The chapter extensively discusses aspects and perspectives of political socialization that influence and shape political structures, governance, and perspectives. Political socialization comprises a process in which citizens in any given nation or state develop attitudes, values, opinions, and beliefs that enable them to support the existing power structures and politics. Political socialization gives the power systems legitimacy to govern the society by allowing social groups to hold certain views, beliefs, and perceptions on the world. The expansion of political science comprises the study of influencing people to participate in political processes. By nature, man is a political animal, hence, must continuously participate and engage in political processes. For instance, it is crucial to note that political science facilitates the understanding of how different demographics in a society perceive diverse political issues and problems.
The chapter draws from ancient philosophers such as Socrates, Aristotle, Plato, among others to explain the value of political science in understanding power structures, mechanisms, and their use in the world. The utilization of power entails the ability to influence and get people to do what they would not ordinarily do on their own. That is, political power exists in society as a means to the end of social justice.
Additionally, it is essential to note that political science advocates for the importance of the educated persons in the society to be at the helm of society. Political science educates people on the virtues of justice enabling them to hold public interests above their own. As people struggle for political power, it is integral to determine how the political landscapes are taken to build a stable and sound society.
Moreover, the chapter asserts that power is categorized into soft and hard power. The application of hard power by a nation-state constitutes the utilization of military and economic as tools of force to modify the behavior of other nations. The utilization of soft power comprises the ability of a nation-state to leverage another through a sway of cultural and diplomatic persuasion. This illustrates that the application of power in different forms is integral to political science as it determines how nation-states relate impacting international relations, peace, and security.
Furthermore, the development of body academia in social sciences has profoundly changed the disciplines such as political science, criminal justice, psychology, anthropology, sociology, and economics through the incorporation of scientific approaches. This is vital to the utilization of hard data and evidence to support arguments and theories advanced in the subject. As well, the study shows the profound interconnectedness of the political, financial, technological, and social spheres in the contemporary world. This presents a world where political occurrences in one region have the potential to influence other parts of the world and exert global influence. Therefore, the study of political science is vital to the management of both domestic and global political processes to sustain the stability of international relations.
