The Atrophy of political science and party politics [in nigeria]; no? .

Dear Citizen,

I have been reflecting lately on a rather strange question of whether political science is (still) a living dynamic field of study and contemplation or if it is (now) an irrelevant discipline that has suffered terminal atrophy.

Otherwise, what is the contribution of that field and those who profess it to the direction, regulation or management of Nigeria's political development or evolution in recent times?

And more specifically, if political science was as dynamic or organic (and therefore continually unfolding and responsive) as the natural or physical sciences, has it bothered to interrogate this simple but significant question: is party politics or the party system (still) fit for purpose, even globally and particularly in Nigeria; and must we retain the monopoly of the party system as the medium for political leadership selection and mediation of public governance?

In simple terms otherwise, what is the practical value of political science as a discipline in our present reality? Should we scrap it as a formal field of study or should we rejig it to give it applied social relevance?

Iniruo Wills

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