Explain what is meant by Government as an academic field of study.

Explanation

Government as an Academic Field of study involves

(i) The study of political institutions of a state, its values, beliefs and doctrines about politics and the views of political thinkers about what defines or constitutes the welfare of the people in a state. These were part of the study of government in the early days.

(ii) Government is a social science subject taught in higher institutions and it is referred to as political science. It is also taught in schools and colleges.

(iii) The study of government, now a science involves the use of computers, research, statistics and analysis of data.

(iv) The study of government embraces public administration, international relations, national governments, political behaviour, local government, comparative government, political theory, etc.

(iv) The study of government has brought about different techniques and methods, realising systematic proposition necessary for problem solving in any political or governmental system.

(vi) Government also relates with other subjects like, history, economics, philosophy, sociology, psychology, mathematics, anthropology, etc. This relationship has facilitated the inter-disciplinary approach and in depth study of government.