Information Revolution and the Specifics of Modern Political Science

The author examines in detail the relevant issues of the impact of the information revolution on modern political science. The speed of transformation of processes occurring in the contemporary informational world is such that it has a significant influence on all aspects of modern society, primarily in the political sphere. This, in turn, necessitates a relevant theoretical justification for the most likely vectors of development in political science. In this regard, the work explores the approaches of Russian and foreign authors concerning trends and prospects for the development of information and communication systems and their influence on the political life of society and scientific research directions. The author also studies the issues that generate new dependencies and other principles of interaction between political power, the individual, and society. Questions are raised about the transition from a state-centric to a network-centric world. The methodological basis of the conducted research is the inductive method of cognition, based on empirical data. General systems, comparative, and neo-institutional approaches were used for the study. An analysis of practical and theoretical propositions, synthesis of opinions, overview of statistics, and general and specific methods of cognition were conducted. The main conclusions of the scientific work highlight the positive aspects of the informatization process in various spheres of activity. They identify relevant threats associated with the development of information systems and communication means. They determine the prospects for their further transformation as well as their influence on political processes. They provide an understanding that information prompts people to political participation and fosters interaction and understanding among individuals. At the same time, the author concludes about the ambivalent nature of the process of world informatization, the formation of a special value matrix in the virtual computerized environment that directly influences reality, and the emergence of a new, complex-to-understand and embody in real life, information and communication function of the state. This, in turn, proves the necessity for further study of the digital political reality.