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What are the main fields within political science?
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political science
Stone rubbing (19th century?) of Confucius from a design attributed to Wu Daoxuan (flourished 700–760 CE).
Modern university departments of political science are typically organized into several core fields, each encompassing various subfields of study:1
- Domestic politics: Often the most common field, it examines internal political processes, including public opinion, elections, and the functions of national, state, and local government.1
- Comparative politics: This field analyzes and compares political systems, processes, and institutions across different countries and world regions.1
- International relations: This area focuses on interactions between nations, covering topics such as foreign policy, the causes of war, and international political economy.1
- Political theory: This field explores classical political philosophy alongside contemporary theoretical perspectives like constructivism and critical theory.1
- Public administration: Focused on the practical application of government operations, this field studies the role of the bureaucracy and prepares students for the civil service.12
- Public law: This field investigates constitutions, legal systems, civil rights, and criminal justice.1
- Public policy: This field analyzes the development and implementation of government policies regarding areas such as education, economic growth, and environmental protection.1