Difference between Political Science and Politics

We are often involved in various types of politics in our daily lives, which is sometimes complex. Being a citizen of a country, everybody experiences a different kind of politics, but these experiences are apart from the brief study of politics, which is known as political science. Political science is considered an academic discipline, and people need to be more aware of political science as an academic discipline.

The terms political science and politics are different from each other and have some key differences, which we will discuss briefly. Both the terms contain different applications and different definitions.

Political Science: What is it?

Political science is described as the part of the academic discipline which comes under the 'Social Sciences', the most popular and important out of all academic disciplines we use to study. Political science teaches about the different sorts of governing systems, the thoughts of different scholars, political leaders, political activities, etc.

Political science provides a better understanding of the political phenomena of the world. Some essential sub-disciplines are considered parts of the discipline of political science, such as international relations, comparative politics, political theory, public policy, public administration, etc.

Key Points to Understand Political Science

• Theoretical Framework: Political scientists develop theories, and applying those theories helps in understanding political behavior and predicting political frameworks.
• Analytical Approach: Different case studies and research are involved in political science for a brief analysis. These systematic methods help in estimating and exploring political phenomena.
• Objective Understanding: The goal of objective understanding is to provide a fair view of the political system and policies.
• Broad Scope: Political science involves the study of different categories of topics, such as governing systems, public policies, institutional design, and political behavior.

Politics: What is it?

Politics is the practice of influencing people on civic, global, and individual levels. It includes the distribution of power resources, decision-making, and resolution of different conflicts. Politics is considered a part of political science, as it is closely related to the application of political powers and the influence of politics on the real world.

Key Points to Understand Politics

• Application of Power: The practical application of power among the public is a part of politics, which is possible through negotiation, governance, and policy-making.
• Public Influence: Politics directly influences social life; it influences everything, such as economic policies, social programs, and public infrastructure.
• Conflict and Cooperation: Politics contains both cooperation and conflicts at the same time because political leaders work together to complete certain goals but also compete for fame, position, power, and resources.
• Subjective by Nature: As we noticed, political science is based on objective analysis and is considered objective in nature. However, politics is considered highly subjective in nature. Politics is always influenced by personal beliefs, ideologies, and biases.

Difference between Political Science and Politics

Role of Media in Political Science and Politics

The media plays an important role in both of these domains. It is an intermediate connection between public and political activities. The media shapes public opinions and plays an important role in influencing the political environment. In political science, the media is a source of information for analysis and interpretation. Thus, the media plays an important role in shaping the areas of study of political science.

On the other hand, in politics, media is a platform for political campaigning, public meetings, and spreading awareness among citizens of the country.

Political science and politics are two different domains and there are different career opportunities among these two fields, which are also very popular nowadays. In political science, there are career opportunities in academia, consultancy and research, etc., and in politics, there are opportunities in administration, public offices, and campaigning.