Political Science

What is "Political Science"?

Political Science is defined in Credo Reference in the following way: 

"A discipline that can be traced back to the Ancient Greeks. Considered by many to be the first theorists in the discipline, thinkers like Plato and Aristotle wrestled with questions related to good government and the political system. As the discipline has broadened, it now largely coincides with political sociology in research themes, theory, and methodology. In the United States in the 1930s and 1940s, it was shaped by concerns about the systematic study of power, as it sought to differentiate itself from other disciplines such as economics and philosophy. Political science studies the distribution of power in different polities; the sources of power; how, when, and by whom it is exercised; as well as who gains and who loses in power struggles. These struggles may range from local-interest groups competing for positions of power in county government to a military dispute between two superpowers. From these observations, political scientists draw general propositions, hypotheses, and, ultimately, theories about power and politics."

Or from Brittanica Academic:

"Political Science, the systematic study of governance by the application of empirical and generally scientific methods of analysis. As traditionally defined and studied, political science examines the state and its organs and institutions. The contemporary discipline, however, is considerably broader than this, encompassing studies of all the societal, cultural, and psychological factors that mutually influence the operation of government and the body politic."