Political Science and Sociology

Relationship
The relation of Political Science to sociology is like the relation of a part to the whole. Sociology studies the
social activities of man as a whole; it is the general science of society. It studies the nature, origin and
development of society in all its aspects. It studies the individual and social groups, whether organized or
unorganized, conscious or unconscious, economic, religious, political or intellectual, Political Science also
studies society but only politically organized society, called the state. It studies social acts and ideas but only of
political nature. Hence, it is a specialized social science, a part of the general science of sociology. It deals with
the political life of man which is a part of his total social life. Sociology deals with man as an individual;
Political Science deals with him as a citizen or subject of the state. Sociology deals with all kinds of
associations; Political Science deals with only one kind of association, viz., the political system or the state.
What is political is also social, though what is social is not necessarily political. For instance, when people
assemble at a political party meeting, they are doing something which is both political and social, but when they
meet as friends, they do something which is social, but not political. The field of Sociology is so vast and
comprehensive that it needs a specialist who will devote himself to the study of its political aspect, which
becomes Political Science. Both sciences are mutually contributory. Political Science gives Sociology facts
about the organization and functions of the state, and obtains from it knowledge of the social basis of the state,
law and political authority. So close is this relationship between them that, Franklin H. Giddings says,
"A student of Political Science must begin his subject with a study of Sociology."
A political scientist must, therefore, be also a sociologist and vice versa. Politics deals with group life, the study
of which is the province of sociology. In short, it is the relation of the part and the whole.
Differences
Political Science and Sociology are also different in some respects as under:
1. The scope of Political Science is narrower than that of sociology. Sociology is the science of human beings
in their associative processes, while Political Science is the science of politically organised community.
2. Sociology is prior to Political Science, because society was prior to the state. Man was first a social animal
and later on a political being.
3. Political Science assumes that man is a political animal, but sociology explains and how and why he became
so and how his political life is affected by his membership in other forms of associations.
4. Sociology, like history, studies actual social organisations and associations, but Political Science aims at a
study of the past, present and future of the political institutions and states.

Political Science and History

Relationship
The relation of Political Science to History is very old and profound. John Seeley asserts:
“History without Political Science has no fruit, Political Science without history has no root.”
The fundamental principles, laws and conclusions of Political Science are derived from history, from the past
conditions of political life and institutions. Actually history is a source of very useful raw material from which
the political scientist draws his conclusions and generalizations. Political Science is thus rooted in history. A
political scientist working in the laboratory of history studies past political events and institutions. The works of
historians form a vast reservoir of material. A political scientist can analyse that material to delineate
meaningful patterns. Out of this material, he extracts permanent principles governing political life.
History teaches a political scientist that people who have no share in political power also have no share in the
benefits of power. Hence, the conclusion of Political Science that the democracy with all its weaknesses is the
safest if not the best form of government. Again, history tells the political scientist that poverty of the people
and tyranny of the rulers breed revolutions. Hence the conclusion of Political Science that by giving freedom to
the people and raising their standard of living, the chances of violent revolutions can be minimized.
On the other hand, history also owes much to political science. Past events can be understood only if they are
placed in a proper perspective, and the nature of the political institutions and the principles governing them are
known. Otherwise history will lack all coherence and become a disjointed narration of events. John Seeley has
rightly said,
"History fades into mere literature when it loses sight of its relation to practical politics.”
According to James Wilford Garner,
“To fully comprehend Political Science, we must study it historically and to interpret history in its true
significance, we must study that politically.”
Differences
Although a close relationship exists between the two, they should not be considered identical. Political Science
derives its material not only from History but from other social sciences as well. Moreover, its interest is just
selective only. Not all of history is useful for Political Science. The history of art, inventions, language,
fashions, etc. is of little value to Political Science.
In the same manner, a historian may study the the political implications of past events, but he is not concerned
with philosophical and speculative theories of Political Science. History is a descriptive science and deals with
what has been. Therefore, political theories, based on ethical and psychological foundations, do not have
much use for it. History is a science of the past; Political Science has not much to do with the past.
As such we can say that Edward Augustus Freeman was wrong when he said that history is nothing but past
politics, and that Political Science is nothing but present history. Only a part of History is politics, that which is
called political history. Undoubtedly, the two sciences are closely related but their status as separate subjects
should not be forgotten.
Political Science and Economics
Relationship
Economics is concerned with the activities of man in regard to production, consumption, distribution and
exchange of wealth or commodities, while Political Science is the science of the state and government.
Although Political Science and Economics have different spheres of study, a close relationship has always
existed between them. Indeed, Economics was regarded as a branch of Political Science by earlier writers; its
field was not differentiated from that of Political Science. Aristotle’s ‘Politics’ and John Locke’s ‘Two
Treatises of Government’ are examples of such classics.
For economic progress, political stability is essential. It is the state which formulates and enforces economic
policies. Economic system is laid down by the state. Economic problems are dealt with political solutions. It is
the state which makes rules about consumption and distribution. Moreover, the state regulates production.
The people expect the government, the machinery of the state, to improve their living conditions. It, therefore,
lays down conditions for production and distribution of wealth. Its policies and laws affect the economic life of
the people. Tariff laws, nationalization of industries, regulation of private firms, etc. are instances where
governmental policies materially affect the economic conditions of the people. The economic life of a
community is influenced a good deal by the fact whether the government is democratic or aristocratic. An
aristocratic government will legislate or adopt economic policies aiming at the benefit of property owners. It is
rightly said that economic life is conditioned by political institutions and ideas.
Similarly, Economics has huge contribution to Political Science. Economic condition influences the political
condition of man. Economic inequalities give birth to revolutions. Political ideologies are the outcome of
economic conditions e.g. Karl Marx’s dialectical materialism. Economic system influences the policies of the
government. Economic prosperity is must for the success of democracy.
Political Ideas and movements, institutions and events are themselves influenced by economic ideas. The
economic theories of Karl Marx for example, have profoundly affected political ideas and movements in the
world. Under the influence of his teachings, the communists wanted to establish the dictatorship of the
proletariats (workers) by overthrowing the capitalist’s governments. Economic theories of Karl Marx divided
the world into two hostile camps. Economic conditions prevailing in a country affect the nature of political
institutions. Take, for example, democracy. Democracy cannot be genuine and effective if the masses are
miserably poor and the few persons are enormously rich. Experience has shown that those who have economic
power also have political power.
The origin of many wars and revolutions cannot be explained without studying their economic causes. In short,
political ideas, movements, institutions and events cannot be understood without an intelligent consideration of
their economic foundation.
Differences
The main difference between Political Science and Economics is that Political Science is more related to the
study of politics of any region and Economics is more related to study of commercial activities in a particular
region. Political Science is wider in scope and studies economics, history, geography, etc. in relation to politics,
whereas, Economics is narrower in scope as compared to Political Science and is limited to production,
consumption, distribution and exchange of material resources.

Muhammad Umar Aman

Lecturer
Department of Political Science
Government Islamia Graduate College, Civil Lines, Lahore