Talk:Political science
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[edit] Some possible changes
The organization in the begining of this article is horrible. Here is a possible change. Feel free to improve upon it or leave some feedback.
Political science is a branch of social science that deals with the theory and practice of politics and the description and analysis of political systems and political behavior. There are many fields and subfields of Political Science, including but not limited to:
• Political theory • Law and Legal Studies • Comparative Politics • International Relations • Public Policy and Administration • Judicial Process and Behavior
[edit] Overview
Political scientists study the allocation and transfer of power in decision-making, the roles and systems of governance including governments and international organizations, political behavior and public policies. They measure the success of governance and specific policies by examining many factors, including stability, justice, material wealth, and peace. Some political scientists seek to advance positive theses by analyzing politics. Others advance normative theses, by making specific policy recommendations.
Political Scientists in the Modern Era
The study of politics is complicated by the occasional involvement of political scientists in the political process, since their teachings occasionally provide the frameworks within which other commentators, such as journalists, special interest groups, politicians, and the electorate analyze issues and select options. Political scientists may serve as advisers to specific politicians, or even run for office as politicians themselves. Political scientists can be found working in governments, in political parties or as civil servants. They may be involved with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) or political movements. In a variety of capacities, people educated and trained in political science can add value and expertise to corporations. Private enterprises such as think tanks, research institutes, polling and public relations firms often employ political scientists. In the United States, political scientists known as "Americanists" look at a variety of data including elections, public opinion and public policy such as Social Security reform, foreign policy, U.S. congressional power, and the U.S. Supreme Court—to name only a few issues.
Political Science as A Discipline
Most American colleges and universities offer B.A. programs in political science. M.A. and Ph.D programs are common at larger universities. Some universities offer B.S or M.S. degrees.[1] The term political science is more popular in North America than elsewhere; other institutions, especially those outside the United States, see political science as part of a broader discipline of political studies, politics, or government. While political science implies use of the scientific method, political studies implies a broader approach, although the naming of degree courses does not necessarily reflect their content.[2]
Also, the discussion of the History of Political Science is completely void of any discussion of advancements in the last 500 years, so I have written a brief piece for this.
During the Italian Renaissance, Niccolò Machiavelli established the emphasis of modern political science on direct empirical observation of political institutions and actors. Later, during the Enlightenment, many different ideas emerged, including that of democracy, among others. Early in the period, Montesquieu set forth the groundwork for 3 branch organization of government (Montesquieu), along with the natural rights and social contract ideas exuded by John Locke and Jean Jacques Rousseau (Locke’s Political Philosophy). During this time, both the American Revolution and the French Revolution turned the political sphere around the world. No longer was the classic Monarchy the only major political system in the Western world, as the ideas of these thinkers we put into action by both the French and the Americans, with later Enlightenment thinkers such as Jefferson, Franklin, and Madison.
Baron de Montesquieu, Charles-Louis de Secondat. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, May 24, 2008 http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/montesquieu/ Locke’s Political Philosophy. The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, May 24, 2008 http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/locke-political/
CBKDX80 (talk) 02:57, 29 May 2008 (UTC)
[edit] Doesn't meet standards
This article discusses the topic in a very strange way discussing odd aspects about political science. But the bigger problem is, it doesn't cite any sources.
Please NOTE: the second paragraph of antecedents is full of fabrications and anachronisms. somebody please change that!
[edit] List of terms
The gargantuan list of topics in the second paragraph of this article, circa this date, is unnecessary, given the links in the See Also section. However, if we should salvage it, it'd be better to break it out into a box or some other sort of separate list for readability's sake. MrZaiustalk 21:40, 25 March 2007 (UTC)
[edit] Topics in political science
Oh my goodness, what do do with all this clutter in the intro paragraph?!
I agree that there is a lot of clutter in the intro paragraph. My main concern, however, is the page's lack of important issues within the field. Although it may be a lot of information to post on the main 'political science' page, policy issues are not even listed on the public policy page. Perhaps there should be a link, or list, on the main page for all, or some, of the following issues: Abortion, Affirmative Action, AIDS and HIV, Alcoholism, Animal Rights, Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia, Campaign Finance, Censorship, Child Abuse and Domestic Violence, China, Civil and Human Rights, Cloning and Genetics, Crime and Justice, Death Penalty, Democratization, Disability, Disaster Preparedness, Economics, Education, Employment and Labor, Environment, Gangs, Gay and Lesbian Marriages, Global Warming, Globalization, Gun Control, Hate Crimes, Health Care, Homeland Security and Patriot Act, Homelessness, Housing and Urban Development, Hunger, Illegal Drugs, Illegal Gambling, Immigration, Media Ratings, Multiracialism, Pollution, Pornography, Poverty and Welfare, Prescription Drug Policy, Prisons, Prostitution, Race, National Origin, and Ethnicity, Recycling, Religion and State, Renewable Energy, Smoking, Social Security Reform, Stem Cell Research, Suicide, Term Limits, and Terrorism (many of these issues could have their own page and be broken down even further).
- Information obtained from the article Public Policy Issues and Groups. (2007). Retrieved May 21, 2008, from GODORT. Web site: http://www.library.vanderbilt.edu/romans/pubpol_fdtf.html Mfrapps (talk) 17:15, 22 May 2008 (UTC)
[edit] New Template: Lib
I just created a new template Template:Lib. (It's my first template). It takes one parameter, declaring whether the use on the page is "liberal", "libertarian", or "both". My idea was to use it to head articles such as Liberal International and Libertarian perspectives on gay rights where it might not be clear at first glance which meaning is intended. This would hopefully ensure consistent usage within an article, and prevent overly verbose unclear repetition from article to article. Feel free to discuss on the talk page Template_talk:Lib. samwaltz 20:37, 13 April 2007 (UTC)
