Political science
Political science emerged as a distinct field in the latter half of the 19th century. Before this period, it remained indistinguishable from political philosophy and history. The term itself did not carry its modern weight until university departments began to form with that specific title. In 1886, the Academy of Political Science launched the journal Political Science Quarterly. Munroe Smith defined the discipline within its inaugural issue as "the science of the state." He described it as including the organization and functions of the state alongside relations between states. By 1903, the American Political Science Association formed to separate politics from economics and other social phenomena. Membership grew rapidly from 204 individuals in 1904 to 1,462 by 1915. These early members established departments distinct from history, philosophy, law, sociology, and economics. The designation "political scientist" later became common for those holding doctorates or master's degrees in the field.
The 1950s and 1960s brought a behavioral revolution stressing systematic study of individual and group behavior. Early behavioral political science focused on political behavior rather than institutions or legal text interpretation. Robert Dahl and Philip Converse produced work during this era. Sociologist Paul Lazarsfeld collaborated with public opinion scholar Bernard Berelson on key studies. The late 1960s and early 1970s saw a surge in deductive game-theoretic formal modeling techniques. William H. Riker and his colleagues at the University of Rochester led this shift toward analytical knowledge. Researchers borrowed theory and methods from economics to study political institutions like the United States Congress. They also applied these tools to political behaviors such as voting. Despite progress, scholars noted that movement toward systematic theory remained modest and uneven. Kim Quaile Hill published research on general theory in the Journal of Politics in October 2012.
Political transitions form an important part of political science alongside crisis anticipation methods. Daron Acemoglu and James A. Robinson proposed a theory of political transitions in the American Economic Review in September 2001. Charles A. McClelland wrote about anticipating international crises in International Studies Quarterly in March 1977. Scheffer M., Carpenter S.R., and Lenton T.M. outlined statistical indicators for crisis anticipation in Science in October 2012. One indicator involved simultaneous increases in variance and correlations within large groups. This method successfully diagnosed the prolonged stress period preceding the 2014 Ukrainian economic and political crisis. Total correlation between 19 major public fears increased by about 64% during pre-crisis years. Statistical dispersion rose by 29% over the same timeframe. Timur Kuran developed a theory of unanticipated political revolution in Public Choice in April 1989. Political scientists also study how governments handle unexpected disasters and voter reactions to government responses.
Contemporary political science adopts diverse methods from psychology, social research, and philosophy. Lawrence Lowell once stated that politics is an observational rather than experimental science due to limitations on reproducing controlled environments. Field experiments, surveys, and survey experiments now appear increasingly common despite historical constraints. Case studies, process tracing, and historical analysis remain standard tools alongside ethnography. Participant observation and interview research provide additional empirical depth. Theoretical tools include game theory and agent-based models for studying political systems. Equation-based models and opinion dynamics offer further analytical frameworks. Feminist political theory represents one theoretical approach among many others. Historical analysis associated with the Cambridge school provides another perspective. Straussian approaches contribute yet another position to the field's diversity. Lisa Wedeen argued that political science could benefit from aligning more closely with anthropology regarding culture. Methodologies developed within political science influence researchers in other fields like public health.
The International Political Science Association formed in 1949 under UNESCO initiative to promote political science globally. National associations emerged in France in 1949, Britain in 1950, and West Germany in 1951. The American Political Science Association currently serves more than 11,000 members across over 100 countries. European Consortium for Political Research operates alongside other global bodies like the Institute for Comparative Research in Human and Social Sciences in Japan. The International Association for Political Science Students supports emerging scholars worldwide. The Midwest Political Science Association and Southern Political Science Association serve regional interests within the United States. The Political Studies Association of the UK represents British scholarship. Leading journals include Perspectives on Politics published by Cambridge University Press. PS: Political Science & Politics appears regularly with reports on survey data from American political scientists. International Studies Review publishes bibliometric analyses and strategic consequences for global visibility. The Forum features articles on ten things political scientists know that others do not. These publications facilitate communication among researchers while establishing standards for scholarly work.
Common questions
When did political science emerge as a distinct field?
Political science emerged as a distinct field in the latter half of the 19th century. Before this period, it remained indistinguishable from political philosophy and history.
Who defined political science within its inaugural issue in 1886?
Munroe Smith defined the discipline within its inaugural issue as the science of the state. He described it as including the organization and functions of the state alongside relations between states.
What year did the American Political Science Association form to separate politics from economics?
The American Political Science Association formed in 1903 to separate politics from economics and other social phenomena. Membership grew rapidly from 204 individuals in 1904 to 1,462 by 1915.
Which scholars produced work during the behavioral revolution in the 1950s and 1960s?
Robert Dahl and Philip Converse produced work during this era. Sociologist Paul Lazarsfeld collaborated with public opinion scholar Bernard Berelson on key studies.
How many members does the American Political Science Association currently serve across over 100 countries?
The American Political Science Association currently serves more than 11,000 members across over 100 countries. The International Political Science Association formed in 1949 under UNESCO initiative to promote political science globally.