The study of Political Science in very useful and valuable.
Its knowledge is essential and useful to both the ruler and the ruled. The
significance of the study of Political Science is discussed below:
(1) Imparting Knowledge of the State:
However, the primary aim of the study of Political Science
is to inculcate knowledge of the State, its origin, nature, structure and
functions. Knowledge about the State is of great significance to modern man.
(2) Imparting Knowledge of government and administration:
The administrators, political leaders and diplomats, who
conduct the affairs of the State, also require sound knowledge of Political
Science in order to perform their functions with efficiency. An administrator
who has no knowledge of Political Science is bound to be; i failure. The
principles and norms established In the scholars in political science are of
immense utility and value to the executives, legislators and judges. Political
science is said to be a science of statesmanship and leadership.
(3) Imparting Knowledge about the world:
However, apart from these utilitarian considerations, the
acquisition of know ledge of political science enriches one's mind and widens
one's intellectual horizon. In order to know what is happening in the world
around us at least an elementary knowledge of political science is necessary.
In the modern age an individual cannot lead an isolated life. Each country has
to maintain relations with other countries of the world.
(4) Creation of democratic values:
The study of Political Science has assumed special
importance in modern times in all democratic countries. The success of
democracy depends upon the political consciousness of its people. The study of
political science makes people conscious of their rights and duties. It also
makes them vigilant unless the citizens of a country are vigilant, alert,
intelligent and patriotic; there is no possibility of successful working of
democracy in that country. It is rightly said that "eternal vigilance is
the price of liberty".
(5) Creation of good citizenship:
The study of Political Science is valuable for creating good
citizenship and securing unity of the nation. It makes citizens conscious of
national, objectives and goals. Laski said that good citizenship implies
"the contribution of one's instructed judgment to public good". It
can be developed by the study of political science. Political Science teaches
the lessons and virtues of good citizenship.
(6) Lesson of co-operation and toleration:
Political science also teaches the lesson of co-operation,
adjustment and toleration. Society cannot prosper without cooperation. Man
should learn how to co-operate and adjust himself with his fellow-beings.
People of all walks of life should co-operate for the better development of the
country. Toleration is also necessary in society.
Knowledge of Political Science Indispensable
Thus, the study of Political Science has special importance
in all countries. Its study helps us to understand the mechanism and
constitutional systems of modern government. The principles of government, the
domestic and foreign policies of the nation. the legislature, executive and
judiciary of different countries, etc. are studied in Political Science. The
principles of liberty, equality and fraternity are also made clear by the study
of political science. Keeping in mind its importance and utilitarian value,
Aristotle regarded Political Science as “the supreme science” or “the masters
of all science”. The day when the aphorism of Aristotle will be realized, is
not remote indeed.
The main difference between state and society are :
1. Society is defined as "a collection of individuals
held together by certain enduring relationship in Pursuit of common ends."
The State, on the other hand, is defined as "a particular portion of
society politically organized for the protection and promotion of its common
interests". Thus, the state is a part of society The State is necessarily
a political organization but society is not.
2. The society regulates all forms of social conduct the
State regulates only the external relationship of men in society. While the
State derives its strength mainly from laws, societies derive its strength from
traditions, customs and conversions.
3. The State possesses the power of coercion. Disobedience
to its law is followed by punishment. Society, on other hand. does not enjoy
the power of coercion Disobedience to its rules may not be followed by any
physical punishment. Thus, the only basis of the authority of society is social
customs, convention and morality. Society secures the co-operation of its
members by persuasion and not by coercion. The State alone possesses
sovereignty.
4. The State is a territorial organization. It has well
defined territory of its own. But society is not limited to any geographical
area. The Jews, for example, constitute a society as they are spread all over
the world. So is the case with the Hindu society or the Christian society. It
has thus no territorial jurisdiction as the State always has. Its scope may
over the entire world crossing the boundaries of various nations. Within a
State, the people may be organized into different societies having different
social traditions. Thus, society may be narrower or broader than the State.
5. The State is a compulsory organization where as society
is a voluntary organization.
In spite of above differences, the State and Society have
some common features as well. The State and society sometimes include
practically the same persons and in most cases, an overwhelming majority of the
members of a society may be included in the same State.
Hence, the State and Society go hand in hand. They help each
other. Progress of society depends upon the progress of the state and the
working of the state is in influence by social customs and traditions. Barker
has summed up the distinction between the State and Society in the following
words. "The Slate and society overlap, they blend, they borrow from one
another. But roughly we may say that the area of the one is voluntary
co-operation, its energy that of good will, its method that of elasticity,
while the area of the other is that of mechanical action, its energy, forces,
its method, rigidity.
8 ways in which liberty can be safeguarded in a modern State
Liberty is the most cherished idea of man. Liberty is the
product of rights. Prof. Laski points out, "There cannot be any liberty
without rights because without rights men are the subject of laws unrelated to
the needs of personality."
Rights are the creation of the state and the state in
practice is represented by the government. A government is, after all, a human
agency and those who are given powers are liable to misuse them. They may
encroach upon the rights of the people.
But rights arc regarded by all as a precious possession and
people do not tolerate any inroads on their liberty. The question, therefore,
arises as to how rights are to be protected. The following methods have been
suggested as essential safeguards of rights and liberty :
1. Constitutional Guarantee of Rights:
Fundamental rights of the people in every state are
guaranteed by the constitution which ensures to citizens the enjoyment of their
rights free from any interference. The constitution of the U.S.A. was the first
of its kind to declare a list of fundamental rights for its people.
France was the second to embody a similar list in her
constitution. The Constitution of Ireland (1921), the Stalin Constitution of
the U.S.S.R. (1921) and the Constitution of India (1950) all contain lists of
fundamental rights for their peoples.
In the U.K. fundamental rights are recognized in the various
enactments of the Parliament, customs, conventions, traditions, and judicial
decisions. Whenever any encroachment on the liberty of the citizens is made by
the government an appeal can be made to the constitution.
The constitution thus becomes a custodian of the liberty of
the people. But the declaration of rights of citizens by the constitution does
not necessarily guarantee the enjoyment of rights. The state should provide for
conditions for their fulfillment and safeguards against their infringement.
2. Independence of the Judiciary:
The rights of the people can be safe only in the hands of an
impartial and independent judiciary. The judges must not be subservient to the
executive or the legislature.
The tenure of their office on their promotion should not
depend upon the whims of the executive or the legislature. Only an independent
and impartial judiciary can act as a bulwark of individual liberty against the
encroachment of other individuals as also by the government.
3. Eternal Vigilance:
According to Laski, "Eternal vigilance is the price of
liberty." The citizens should be conscious and jealous guardians of their
rights. Any encroachment on their rights must be protested against and if
necessary, even resisted. In the words of Laski.
"Liberty is never real unless the government is called
to account when it invades the rights of the people." The people must be
prepared to safeguard their rights at all costs. Indifference or apathy on the
part of the people may result in the loss of liberty and the development of an
autocratic government.
4. Rule of Law:
It is claimed by the English writers that liberty can be
safeguarded only under the rule of law. Rule of law implies equality of
everybody, rich or poor, high or low, before the law. It further implies that
no person can be detained arbitrarily by the government without a proper trial
in a duly established court of law.
A person arrested or detained arbitrarily can apply to court
of law for a writ of Habeas Corpus. The court will try the case and if there
are not sufficient legal grounds for the detention of the accused it will issue
orders for his release. Thus the rule of law is an effective instrument of
individual liberty.
5. Separation of Powers:
According to Montesquieu and Blackstone, separation of
powers is an effective safeguard for individual liberty. Combination of
executive, legislative or judicial powers in the same person or set of persons
might result in the abuse of powers and loss of individual liberty.
In the interests of individual liberty, three powers of
government should be vested in three separate and distinct organs each
independent of the other. But a rigid separation of powers is neither desirable
nor practicable. Besides individual liberty does not depend upon a mere
mechanical separation of powers.
6. Democracy:
Democracy is considered to be the only form of government in
which people can have the opportunity to protect their rights. In democracy
political powers lie in the hands of the people. They can make or unmake a
government.
7. Absence of Special Privileges:
Liberty is the equal possession of all and it can be
effectively enjoyed by the general masses. It is only when equal opportunities
are made open to all that a man can be really free.
In a society where class privileges and social and economic
differences exist, there can be hardly any freedom for those placed in a
position of inferiority.
8. Decentralization of Power:
Democracy does not mean only a parliament or the
constitution. Democracy is not only a form of government, it is a way of life.
There should be as many local bodies as possible with real effective powers.
Liberty cannot be trusted to a few hundred representatives in the parliament.
The people should take part in affairs of state at every
level. As Laski puts it,"the more widespread distribution of power in the
state, the more decentralized its character, the more likely men are to be
zealous for freedom. Maximum satisfaction is at least partly a function of
maximum consultation."
Points to Remember
Liberty is the cherished ideal of man. Liberty is the
product of rights. The following methods have been suggested as safeguards of
liberty.
1. Guarantee of Constitution:
Fundamental rights of the people in every stale are
guaranteed by the constitution which ensures to the citizens the enjoyment of
their rights free from any interference.
But the declaration of rights by the constitution does not
necessarily guarantee the enjoyment of rights.
2. Independence of the Judiciary:
The rights of the people can be safeguarded only by an
impartial and independent judiciary.
3. Rule of Law:
It implies the equality of everybody, rich or poor, high or
low in the eyes of law.
4. Separation of Powers:
According to Montesquieu and Black- stone, the combination
of executive, legislative and judicial powers in a person or set of persons
might result in the loss of individual liberty.
But a rigid separation of powers is neither desirable nor
practicable.
5. Democracy:
It is the only form of government in which people can have
the opportunity to protect their rights.
6. Absence of Special Privileges:
Liberty is the common and equal possession of
all and it cannot be enjoyed by all the people, when certain people enjoy some
special privileges.
