Students grapple with lesson in political science (5,8)
I believe the answer is:
class struggle
'lesson in political science' is the definition.
The answer and definition can be both acts as well as being singular nouns.
Perhaps you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'students grapple' is the wordplay.
'students' becomes 'class'.
'grapple' becomes 'struggle' (I've seen this in another clue).
'class'+'struggle'='CLASS STRUGGLE'
'with' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Another definition for class struggle that I've seen is " Conflict between workers and the ruling class".)