What is Political Science and what does it study?

Political science is that branch of the social sciences that is responsible for analyzing and studying the power relations of a society, understanding power as the contract between rulers and citizens that must be respected within an institutional framework. Power is the capacity that a certain actor has to influence a second or even third actor. It is for this reason that an act of necessary interrelation is presented.

We often ignore this concept of power. Political science is not limited solely to basing its investigations of a political nature, but also responds to a network of interactions between human beings themselves, a part more anthropological than administrative. Power can occur in families, in a group of friends, at work, or even among outsiders.

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The origins of political science

It should be noted that this concept is by no means new. Already in ancient Greece, the precursors of political science such as Plato or Aristotle proposed an in-depth analysis of the configuration of the State as the only element of power to others.

Its foundation, laws, constitutions, organization, uses and unregulated customs... All these elements influence human behavior in a general way. As civilizations and/or societies have grown in number and complexity, they have been seen forced to take shape in the form of a nation-state, and from this structure it affects the mind and the conduct.

Once again, it is here where political science is responsible for unraveling the bowels of the art of governing. Power, the philosopher's stone around which politics in general revolves, continues to be a difficult idea to develop today. Is power exercised, or is it conquered? What are your methods to be implemented? These and many other questions can only be answered through this science which, it must be insisted, is not exact.

Although Western thinkers were pioneers in laying the foundations of this concept, the concepts of science Policies or political theory are not coined until well into the 20th century, shortly after the end of World War II. World. Thus, it was in the year 1948 exactly when the German political scientist Eugen Fischer (1881 - 1964) as a universal way of addressing the academic world that was dedicated to political knowledge. It is evident that there is a relationship between political science and political philosophy, since examining the exercise of politics goes through constantly rethinking the concepts What is on the game board? However, it also has to do with psychology, since ultimately everything that is studied is shaped through human behavior.

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The role of the political scientist

Like any other type of science, political science requires an entity or agent that articulates studies and research entrusted to it: that is the figure of the political scientist, which plays a role of both research and intervention. It is necessary to point out that a political scientist is not a politician, a speechwriter or any similar position.

In accordance with the role entrusted to the political scientist, he must adhere to objective and impartial research regarding his field, without interference that responds to particular interests of pressure groups, political parties or other possible groups that exercise power. Political reality should be the object of study of the political scientist, as well as resolve the trends that may arise from that reality.

Among the many functions of the political scientist, he will be in charge of seeking answers to situations such as peace and war, who causes it, their nature; how the role of the dominated and dominator is managed; parameters to establish the justice of injustice; how to manage conflicts and negotiate the interests of those involved; guidelines for reaching consensus, among other issues.

Taking into account all the issues that address the complexity of power and its action within the community, we must introduce a new concept that works as a hinge in politics: ethics and moral. They are two inseparable conjunctions in the exercise of governance, the last formula being the one that forms the body and legality of "social justice".

The public vs. private sector

We cannot ignore the relative novelty of the figure of the political scientist within the professional field, especially if we take into account that political life is sealed exclusively for parties that respond to ideological interests. Similarly, political science -and ultimately the political scientist- can perform important tasks within the administration that would help improve the quality of democracy, if any, or may improve government performance in case of absence.

Suggesting some of the most important examples, the role of the political scientist involves designing public policies given guidelines, as well as the organization of civil society, the relationship between the judicial, executive and legislative powers, going through the management and investigation of opinion public. All this taking into account, if possible, a proactive attitude (avoid conflict) as opposed to a reactive attitude (conflict resolution).

Finally, in the private sphere, political science has little room for action. Being entities of a different nature, the private sector may require the services of a political professional in non-profit organizations such as NGOs, companies dedicated to helping the public sector, as is usually the outsourcing of services or platforms and media dedicated to generating opinion public.