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Even a person who is not interested at all in any political issues can not deny that multiple political events are effecting his or her life everyday. Politics, which can be understood as any process of collective decision-making, is universal in all human societies. Therefore also political commentators, journalists, politicians, activists are universal human characters.

What is Political Science?

Political science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, nation, government, and politics and policies of the government. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems, political behavior, and political culture. Political scientists “see themselves engaged in revealing the relationships underlying political events and conditions, and from these revelations, they attempt to construct general principles about the way the world of politics works.”

Political science intersects with other fields; including economics, law, sociology, history, anthropology, public administration, public policy, national politics, international relations, comparative politics, psychology, political organization, and political theory. Although it was codified in the 19th century when all the social sciences were established, political science has ancient roots; indeed, it originated almost 2,500 years ago with the works of Plato and Aristotle.

An Ever Developing Discipline

Our understanding of science is deeply shaped by the image of natural sciences, in which deputies are pictured vividly as persons in white lab coats, using experiments to explain the phenomenon of nature around us. Political Science, like most social sciences, differs in many points from this kind of science. Social phenomenons in general and political events in specific are normally way too complex to be carried out in experiments. Furthermore, it is hard to find universal laws in political environments because basic patterns of political systems and behavior are changing every day since we as humans learn to adapt to new circumstances.

Nonetheless political science, as a relatively young academic discipline, is nowadays a science which made great progress in explaining events around us with empirical and normative analysis.

IAPSS in the Global Political Science Arena

The International Association for Political Science Students (IAPSS) is the worldwide representation of students of political science and related studies. IAPSS strives to deliver a sustainable academic contribution to the education of its members, foster exchange among young political scientists across the globe, and promote social and scientific responsibility.

We do this by offering a multiplicity of events, publications, professionalization, and career services as well as lobbying for political science interests on the international level.

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