Political Science

Political Science is the study of the behavior of individuals and groups within a political environment. Specific topics of concern to politica scientists include structuring of conflict, allocating power, and manipulating power for individual self-interest. Capitalism is just one economic system. The economies of former Soviet Union and much of Eastern Europe, for example, were based on socialist concepts. Planned economies were not free markets; rather, governments owned of the goods-producing businesses. And organizational decision makers essentially carried out the dictates of government policies. Efficiency had little meaning in such economies, and there was no competition in most of the basic industries because they were government controlled. In many cases, effectiveness defined by how many poeple a plant employees rather than by basic financial criteria. Management is affected by a nation' s form of govenment-by whether it allows its citizens to hold property, by its citizens' ability to engage in and enforce contracts, and by the appeal mechanisms available to redress grievances. In a freedom to enter or not enter into contracts, and appeal system for justice. A nation's stand on property, contracts, and justice, in turn, shapes the type, form, and policies of its organization.