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The paper deals with a couple of speculations by John E. Trent with respect to the state and impact of contemporary political science. It particularly takes issue with the Trent claim that political science must become more relevant and instead emphasizes the need for an independent science system. Furthermore, it accepts the notion that there is a problem with respect to overspecialization but regards this as a necessity if science and research want to move ahead. The Trent argument about schisms in political science theorizing and research methodology must be taken seriously, but can and should be counteracted by the good will of scholars to seek regular intellectual exchanges also in fields where controversy rages. Finally, it is argued in the paper that the Trent worldview is very much a North American one that should be balanced by looking also at other political science communities around the world. Adapted from the source document.

THE EMERGENCE OF SOCIAL SCIENCE IS OFTEN TOO EASILY RELATED TO THE MODERNIZATION OF SOCIETY IN GENERAL, AS IN THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT: "THERE IS CLEARLY A CLOSE CONNECTION BETWEEN THE SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF SOCIAL CONDITIONS, INDUSTRIALIZATION, AND INTENSIFIED URBANIZATION." THOUGH THIS STATEMENT IS CLEARLY NOT FALSE, IT SUGGESTS A SMOOTH, OBVIOUS, AND INEVITABLE PROCESS FOR WHAT IN REALITY WAS FUNDAMENTALLY PROBLEMATIC IN THREE MAJOR RESPECTS: COGNITIVE, INSTITUTIONAL, AND POLITICAL.

This article surveys developments in recent social theory in the course of outlining a new rationale for Politics following the subject's own expansion and in the light of developments in post-empiricist thought. It suggests reasons for thinking of Politics as a cultural rather than a positive science. It outlines a number of core or primary political problems which comprise the intellectual foundations of the discipline. It suggests, overall, that Politics is especially concerned with maintaining and improving the viability of human association(s) in the light of conditions created by the rise and expansion of complex societies.