List of Important and Relevant Political Science Interview Questions and Answers

 

Table Of Contents
Responsibilities of a Political Scientist
Skills of a Political Scientist
1. How would you define Political Science?
2. Do you believe government employees are effective, or does a bureaucracy result in a decrease in the effectiveness of a government?
3. How do democratic countries select their politicians?
4. Can you define laissez-faire and discuss the key characteristics of this policy?
5. What is the function of an autocrat, and how do they influence a country’s political system?
6. What does the term sovereignty mean to you, and how does it impact a political system that is considered to be sovereign?
7.Can you define unitary political science and discuss some of its factors?
8. What are some factors that would result in underdevelopment of the countries that are developing?
9. What are the characteristics of a country that is considered a satellite country?
10. What are some reasons a military coup may be required in some countries?
11. How would you define Political Science?
12. Do you believe government employees are effective, or does a bureaucracy result in a decrease in the effectiveness of a government?
13. How do democratic countries select their politicians?

Using historical and current socio-economic data, political scientists study the workings of political systems and the interactions they have with each other on a global scale. Any predictions made are then offered to political campaigns, businesses, and current government officials. This allows them to anticipate social and political trends and use them to their favor. Political scientists are hired by businesses, governments, and universities to study both emerging and existing political theories and their execution. Much like economists predict patterns in markets, political scientists study political trends in an attempt to predict political events and their consequences. This article therefore will provide the list of important and relevant political science interview questions and answers, their responsibilities, their skills as well as other frequently asked interview questions. 
Responsibilities of a Political Scientist

Keeping track of current events and quantifying them
Relating historical events and their consequences to current events
Identifying patterns in different aspects of the political system (i.e., voter demographics and political parties)
Examining interactions between governments with similar and dissimilar political systems
Putting political systems into context in the larger sphere of global politics
Advising businesses, politicians, and journalistic institutions on political trends and their outcomes
Skills of a Political Scientist

An analytical approach to thinking
Being well-versed in both political theory and history
Well-refined research skills
Quantifying both qualitative and quantitative information
Building predictive models based on gathered data
1. How would you define Political Science?

My definition of political science is it is an academic field within the social sciences that investigates political processes, systems, behavior, and the structure and purpose of government.  It also looks into related topics including public policy as well as political theory, the economy and international relations.
2. Do you believe government employees are effective, or does a bureaucracy result in a decrease in the effectiveness of a government?

Government employees can be effective if they are left alone to do their jobs.  Creating a large bureaucracy with many rules and regulations and a very formal reporting structure lessens the effectiveness of government employees and the services they provide.
3. How do democratic countries select their politicians?

Democratic countries select their politicians in several different ways.  The first is a direct vote where each citizen can vote for specific officeholders.  In a parliamentary system, citizens vote for a party, which has identified individual members to fill specific offices.  The final system is a referendum, where the entire population of citizens votes for measures which then identify individual officeholders will be responsible for implementing them.
4. Can you define laissez-faire and discuss the key characteristics of this policy?

Laissez-faire is a leadership style or political policy which is opposite of most autocratic governments.  The key concept is to make as few decisions as possible and allow the economy and the political system to dictate the direction the entity moves in.  Government and leadership only step in to make small corrections or in the case of a national emergency which would have negative impacts on the citizens.
5. What is the function of an autocrat, and how do they influence a country’s political system?

An autocrat is a leader who was full and absolute power and authority over the government they are the head of.  Autocrats can exist in a variety of different political systems, including monarchies, democracies, and dictatorships.  The key concept is unlimited and absolute power to act, as opposed to how they obtained the office.
6. What does the term sovereignty mean to you, and how does it impact a political system that is considered to be sovereign?

Sovereignty is the absolute and legitimate power of a government over itself without any external interference.  It also defines the supreme legitimate authority over the members of the entity in question.  In the context of international law, sovereignty defines the ability of a state to exercise power over its people.
7.Can you define unitary political science and discuss some of its factors?

Unitary political science studies systems in which a single entity governs the entire political system.  This contrasts with federal states, in which there is a government entity that is senior to the individual entities which make up the entire body of the system.  An example of a unitary political entity would be a monarchy or dictatorship.  The United States is an example of a Federal System in which there is a national government, state governments and local governments.
8. What are some factors that would result in underdevelopment of the countries that are developing?

Some of the factors that would impact development in a third world country include corruption, illiteracy, the failure of an economy to move from agrarian to industrial, the lack of infrastructure, and inaccurate or misleading communication from the governing entity.
9. What are the characteristics of a country that is considered a satellite country?

The term satellite county refers to individual and independent governments which are heavily influenced by another country which is considered to be superior to them.  Examples of this are Eastern Bloc communist countries when the Soviet Union existed.  The satellite countries had similar political systems and were subject to rules and regulations of the USSR, even though they were independent and had their own governing bodies.
10. What are some reasons a military coup may be required in some countries?

Military coups can occur for several different reasons.  Typically they are a result of either civil unrest or a popular movement that is trying to overthrow an autocratic or dictatorial leader.  Military coups are initiated by the senior leadership of the military organizations of the country.  The leaders of the coup can assume power and maintain it, or immediately transition to a civilian government.  If the military leaders elect to remain in power, they are often subject to additional coups or popular uprisings to overthrow them.
11. How would you define Political Science?

My definition of political science is it is an academic field within the social sciences that investigates political processes, systems, behavior, and the structure and purpose of government.  It also looks into related topics including public policy as well as political theory, the economy and international relations.
12. Do you believe government employees are effective, or does a bureaucracy result in a decrease in the effectiveness of a government?

I believe that government employees can be effective if they are left alone to do their jobs.  Creating a large bureaucracy with many rules and regulations and a very formal reporting structure lessens the effectiveness of government employees and the services they provide.
13. How do democratic countries select their politicians?

Democratic countries select their politicians in several different ways.  The first is a direct vote where each citizen can vote for specific officeholders.  In a parliamentary system, citizens vote for a party, which has identified individual members to fill specific offices.  The final system is a referendum, where the entire population of citizens votes for measures which then identify individual officeholders will be responsible for implementing them.