Independent Research Work

1. Working independently with literature or electronic resources, find out the key issues studied by the below-mentioned subfields of political science.

Political science has several subfields, including: political theory, public policy, national politics, international relations, and comparative politics.

2. Can you give definitions to the terms printed in bold?

Political science is methodologically diverse, to the discipline include classical political philosophy, positivism, interpretivism, structuralism, and behavioralism, realism, pluralism, and institutionalism.

Part 2

USEFUL VOCABULARY

1. Study the following words and word-combinations. Check their pronunciation with your dictionary.

antecedent n deducing trace one’s roots back to abstract v statesman n diffuse v bring to light reveal v the Enlightenment n milieu n

предшественник выведение проследить свое происхождение резюмировать, извлекать государственный муж распространять(ся) осветить, высветить раскрыть эпоха просвещения социальная среда/ среда

READING

1. Read the text carefully and define the stages of political science historical development.

The History of Scientific Development

Political science is a late arrival in terms of social sciences. However, the discipline has a clear set of antecedents such as moral philosophy, political philosophy, political economy, political theology, history, and other fields concerned with normative determinations of what ought to be and with deducing the characteristics and functions of the ideal state. In each historic period and in almost every geographic area, we can find someone studying politics and increasing political understanding.

The antecedents of Western politics can trace their roots back to Plato (427–347BC) and Aristotle (384–322 BC), particularly in the works of Homer, Hesiod, Thucydides, Xenophon, and Euripides. Later, Plato analyzed political systems, abstracted their analysis from more literary- and history-oriented studies and applied an approach we would understand as closer to philosophy. Similarly, Aristotle built upon Plato's analysis to include historical empirical evidence in his analysis. Plato wrote The Republic and Aristotle wrote the Politics.

During the height of the Roman Empire, famous historians such as Polybius, Livy and Plutarch documented the rise of the Roman Republic, and the organization and histories of other nations, while statesmen like Julius Caesar, Cicero and others provided us with examples of the politics of the republic and Rome's empire and wars. With the fall of the Western Roman Empire, there arose a more diffuse arena for political studies. The rise of monotheism and, particularly for the Western tradition, Christianity, brought to light a new space for politics and political action. During the Middle Ages, the study of politics was widespread in the churches and courts. Most of the political questions surrounding the relationship between church and state were clarified and contested in this period.

During the Italian Renaissance, Machiavelli established the emphasis of modern political science on direct empirical observation of political institutions and actors. For Machiavelli, nothing seems to be too good or too evil if it helps to attain and preserve political power. Machiavelli shatters political illusions, reveals the harsh reality of politics and could be considered the father of the politics model.

In The Enlightenment religion would no longer play a dominant role in politics. There would be separation of church and state. Principles similar to those that dominated the material sciences could be applied to society as a whole, originating the social sciences. Politics could be studied in a laboratory as it were, the social milieu. Among important figures in politics who participated in the Enlightenment were Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.

DEVELOPING VOCABULARY

1. Say the following in other words:

allocation and transfer of power,

to measure the success of governance and specific policies by examining many

factors,

to provide the frameworks,

to look at a variety of data,

to deal intensively with the economics of politics.

2. Give synonyms to the following words:

trace their roots back to

participate

fall

abstract

3. Complete the sentences with appropriate words and prepositions:

1) Political science is a late … in terms … social sciences.

2) Aristotle built … Plato's analysis to include historical … evidence in his analysis.

3) … like Julius Caesar, Cicero and others provided us … examples of the politics of the republic and Rome's empire and wars.

4) There arose a more … arena … political studies.

5) Machiavelli … political illusions, … the harsh reality of politics and could be considered the father of the politics model.

6) Principles similar … those that dominated the material sciences could be applied … society as a whole.

Part 3

USEFUL VOCABULARY

1. Study the following words and word-combinations. Check their pronunciation with your dictionary.

duplicate n outcomes n patterns n inanimate objects complexities n advent n predecessor n sweep (swept) v subside v verification n

дубликат результаты образцы неодушевленные объекты сложности появление предшественник охватывать спадать проверка

READING

1. Read the article and find answers to the questions below.