Approaches to political science

Behaviouralism: Scope of political studies?

Concentrates on processes of politics associated with mainstream politics

Behaviouralism: Understanding of the Scientific claim?

• General laws

• Development of theoretical statements that can be falsified

• Test claims through direct observation

Behaviouralism: Attitude towards normative theory?

• Emphasises the difference between the new science & old armchair theorising

• Values political theory

Behaviouralism: Relationship to the practice of politics?

• Value free, neutral & detached

Rational choice theory: Scope of political studies?

Concerned with conditions for collective action

Rational choice theory: Understanding of the Scientific claim?

Generation of general laws & particular laws with predictive power

Rational choice theory: Attitude towards normative theory?

More recognition to the value of political theory

Focuses less on what could be are move on what is feasible

Rational choice theory: Relationship to the practice of politics?

Value free expert advice about how to organise politics

Institutionalism: Scope of political studies?

• Focuses on the rules, norms & values that govern political exchanges

• Looks at institutional arrangements in mainstream political world

Institutionalism: Understanding of the Scientific claim?

• Science is the production of organised knowledge 

• Best political science is empirically grounded, theoretically informed, reflective

Institutionalism: Attitude towards normative theory?

Makes connections between empirical analysis & normative theory

Institutionalism: Attitude towards normative theory?

Relationship to the practice of politics?

Make connections, works alongside the practitioners of politics

Constructivism: Scope of political studies?

• Politics driven by the meanings that actors attack to their actions

• Politics can be broad in scope, reflecting peoples diverse world views

Constructivism: Understanding of the Scientific claim?

Understanding of human activity is different to that of the physical world

Constructivism: Attitude towards normative theory?

• Fusion between all types of theorising

• Political analysis is essentially contested & has normative content

Constructivism: Relationship to the practice of politics?

Wry commentary on narrative battles in the political world

Psychological approaches: Scope of political studies?

Politics as the personality & cognition of the individuals who engage in its practices

Psychological approaches: Understanding of the Scientific claim?

• How individuals identify & frame political challenges

• Allows for theoretical generalisations to be tested by empirical investigations

Psychological approaches: Attitude towards normative theory?

• Assumptions made about human nature are inadequate

• Not normative theory (usually)

Psychological approaches: Relationship to the practice of politics?

Offers insight into how politics work how it would be made to work better

Feminism & gendered approaches: Scope of political studies?

Recognises that personal can be political (domestic violence)

Feminism & gendered approaches: Understanding of the Scientific claim?

Strong tendencies towards anti-foundational & critical realist perspectices

Feminism & gendered approaches: Attitude towards normative theory?

Normative theory & takes gender issues seriously

Feminism & gendered approaches: Relationship to the practice of politics?

Political engagement is strongly part of the feminist impuse

Marxism: Scope of political studies?

Politics is a struggle between social groups & classes

Marxism: Understanding of the Scientific claim?

Critical realist: below-the-surface forces that guide but don’t determine historical events

Marxism: Attitude towards normative theory?

It is useful when it provides a guide to action

Marxism: Relationship to the practice of politics?

Engagement in the struggle of suppressed social groups or classes

Poststructuralism: Scope of political studies?

Takes place & achieves impact across a range of social institutions & environments

Poststructuralism: Understanding of the Scientific claim?

There is no scientific claim as our experience of ‘reality’ is mediated by language or discourse

Poststructuralism: Attitude towards normative theory?

• Receives criticism for ethical relativism

• Sustains a normative critique or power & dominations

• Promotes agonistic theories of democracy 

Poststructuralism: Relationship to the practice of politics?

Major impact through pop culture & a strong capacity to develop a critique of other truth claims