Summary of the material for the final exam (2022) for Introduction to Political Science. INCLUDES notes from (Total: 38 pages):
Vivien Lowndes, David Marsh and Gerry Stoker’s book (4th edition, 2018) “Theory and Methods in Political Science”, chapters 1-7, 10, 11, 13 and 19.
Summary of the material for the final exam (2022) for Introduction to Political Science. INCLUDES
notes from (Total: 38 pages):
● Vivien Lowndes, David Marsh and Gerry Stoker’s book (4th edition, 2018) “Theory and
Methods in Political Science”, chapters 1-7, 10, 11, 13 and 19.
1
Introduction to Political Science Notes on Readings
Table of Contents
“Theory and Methods in Political Science” 2
Chapter 1: Introduction 2
Chapter 2: Behavioural Analysis 5
Chapter 3: Rational Choice 8
Chapter 4: Institutionalism 12
Chapter 5: Constructivism and Interpretive Theory 16
Chapter 6: Feminist and Gendered Approaches 19
Chapter 7: Marxism - A Global Perspective 22
Chapter 10: Normative Political Theory 25
Chapter 11: A Skin Not a Sweater: Ontology and Epistemology in Political Science 28
Chapter 13: Research Design 33
Chapter 19: The Relevance of Political Science 36
, 2
“Theory and Methods in Political Science”
Chapter 1: Introduction
Political Science: What political scientists do, differing in approach (very complex → nine
approaches), what is shared, research methods.
➔ Study of politics has origins in Plato, an academic discipline since 1903 formation of the
American Political Science Association.
➔ An international enterprise in a more globalised world:
◆ Outcomes determined by individual and collective actors in/outside states operating
in complex networks.
◆ Gap between domestic politics (increasingly influenced by transnational forces) and
international relations has narrowed.
◆ Role of cities/sub-national regions has expanded (‘new sovereign’?):
● Links across national borders (economic investment).
● Collaboration in tackling governance challenges.
➔ World Politics: New emergence, where non-state actors play a vital role alongside nation
states:
◆ International level issues extended to include domestic concerns.
◆ Nature of politics = more politically driven > military/economic power.
Approaches to political science:
Approach Scope Understanding Attitude (Normative Relationship
(Scientific Claim) Political Theory) (Politics Practice)
Behaviouralism Political Generation of general Emphasis on differences Value-free,
processes laws. between new science neutral,
associated with vs. old armchair detached.
mainstream Development of theorising.
politics and theoretical statements
government. (that can be falsified). Recognizes the value of
political theory.
Claims empirically
tested through direct
observation
Rational Choice Conditions for Generation of general Recognizes the value of Value-free expert
Theory collective action laws (laws with political theory (focus advice on
in main-stream predictive power). more on what is organising
political world. feasible). politics.
Institutionalism Rules, norms, Science = production Connections between Make
values governing of organised empirical analysis and connections
political knowledge. normative theory. (working
exchanges. alongside
Political science = political
Institutional empirically grounded, practitioners).
arrangements in theoretically
mainstream informed, reflective.
political world.
, 3
Constructivism Politics = Understanding human Fusion between all Mixed responses.
meanings activity = different types of theorising.
attached by from the physical Tendency to
actors to world. Political analysis = commentary on
actions, contexts contested (necessarily the political
(can be broad). normative content). world’s narrative
battles.
Psychological Politics = How individuals Human nature Offers insights on
Approaches personality and identify and frame assumptions in political how politics
cognition of political challenges theory = inadequate. works and could
individuals. (allows for theoretical work better.
generalisations by Generally not oriented
empirical to normative theory.
investigation).
Feminism & Recognizes that Mixed range of Normative theory needs Political
Gendered personal can be responses. to take gender studies engagemen =
Approaches political. seriously. strong part of
Strong tendencies feminist impulse.
toward
anti-foundational and
critical realist
perspectives.
Marxism Politics = Critical realist Normative theory = Engaged in the
struggle (discovery of forces useful when providing a struggles of
between social that guide but do not guide to action (change suppressed social
groups/classes. determine history). the world). groups or
classes.
Postructuralism Politics = across No scientific claim Critics (ethical Major impact
a range of social (experience of ‘reality’ relativism), but through popular
institutions and mediated by discours). approach sustains culture.
environments in normative critique of
varied ways. power and promoted Strong capacity
agonistic theories of to critique
democracy. others’ truth
claims.
Theory = opens new doors.
➔ Political science = evidence for research, shapes opportunities/strategies of political actors.
➔ Political science understands “what is” (empirical dimension) and “what should be”
(normative dimension)→ important to clarify arguments, support cases, new challenges.
What is politics? What is it that political scientists study?
Ontological Questions: What is and what exists (“what’s there to know about?”).
Political: Two broad approaches (politics = power) working as a duality (interactive):
1. Arena: Occurring within certain limited ‘arenas’. Political scientists (behaviouralists, rational
choice theorists and institutionalists) focus on the formal operation of politics in governance
(everyday understandings).
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