political science
Study of statecraft
Political science is the academic study of government, politics, and political behavior.
It examines how power is distributed and exercised—through institutions, policies, elections, and international relations.
A political scientist might analyze voting patterns, compare constitutional systems, or study how interest groups influence legislation.
The field draws on history, economics, and sociology but maintains its own methods and theories.
Structured belief framework
- realismAccepting things as they are
- liberalismPhilosophy valuing reform, tolerance
- constructivismActive knowledge-building theory
- feminismAdvocacy for sex equality
postcolonialism · structuralism · pluralism · elitism · rationalism · communitarianism · cosmopolitanism · anarchism
Inherent physical or structural makeup
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
- executiveSenior organizational leader
- judiciaryLaw-interpreting government branch
- governanceHow authority is exercised
sovereignty · bureaucracy · administration · cabinet · ministry · federalism · republic · monarchy
Power to enforce obedience
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- hegemonyDominant group's control
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- influencePower to affect others
control · supremacy · imperialism · colonialism · oppression · legitimacy · soft power · hard power
Formally registering a choice
- suffrageRight to cast ballots
- electorateEligible voting body
- pluralismCoexistence of differing views
- participationAct of taking part
representative · liberalism · consensus · majoritarian · deliberation · civil rights · accountability · transparency
Cross-border political interactions
- public administrationManaging government agency operations
- public lawLaw governing state affairs
Official enactment of statutes
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- healthcare reformChanges to medical systems
- taxationCompulsory government revenue collection
- immigrationRelocating abroad permanently
social welfare · lobbying · advocacy · urban planning · electoral reform · agenda setting · implementation · think tanks
Higher education institution
- curriculumEducational program's content plan
- professorSenior university teacher
- tenureProtected employment status
- departmentDistinct unit within organization
major · dissertation · research · thesis · scholarship · fellowship · seminar · peer review
Formal procedural framework
- empiricalBased on observation, not theory
- quantitativeConcerning measurable amounts
- qualitativeRelating to characteristics, not quantities
- case studyResearched particular instance
survey · sampling · fieldwork · data · statistics · variables · correlation · causation
ideology
Structured belief framework
- realismAccepting things as they are
- liberalismPhilosophy valuing reform, tolerance
- constructivismActive knowledge-building theory
feminism · postcolonialism · structuralism · pluralism · elitism · rationalism · communitarianism · cosmopolitanism · anarchism · social contract
constitution
Inherent physical or structural makeup
- legislatureLawmaking governmental branch
- executiveSenior organizational leader
- judiciaryLaw-interpreting government branch
governance · sovereignty · bureaucracy · administration · cabinet · ministry · federalism · republic · monarchy · oligarchy
authority
Power to enforce obedience
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- hegemonyDominant group's control
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
influence · control · supremacy · imperialism · colonialism · oppression · legitimacy · soft power · hard power · balance of power
voting
Formally registering a choice
- suffrageRight to cast ballots
- electorateEligible voting body
- pluralismCoexistence of differing views
participation · representative · liberalism · consensus · majoritarian · deliberation · civil rights · accountability · transparency · referendum
international relations
Cross-border political interactions
- public administrationManaging government agency operations
- public lawLaw governing state affairs
legislation
Official enactment of statutes
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- healthcare reformChanges to medical systems
- taxationCompulsory government revenue collection
immigration · social welfare · lobbying · advocacy · urban planning · electoral reform · agenda setting · implementation · think tanks · stakeholders
university
Higher education institution
- curriculumEducational program's content plan
- professorSenior university teacher
- tenureProtected employment status
department · major · dissertation · research · thesis · scholarship · fellowship · seminar · peer review · journal
methodology
Formal procedural framework
- empiricalBased on observation, not theory
- quantitativeConcerning measurable amounts
- qualitativeRelating to characteristics, not quantities
case study · survey · sampling · fieldwork · data · statistics · variables · correlation · causation · regression
- social studiescivics, social studies, maps, economics, community
- school subjectsmath, English, history, reading, art
- academic fieldsmathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, history
- disciplinesbiology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, psychology
- social sciencessociology, anthropology, psychology, economics, criminology
- academic subjectschemistry, physics, biology, math, geography
political sciencepure mathematics
Mathematics pursued abstractly
natural sciences · physics · chemistry · biology · mathematics
science, policy, politics, political, politician, policies, politically, politicians, politicize