Theory and Methods in Political Science

Description

A broad-ranging and pluralistic textbook which highlights the rich variety of approaches to studying politics. Written by an international team of experts, this fully revised fourth edition offers cutting-edge coverage from fundamental to contemporary issues. Integrating guides to further reading and clear examples of how research methods can be applied, it enables readers to feel confident about taking their study of politics forward. An ideal foundation for study and research in political science, this textbook will be essential to students at any stage of their degree. It serves as core reading on undergraduate and postgraduate political analysis, theory and method courses. In addition, in demonstrating how independent research is undertaken in political science, the book allows students and early career researchers to begin thinking about formulating their own research agendas. Cover Contents Lists of Figures, Tables and Boxes Preface to the Fourth Edition Notes on Contributors The editors The contributors 1 Introduction What is politics? What is it that political scientists study? What is a scientific approach to politics? The discipline of political science: a celebration of diversity? Part 1 Theory and Approaches Introduction to Part 1 2 Behavioural Analysis The rise of the behavioural movement and its core characteristics Criticisms of the behavioural approach The strengths of the behavioural approach: an example Conclusion: the behavioural legacy in the twenty-­first century Further reading 3 Rational Choice Introduction The methods of economics (and rational choice) The logic of collective action Collective action and the environment What’s wrong with rational choice theory? From imperialism to peaceful co-existence Conclusion Further reading 4 Institutionalism The ‘traditional’ institutional approach The emergence of the ‘new institutionalism’ The ‘three new institutionalisms’ Core features of new institutionalism New institutionalist dilemmas Conclusion Further reading 5 Constructivism and Interpretive Theory Origins of constructivism What is and isn’t distinctive about constructivism? Variations within constructivism Conclusion Further reading 6 Feminist and Gendered Approaches What is feminism? Political science: gendered foundations Women in political science Gender and political science Dilemmas and challenges Conclusion Further reading 7 Marxism: A Global Perspective Marxism and capitalism: structuralist economism or agency-led contingency? Marxism and globalisation: economistic unilinearity or contingent uneven development? Debating globalisation in the twenty-first century Conclusion Further reading 8 Poststructuralism French structuralism From structuralism to poststructuralism Poststructuralism in politics and international relations The ontological and epistemological assumptions of poststructuralism Criticism and evaluation Conclusion Further reading 9 Political Psychology An interdisciplinary enterprise Political conflict and contention Political leadership and followership Political beliefs and voter attitudes Understanding political decision-making Methods and prospects of the field Further reading 10 Normative Political Theory Introduction Methods in normative political theory Normative theory and global justice Political ideals and feasibility Further reading Part 2 Methods and Research Design Introduction to Part 2 11 A Skin Not a Sweater: Ontology and Epistemology in Political Science Ontology and epistemology introduced Distinguishing ontological and epistemological positions Interrogating different approaches to ontology and epistemology Ontology and epistemology in empirical research Conclusion Further reading 12 Meta-Theoretical Issues Conceptualising structure, agency and the ideational realm Dialectical approaches to the relationships between structure and agency and the material and the ideational The material and the ideational: thin and thick ­constructivism Stability and change Conclusion Further reading 13 Research Design What is research design? The research process The elements of research design Types of research methodologies Case and variable selection for different types of research Conclusion: the power and promise of research design Further reading 14 Qualitative Methods Debates on qualitative methods: the rediscovery of qualitative analysis What is distinctive about qualitative methods and analysis? Qualitative research techniques Conclusion: the use and future use of qualitative methods in political science Further reading 15 Quantitative Methods The collection and management of data The power of description Tables and inferential statistics Multivariate analysis Testing and reporting models Recent developments Conclusion Further reading 16 The Comparative Method Introduction Comparative politics and comparative method – politics beyond the armchair? Comparative method and the scientific method – why small-N research strategies? Mill’s methods of experimental inquiry and their influence on comparative political science The changing nature of comparative research strategies – qualitative comparative analysis Case studies, within-case comparison and ­process-tracing Conclusion: evolving comparison in response to challenges Further reading 17 The Experimental Method What is the experimental method? The rise of experimentation Learning from laboratory experiments Learning from field experiments Learning from internet-based experiments Learning from natural experiments Pitfalls in the experimental method Conclusion Further reading Acknowledgements 18 Big Data: Methods for Collection and Analysis Introduction Defining big data Big data and data collection Data formats Application programming interfaces (APIs) Big data and data analysis Limitations to big data Conclusion: big data and the future of social science Further reading 19 The Relevance of Political Science Position 1: political science should do good science and if the science is good it will be relevant Position 2: political science should be better at communicating its results; if it were it would be more relevant Position 3: political science should be prepared to have its agenda set by problem-solving or puzzle-solving concerns that matter to policymakers and citizens; if it did it would be more relevant Position 4: political science should be prepared to develop a capacity not just for analysing problems but also for developing solutions; that move would enhance its capacity for relevance Position 5: political science needs to develop a more engaged co-production approach to research, working alongside actors outside academia to address their concerns and so advance the relevance of research Position 6: political science needs to embrace a wider role in creating a civic culture essential to democracy; if it does that it will be relevant Where next for relevance? Bibliography DATASET WEBSITE REFERENCES Index