Behavioural Approach I Features of Behavioural Approach I 8 Elements of David Easton I Significance
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The behavior approach in comparative politics emerged post-WWII to study individual behavior, influenced by figures like Charles Merriam and David Easton, focusing on empirical research and interdisciplinary study. Post-Behaviorism aimed to reform the approach by separating values from facts, making politics more scientific through objective study of human behavior and its impact on the political system.
Insights
- The behavior approach in comparative politics, emerging post-World War II, shifted focus from formal institutions to individual behavior, studying factors like voting patterns influenced by caste or religion.
- Key figures like Charles Merriam and David Easton contributed significantly to the behavior approach, emphasizing interdisciplinary study, empirical research, and separating values from facts, despite criticisms of complexity and limitations in observing human behavior accurately.
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Recent questions
What is the behavior approach in comparative politics?
The behavior approach in comparative politics emerged after World War II, focusing on studying individual behavior at various levels of the political system. It emphasizes factors like voting patterns influenced by caste or religion, moving beyond traditional studies of formal institutions.
Who are some key contributors to the behavior approach?
Key contributors to the behavior approach include William C. Munro, Graham Walras, Arthur Bentley, Charles Merriam, and David Easton. Their works significantly shaped the interdisciplinary study of individual attitudes, personalities, and political activities.
What are the principles outlined by David Easton in the behavior approach?
David Easton, considered the Father of Behavior Religion in Political Science, outlined eight principles in his work "Framework for Political Analysis" in 1965. These principles include regularities in political behavior, verification, methodological data collection, quantification, separating facts from values, systematic theory-building, scientific methods, and interdisciplinary integration.
What are the criticisms of the behavior approach in political science?
Criticisms of the behavior approach in political science include the complexity of studying human behavior, reliance on methods over understanding reality, and limitations in observing and generalizing human behavior accurately. The challenge lies in separating values from facts and applying complete scientific techniques in a field that involves questions of right and wrong.
What is Post Behaviourism in the study of human behavior and politics?
Post Behaviourism aimed to reform the behavior approach by emphasizing the scientific study of human behavior and politics, separating values from facts to enhance the scope of Political Science. This approach sought to make politics more scientific by studying human behavior objectively and understanding its impact on the political system, broadening theory building in the field.
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Summary
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Behavior Approach in Comparative Politics Post-1945
- The behavior approach to the study of comparative politics emerged after World War II, specifically after 1945, focusing on formal institutions and informal elements.
- It came as a reaction to the traditional approach, which solely studied formal institutions like legislators and executives.
- The behavior approach emphasizes studying individual behavior at various levels of the political system, analyzing factors like voting patterns influenced by caste or religion.
- William C. Munro's works in 1988, "Human Nature and Politics" by Graham Walras and "The Process of Government" by Arthur Bentley, contributed significantly to the behavior approach.
- Charles Merriam, an early advocate of the behavior approach, promoted an interdisciplinary approach to make politics more scientific.
- The behavior approach involves studying individual attitudes, personalities, activities, voting patterns, and participation in demonstrations.
- David Easton, considered the Father of Behavior Religion in Political Science, outlined eight principles in his work "Framework for Political Analysis" in 1965.
- The principles include regularities in political behavior, verification, methodological data collection, quantification, separating facts from values, systematic theory-building, scientific methods, and interdisciplinary integration.
- The behavior approach focuses on human behavior, interdisciplinary study, empirical research, separation of values and facts, and systematic study.
- Criticisms of the behavior approach include the complexity of studying human behavior, reliance on methods over understanding reality, and limitations in observing and generalizing human behavior accurately.
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Limits of Autonomy in Political Science
- The autonomy of politics is limited when values derived from facts are considered in the study of human behavior, making it challenging to separate values from facts. Political science, being a social science, involves questions of right and wrong, making it difficult to apply complete scientific techniques in its study.
- Post Behaviourism aimed to reform the behavioral approach by emphasizing the scientific study of human behavior and politics, separating values from facts to enhance the scope of Political Science and broaden theory building. This approach sought to make politics more scientific by studying human behavior objectively and understanding its impact on the political system.
