"With the rise of the empirical sciences, political theory was believed to have no future. Indeed, as someone put it, it was already ‘dead’." Examine in special reference with the major developments that took place in political science after WWII. (15)
After the WWII, a strong critique of prevailing political theory emerged, which was influenced by ''behavioral political science'', propounded by David Easton. David Easton in his ''Political System: An Inquiry into the state of Political Science'' (1953) asserted that prevailing political theory was based on speculation and not on scientific study of existing reality. It focused more on ''what ought to be'' rather than ''what is''; on values more than facts. Easton''s appeal for building causal theory led to the development of empirical science based on positivism, which is known as behavioral revolution.
However, the rise of empirical theory could not provide the systematic theory of politics as it indulged merely into methodological sophistication by focusing on facts at the cost of values and norms. Though the new science of politics tried to ground analysis in reality of political life, it failed to offer any insight to grasp the nitty-gritties of politics.
The socio-political turmoil of late 1960s in Europe and the US (student''s movements, anti-war movements, civil rights movements etc.) demonstrated the inadequacy of the empirical sciences to comprehend the complexities and fundamental questions raised by it. David Easton himself realized the limitations of positivist political science, thereby ushering in of a ''Post-Behavioural Revolution'' comprising ''credo of relevance and change'' in 1969.
Scholars such as Leo Strauss argued that the rise of empirical sciences was in fact a symptom of alleged decline of political theory. He further asserted that by adopting positivist approach, political science had ignored the challenge of normative issues.
The contribution of scholars such as Hannah Ardent, Michael Oakshot, C. B. Macpherson, John Rawls, Herbart Marcuse, Robert Nozick etc. led to the revival of political theory. It was significant development in political science because it revived the great tradition of political philosophy. It brought values and norms back to the domain of political science. Thus, the normative upsurge sought to comprehend both the knowledge of the facts and the insights with which knowledge is comprehended.
Next
previous
Latest News
General Studies