QCM : Foundations of Political Science and International Relations — 9 questions

Explication

The foundations of political science are the core principles, concepts, and approaches that underpin the discipline, including its systematic methods, normative and empirical distinctions, and various subfields.

Explication

Lasswell (1936) emphasized that politics involves debating public values, competing for power, and making policy decisions, capturing the essence of 'who gets what, when, how.'

Explication

The correct answer is Harold Lasswell, who in 1936 described politics as 'who gets what, when, how.' The other options are influential political theorists but did not make this specific definition in that year.

Explication

Normative theory concerns how things *should* be, such as advocating for increased foreign aid to promote gender equality, reflecting value-based judgments.

Explication

Political theory's main role is to address normative questions about how political systems *should* operate, focusing on values, ethics, and ideal principles. It prescribes what ought to happen based on moral or political ideals, unlike empirical subfields that analyze actual data or behavior.

Explication

Empirical theory explains political phenomena using data and observations; normative theory prescribes ideals based on values and ethics.

Explication

Comparative Politics involves analyzing and comparing political systems across different countries, making it ideal for cross-country studies.

Explication

IPE examines how political and economic processes influence each other on the international stage, integrating methodologies from economics and political science.

Explication

Political science employs a scientific method that involves developing theories, generating hypotheses, collecting data, and testing or falsifying these hypotheses.