Pithy
Quotes about Political Science.
“Political
science is governed by five myths: (1) that it studies politics; (2) that it is
scientific; (3) that it is possible to study politics separated off from
economics, sociology, psychology and history; (4) that the state in our
democratic capitalist society is politically neutral, i.e. available as a set
of institutions and mechanisms to whatever group wins the election; and (5)
that political science, as a discipline, advances the cause of democracy.”ť
[Bertell
Ollman, “What Is Political Science? What Should It Be?”, New Political Science, Volume 22, Number 4, 2000, pp. 553-562.]
“The political scientist, in so far as he wishes to
remain a scientist, is limited to the study of techniques. A good deal of what is
called political science, I must confess, seems, to me a device, invented by
academic persons, avoiding that dangerous subject politics, without achieving
science”
[Alfred A.Cobban, In Search of Humanity: The Role of the Enlightenment in
Modern History. (New York: G. Braziller, 1960), p. 240.]
“Apart from economics and geography, it is
hard to find a social science that has given less attention to religion than
political science.”
[Kenneth D. Wald,
Clyde Wilcox, “Getting Religion: Has Political
Science Rediscovered the Faith Factor?”, American Political Science Review, November
2006 Vol. 100, No. 4, pp. 523-9.]