Why is Political Science Important in Today’s World? (EPS)

Abstract

At any university open day, one of the most common questions that political scientists are likely to face from prospective students (as well as their parents, carers and accompanying friends) is what sort of job are they likely to get when they finish their degree. A standard response has traditionally been that as a political science graduate they will have skills that are relevant to a whole range of jobs. Such a response reflects an inherent problem which faces the teaching of political science. Unlike physicists who might point to solving incredibly complex problems, engineers who refer to the building of amazing structures, artists who note significant cultural contributions, and medical practitioners who emphasise dealing with life and death emergencies, the response from political scientists seems less compelling. While this might seem a subjective viewpoint, the discipline faces significant challenges in terms of student enrolments and the need to articulate a compelling vision as well as a relevant curriculum in a massified higher education environment that is shaped by the need for undergraduate students to be able to demonstrate their employability. But just as political science needs to present a compelling offer to its future students, political scientists equally need to be able to demonstrate their impact on policy. The latter is an increasingly complex challenge in a world where the teaching of political science in democratic (and less democratic) countries is under challenge, whether in the form of state legislative laws in the USA through to the Central European University being forced out of Hungary. This debate examines these challenges and provides a forum to explore and discuss ways in which political scientists and political science professional associations can respond to these challenges. In particular, the debate seeks to answer the following key questions: ▪️ How can political scientists better communicate with diverse audiences that include practitioners, government agencies, the media and the general public? ▪️ What are the consequences (intended, unintended, beneficial, negative, etc.) of the impact, role and value of political science on society? ▪️ How can political scientists can show the impact of their work on society? ▪️ How can we better communicate the value of a political science degree? ▪️ What should be in a political science curriculum? ▪️ How can we teach political science when our students don’t read newspapers? ▪️ What role does political science play in educating local communities?