Basics of Political Science

Politics is a very complex concept. That is, there are many meanings to understand it. The simple meaning of politics is to control hatred. That is, it can be recognized as a part of our daily life and imagination. Politics is connected with human thoughts, activities and behavior. Politics can also be recognized as a tool. Here, politics also has deeper meanings. They are areas that great philosophers and thinkers have shown interest in.They point out that this can be identified as a use of state and state power, as well as a social practice used by citizens. According to classical political science literature and sociological knowledge, politics can be identified in two general meanings. (1)State as a concept that studies public administration and governance (state-centric meaning) (2)As a social practice that also involves citizens (sociocentric meaning) Let us examine these meanings to understand politics as follows. •State as a concept of public administration and governance (state-centric meaning) Politics was interpreted as the art of governing by both European and Eastern thinkers during the classical era, that is, by Greek, Indian, and Chinese philosophers in the fourth century BC. The philosopher Aristotle defined politics as the art of governing. The Latin word 'polis', which is the basis for the English word 'politics', means matters related to the city-state. In other words, the things that happen in city-states can be described as politics. If we further analyze politics, Aristotle called political science 'politike episteam'. It means the subject that is interested in the happiness and good of all citizens living in city-states. Aristotle has accepted this in his book 'Nicomachean Ethics'. Plato, in his book 'The Diplomat', has defined politics as 'the art of governing a political community by statesmen'. He also points out that statesmen should be knowledgeable, educated scholars with special qualities (skills) required to govern the human community. Politics also has a meaning in Indian philosophy, namely, Chanakya or Kautilya, a contemporary of Aristotle and advisor to the Mauryan emperor of the fourth century BC, defined politics as the art of state administration and governance. Kautilya showed this in his work 'Artha Shastra' by focusing on the art and activities of state administration. In the Indian state, politics was centered around the king, and the ruler, in order to do politics, *Political *Military *Diplomatic strategies From what needs to be learned to The Chinese philosopher Confucius also defines politics as the art of statecraft. Confucius points out that a good ruler should make the people obey him without force or corruption, through virtue and example. This shows that Confucius also understood politics as state-centered. •Politics as a social practice There are two basic meanings of 'politics is a social practice'. (1)Politics is an aspect of civic engagement. (2)Politics takes place in the interpersonal relationships that occur in society. Citizens are also involved in politics. Where the citizen, *Votes. *Appointing rulers *Gives power to govern *Political parties are formed. *Joining political parties *Causes political protests, strikes, demonstrations, riots *Organizations such as voluntary associations are established and membership is obtained. They engage in the political process through media such as. Furthermore, it can be pointed out that citizens have been involved in politics since the Greek era. Accordingly, they point out that there are two things related to politics. (1)Matters related to the state and public administration (2)Roles of citizens involved in public administration activities. Aristotle, in his work 'Politics', pointed out that the citizen should actively participate in political activities. In the Greek era, the citizen was also involved in governance, and at that time, the law-making, city administration, and judicial functions were willingly involved. Since citizens were involved in politics, politics is accepted as a social practice in modern and contemporary times as well. Since politics is a multivariate concept, the following are also used in defining politics: (1)An exercise of power or authority. (2)A collective decision-making process (3)The process of distributing limited resources among different sectors of society. (4)Deceiving the public and using fraudulent subterfuge (5)A power struggle etc. According to the above analysis, politics can be identified as a multi-strategic concept. Accordingly, politics can be shown as the art of governing and as a social practice in which citizens of society directly participate outside the power of the state. In the first sense, politics is identified as an institutionally bound activity and in the second sense as a socially bound action. However, simultaneously, it can be analyzed as a process that is composed of both these meanings and has multi-variable meanings.