Skip to main content

Why political science matters?

The meaning of political science is often restricted to the state, government, and everyday politics. However, it goes beyond that. We as humans share various relationships. What do we do when conflicts arise in these relationships? How do we resolve them? The Socratic dialectical method or Habermas’ idea of deliberation provides a solution. It says conflicts are better resolved through dialogue rather than domination. Hence, it tells us how to talk in a dialectical manner. It is the process of reasoning together. For instance, when your father asks you to aim for a government job, but you want to become a content creator, you do not totally oppose each other. Instead, you engage rationally: Why is a government job important? Maybe because it provides security and financial stability. But being a content creator might give you creative freedom. So you decide to take a government job but also start your creator journey simultaneously — maybe by vlogging your day as a government employee...
Post a Comment

Why political science matters?

The meaning of political science is often restricted to the state, government, and everyday politics. However, it goes beyond that. We as humans share various relationships. What do we do when conflicts arise in these relationships? How do we resolve them? The Socratic dialectical method or Habermas’ idea of deliberation provides a solution.

It says conflicts are better resolved through dialogue rather than domination. Hence, it tells us how to talk in a dialectical manner. It is the process of reasoning together. For instance, when your father asks you to aim for a government job, but you want to become a content creator, you do not totally oppose each other. Instead, you engage rationally: Why is a government job important? Maybe because it provides security and financial stability. But being a content creator might give you creative freedom. So you decide to take a government job but also start your creator journey simultaneously — maybe by vlogging your day as a government employee.

We often go to the extent of fighting with others and straining close relationships just to prove our point. Political science teaches us about pluralism — that multiple points of view can coexist. 
This idea of understanding and questioning power extends beyond personal relationships and can help us see how broader social and cultural patterns are shaped. For example, why does the color black have a negative connotation? Because it was used by white colonialists to exert supremacy and justify their domination. Today, even if someone is not discriminating against the dark coloured people, they themselves feel insecure about it. This is how the mind is captured.

Hence, domination is not always exerted through force. Sometimes it is legitimized, normalized, or even welcomed, shaping social hierarchies and everyday interactions. For example, the caste system in India is continuing because it is widely accepted, even by so-called lower-caste people. This happened because religious texts, beliefs, and the name of God were used to justify it. Similarly, in the corporate world, small acts like “employee of the week” awards or Diwali bonuses act as safety valves that release pressure. This is also known as soft power. 

These are just a few examples. Political science as a discipline holds immense potential to explain not only politics but also our everyday lives and the society we live in. By studying it, we gain tools to reason, question, and navigate the world thoughtfully — not just as citizens, but as humans living together. So next time when someone makes a derogatory comment about women, transgender people, caste, or color, ask: Why? Who benefits? What power is at play?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Escape

The word escape doesn’t seem to have a very negative origin. It originally meant to set oneself free. It should not be seen as an act of cowardice. The qualitative aspect of escape should inform our judgment. In moments of mental crisis, someone’s escape might be spirituality; for someone else, it could be alcohol. These patterns of escape slowly become habits. With repeated events, our body naturally starts craving the same escape in moments of discomfort. For instance, if someone has chosen isolation as an escape, then whenever a crisis occurs, the body automatically starts demanding isolation. This is why such patterns are difficult to break–because escape sets one free. It provides an alternative way out. The body doesn’t perceive escape as an end in itself; it sees it merely as a means to get away from the current situation. I believe this is the reason behind large-scale alcohol addiction in Indian villages. Based on my limited understanding of Indian villages–especially those in...
Post a Comment
Read more

Exclusion

  The very foundation of some of the major problems that persist in our society is built on the bedrock of exclusion - be it biases, stereotypes, discrimination, or any other practice that degrades others. This makes it important for us to question: why do people exclude in the first place? The idea of exclusion often germinates from the desire to stand out or appear unique. We crave being seen as distinct, not just like any other person. For instance, when we go shopping for clothes, we consciously avoid those that are widely sold. We often say, “everyone wears that.” Maybe we’re comfortable with the broader pattern but not the exact color or design - because we want to stand apart. Hence, we exclude certain colors or styles to create our own distinct identity. While this kind of exclusion in fashion may seem harmless, it reveals a deeper psychological pattern that, when applied to social groups, becomes dangerous. Over time, we begin to associate certain styles with people we don...
Post a Comment
Read more

Might is right

  Might Is Right “Justice is the interest of the stronger” replies Thrasymachus, answering the question asked by Plato, what is justice? The same goes with might is right. The meaning of this proverb is that the powerful are always right. Although might is right its reverse isn’t correct which is right is might. So might is always right but right is always not might. Which means the weak can also be right. Might is right not because it is right but because of their power and position, no one can object to that. So whatever the mighty says is considered right. We will try to discuss it further by starting from the individual level and ending at the international level.  At the individual level, some people are stronger and mighty. For example, there are two people one who is very powerful both connection-wise and physically. If you indulge in a fight with him/her, not even a fight if s/he is doing something wrong you can’t do anything. And our not objection to that particular a...
Post a Comment
Read more