, how"). Easton: the authoritative allocation of values for a society. Features: informal processes (parties, pressure groups, voting, public opinion), observation and statistics, an attempt at value-neutrality, links with sociology, economics and psychology. Synthesis: institutions and behaviour, facts and values.

Scope (meaning only). (1) Political theory: ideas and concepts such as state, sovereignty, liberty, equality and justice, and what ought to be. (2) Comparative politics: comparing systems, such as parliamentary government in India and presidential government in the USA. (3) International relations: relations among states and other actors, foreign policy, diplomacy, war and peace, trade, international law. (4) Public administration: how policies are carried out, civil service, budgeting, delivery of services. (5) Political economy: the relationship between politics and the economy.

Politics versus political science. Politics is the activity of competing, bargaining and co-operating for power and collective decisions, practical and often partisan, practised by politicians and citizens, dealing with current issues. Political science is the systematic academic study, theoretical and analytical, impartial in aim, pursued by scholars, seeking general principles. They are related: political science studies politics.

Meaning and Scope of Political Science: key facts

Classical view
  • Study of the state and government
  • Garner
  • Gettell: past, present, ideal
Modern view
  • Study of power and behaviour
  • Lasswell
  • Easton: authoritative allocation of values
Five fields
  • Political theory
  • Comparative politics
  • International relations
  • Public administration
  • Political economy
Politics versus political science
  • Activity versus discipline
  • Partisan versus impartial
  • Practised versus studied

How to answer Meaning and Scope of Political Science questions

Questions are 3 to 4 marks: define, compare views or fields, or distinguish politics from political science.

  1. 1Give the root meaning of the word.
  2. 2State the classical view with Garner and Gettell.
  3. 3State the modern view with Lasswell and Easton.
  4. 4Add the five fields in one line each or contrast politics with political science.

Meaning and Scope of Political Science in real life

The idea, met in an everyday situation. Answer the question in your own words, then compare with the model answer. The one-line hook is what to remember.

Voting patterns

Suppose researchers compare how age and income influence voting in India and the UK.

Which view of political science is this and which field?

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Studying voting behaviour with observation and statistics is the modern, behavioural view.
  2. Because it compares the political behaviour of two countries, the field is comparative politics, not political theory.

Answer: The modern, behavioural view; the field is comparative politics.

Memory hook: Behaviour, not just buildings.

Comparing two systems

Suppose a student compares how a parliamentary country and a presidential country make laws.

Name the field.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Comparing systems of different countries is comparative politics.
  2. It finds similarities, differences and patterns.

Answer: Comparative politics.

Memory hook: Compare countries.

Tricks to remember Meaning and Scope of Political Science

Short memory aids. Say each one aloud once, then use it on a question the same day.

  • TCIPP

    Theory, Comparative, International, Public administration, Political economy.

    Use it when: Five fields.

  • Classical state, modern power

    Classical studies the state; modern studies power.

    Use it when: Views.

Meaning and Scope of Political Science: solved examples

Ordered from board level to HOTS. Try each one before you open the solution.

Example 1: Definition · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

"Political science begins and ends with the State" was said by:
(a) Lasswell
(b) Garner
(c) Easton
(d) Gettell

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Classical view.

Answer: (b) Garner.

Example 2: Fields · 3 marks · Short answerBoard level

Name the five fields of contemporary political science.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Political theory and comparative politics.
  2. International relations.
  3. Public administration and political economy.

Answer: Political theory, comparative politics, international relations, public administration, political economy.

Example 3: Two views · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Distinguish between the classical and modern views of political science on subject matter, method and attitude to values.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Classical: the state and government; modern: power, behaviour and the political system.
  2. Classical: history, philosophy and law; modern: observation and statistics.
  3. Classical is concerned with values; modern tries to be value-neutral.
  4. Today both institutions and behaviour, facts and values are studied.

Answer: Classical studies the state with values; modern studies power and behaviour scientifically.

Example 4: Politics and political science · 4 marks · Long answerHarder board level

Distinguish between politics and political science on four points.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. Nature: politics is an activity; political science is a discipline.
  2. Approach: politics is practical and partisan; political science is theoretical and impartial.
  3. Persons: politicians and citizens versus scholars and students.
  4. Scope: current issues versus general principles.

Answer: Activity versus study, partisan versus impartial, practitioners versus scholars, particular versus general.

Example 5: Apply the fields · 5 marks · Case-basedHOTS / competency

Case: A student prepares four studies: (A) civil service recruitment, (B) why India and the USA have different executives, (C) the meaning of liberty, (D) taxes and welfare. (a) Match each to a field. (b) State which is comparative. (c) State which asks what ought to be.

Try it first, then show the solutionSolution
  1. (a) A public administration; B comparative politics; C political theory; D political economy.
  2. (b) B.
  3. (c) C, since political theory also asks how society ought to be organised.

Answer: (a) A administration, B comparative, C theory, D economy (b) B (c) C.

Where students lose marks in Meaning and Scope of Political Science

The slips examiners see most often, and what to write instead.

  • Mistake: Defining politics and political science as the same

    Distinction lost.

    Do this: Politics is the activity; political science is the study.

    Usually costs: 2 marks.

  • Mistake: Writing only one of the two views

    Answer incomplete.

    Do this: Give classical and modern views with thinkers.

    Usually costs: 1 to 2 marks.

  • Mistake: Listing fields without meaning

    Names only.

    Do this: Give one line on each field.

    Usually costs: 1 mark.

Exam tips

  • Attach a thinker to each view.
  • Give a one-line meaning for each field.
  • Use the four-point difference for politics.
  • Close with the synthesis.

Practice questions on Meaning and Scope of Political Science

Write each answer on paper first. Open the hint only if you are stuck, and the answer only when you have finished.

  1. Q1 · 1 mark · MCQBoard level

    Easton defined politics as:
    (a) who gets what, when, how
    (b) the authoritative allocation of values
    (c) the study of the state
    (d) the art of government

    Hint

    Systems approach.

    Answer

    (b) The authoritative allocation of values.

  2. Q2 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Explain why Aristotle called political science the master science.

    Hint

    Polis shaped all life.

    Answer

    Because the polis shaped every part of life, the study of the city-state was seen as ruling over all other practical sciences.

  3. Q3 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Aristotle (4th century BC) and Easton (20th century) are named. Why is it useful to study both classical and modern views?

    Hint

    Institutions and behaviour.

    Answer

    Classical views explain institutions and values; modern views explain power and behaviour; together they give a fuller account.

  4. Q4 · 3 marks · Short answerHarder board level

    Explain the meaning of comparative politics with one example.

    Hint

    Parliamentary versus presidential.

    Answer

    Comparative politics compares the political systems, institutions and processes of different countries, for example parliamentary government in India and presidential government in the USA, to find similarities, differences and patterns.

  5. Q5 · 4 marks · Case-basedHOTS / competency

    Case: A critic says political science should only study facts, while another says it must also ask what ought to be. (a) Name each view. (b) Give a thinker for each. (c) Say how today's study answers the debate.

    Hint

    Modern and classical.

    Answer

    (a) Modern (value-neutral) and classical (moral). (b) Lasswell or Easton; Gettell or Garner. (c) It studies both facts and values, institutions and behaviour.

Test your recall

Answer in your head or on paper first, then open the card. Pulling an answer out of memory makes it stick far better than re-reading.

  1. 1.Father of political science?Show answer

    Aristotle.

  2. 2.Who defined politics as shaping and sharing power?Show answer

    Lasswell.

  3. 3.Number of fields?Show answer

    Five.

  4. 4.Polis means?Show answer

    City-state.

  5. 5.Garner's view?Show answer

    Begins and ends with the state.

Meaning and Scope of Political Science: frequently asked questions

Is political science a science?

It aims to be systematic and evidence-based.

What is political theory?

The study of political ideas and concepts.

What does public administration study?

How policies are carried out.