Modern Political Science Theories
- Behavioralism (1950s - 1960s)
- Influence of Comtean Positivism - emphasis on scientific observation
- Highly critical of Traditional approach as unscientific
- Campbell et al. - The American Voter (1960)
- Post-Behavioralism (1960s -1970s)
- Highly critical of Behavioral approach as too static, irrelevant
- Interested in the prospects of political change, making things "better"
- Research findings have real world implications, researchers have a social responsibility
- Systems Theory
- David Easton - A Systems Analysis of Political Life (1965)
- An attempt to model the political system
- Inputs - demands and supports
- Conversion Process (government decision makers), "the black box"
- Outputs - decisions and actions
- Components of the system are connected, interdependent
- Helpful, but too simplistic
- Modernization Theory
- Samuel P. Huntington - Political Order in Changing Societies (1968)
- Explanation of Political Development
- Connection of economic development and democracy
- Rational Choice Theory
- Anthony Downs - An Economic Theory of Democracy (1957)
- Mancur Olsen - The Logic of Collective Action (1965)
- Assumption: Humans are rational "utility-maximizers"
- Game theory: Prisoners' dilemma
- Little role for culture, values, attitudes, etc
- Neo-Institutionalism
- Blending of Traditional approach and Rational Choice
- Studying institutions (traditional) from the perspective of how the decision-making rules are set up and used by "utility-maximizing" actors (rational choice)