Disiplin Akademik Sains Politik di Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (Political Science Academic Discipline in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia)

Abstract

For nearly two decades or so, the political science programme organized on the basis of core and elective subjects had the benefit of the departmental structure. However, with the completion of administrative re-structuring in 2001, the departmental structure came to be replaced by a programme. Beyond the administrative changes, the political science programme as whole in Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) despite its popularity, continues to be marred by certain epistemological problems. The heavy emphasis on empiricism very much influenced by the American academia continues to negate the larger role of theory and philosophy in terms of training and equipping students both at the undergraduate and graduate levels. While the relevance of the programme can be seen in its expansion into various sub-fields such as international relations, international political economy and strategic and security studies, the recent emphasis on multi-disciplinary approach poses problems in terms of strengthening the core discipline as such.

ABSTRAK

Selama hampir kira-kira dua dekad, program sains politik telah disusun atur mengikut subjek utama dan elektif atau pilihan dengan berdasarkan struktur Jabatan. Walau bagaimanapun, selesainya usaha penstrukturan semula Fakulti pada tahun 2001, struktur Jabatan telah digantikan dengan Program. Melewati perubahan dari segi pentadbiran ini, secara keseluruhannya boleh dikatakan bahawa sungguhpun program sains politik di Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) mendapat sambutan ramai, namun program ini terus dihantui masalah tertentu berkaitan epistemologinya. Penekanan yang kuat terhadap empirisisme hasil banyak pengaruh akademia Amerika Syarikat, terus-menerus mengkesampingkan peranan teori dan falsafah yang lebih besar dalam konteks melatih pelajar di peringkat pra dan pasca siswazah. Sungguhpun kerelevenan program ini boleh dilihat dari segi perkembangannya ke dalam pelbagai sub- bidang seperti hubungan antarabangsa, politik ekonomi antarabangsa dan kajian strategik dan keselamatan, tumpuan yang diberikan akhir-akhir ini terhadap pendekatan multidisiplin telah menimbulkan masalah dalam konteks memperkukuhkan disiplin utama itu sendiri.