The traditional approaches to Political Science was widely prevalent till the outbreak of the Second World War. These approaches were mainly related to the traditional view of politics which emphasized the study of the state and government. Therefore, traditional approaches are primarily concerned with the study of the organization and activities of the state and principles and the ideas which underlie political organizations and activities. These approaches were normative and idealistic. The political thinkers advocating these approaches, therefore, raised questions like ‘what should be an ideal state?’ According to them the study of Political Science should be confined to the formal structures of the government, laws, rules and regulations. Thus, the advocates of the traditional approaches emphasize various norms - what ‘ought to be’ or ‘should be’ rather than ‘what is’.
1.Traditional approaches are largely normative and stresses on the values of politics
2. Emphasis is on the study of different political structures.
3.Traditional approaches made very little attempt to relate theory and research
4.These approaches believe that since facts and values are closely interlinked, studies in Political Science can never be scientific.
MODERN Meaning
After studying politics with the help of traditional approaches, the political thinkers of the later stage felt the necessity to study politics from a new perspective. Thus, to minimize the deficiencies of the traditional approaches, various new approaches have been advocated by the new political thinkers. These new approaches are regarded as the “modern aproaches” to the study of Political Science. Many thinkers regard these approaches as a reaction against the traditional approaches. These approaches are mainly concerned with scientific study of politics. The first breakthrough in this regard comes with the emergence of the behavioural revolution in Political Science.
These approaches try to draw conclusion from empirical data.
These approaches go beyond the study of political structures and its historical analysis
Modern Approaches believe in inter-disciplinary study
They emphasize scientific methods of study and attempt to draw scientific conclusions in Political Science