UNIT 1 WHAT IS POLITICAL THEORY AND WHY STUDY IT? Structure 1.1 Introduction 1.2 What is Political Theory? 1.2.1 What is Theory? 1.2.2 Political Theory: Implications 1.2.3 Political Theory: Contents
1.3 Nature of Political Theory 1.3.1 Political Theory as History 1.3.2 Political Theory as Philosophy 1.3.3 Political Theory as Science
1.4 Political Theory: Growth and Evolution 1.4.1 Classical Political Theory 1.4.2 Modern Political Theory 1.4.3 Contemporary Political Theory
1.5 Why Study Political Theory? 1.5.1 Tasks Before Political Theory 1.5.2 Significance of Political Theory
1.6 Summary 1.7 Exercises
1.1 INTRODUCTION Political theory is not only a theory of/about politics, it is also the science of politics, the philosophy of politics at that. As a theory, Bluhen explains, political theory “stands for an abstract model of the political order… a guide to the systematic collection and analysis of political data” (Theories of Political System, 1981). Andrew Hacker, enlarging the point of view, says that political theory as a “theory, in ideal terms, is dispassionate and disinterested. As science, it will describe political reality without trying to pass judgement on what is being depicted, either implicitly or explicitly. As philosophy, it will describe rules of conduct which will secure good life for all of society…” (Political Theory: Philosophy, Ideology, Science, 1961). Political theory is not fantasy, though it may contain an element of political vision. It is not politicking, though it does take into account political realities for its study and analysis. It is not all scientism, though it seeks to reach the roots of all political activity analytically and systematically. It is not ideology, though it attempts to justify a political system and condemns another. It is theoretical, scientific, philosophical and at the same time dynamic with a clear objective of attaining a better social order. It thus, has in varying degrees, elements of ‘theory’, ‘science’, ‘philosophy’ and ‘ideology’. 13