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The Science of Politics

The Science of Politics. Introduction to Politics and Political Analysis Braunwarth. A Few Questions . Take a second to write down your responses to the following questions: When I think of political science, I think of…? What do you personally hope to get out of this course?

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The Science of Politics

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  1. The Science of Politics Introduction to Politics and Political Analysis Braunwarth

  2. A Few Questions • Take a second to write down your responses to the following questions: • When I think of political science, I think of…? • What do you personally hope to get out of this course? • How do you think the study of political science will affect your daily life (if at all)? • If you were going to teach this class, how would you set up the class? • What was your best educational experience? Why?

  3. Identifying the Problem:Some Typical Big Questions for Political Science • Why is there war? • What are the necessary and sufficient conditions of poverty? • How do we account for intolerance? • How do we avoid ecological catastrophes? • Wide agreement that it is advantageous to avoid devastating wars, enhance prosperity, protect human rights, and guard against ecological disasters • Less agreement on HOW we do this • This is where political science comes in

  4. Example of Poverty • It is relatively easy to determine the facts of poverty: who is poor, what is the poverty rate, how is it determined, etc. • (13%, 3X food budget, $20,000/family of 4,) • This is the job of the journalist, not the scientist • Much more difficult to determine why people are poor • What do you think? We can come up with many explanations • What should be done to alleviate poverty? • The real exercise of power comes with the implementation of policy, which depends on the explanation of the problem • For this reason, the “competition for meaning” to define why things are and explain the problem is fiercely contested politically

  5. Science of Politics v. the Practice of Politics • Different people and groups have different understandings and beliefs which leads to a “competition for meaning” to define why things are and what should be done • Political actors play on these understandings to attract popular support • Political debate can be thought of as a competition to impose different truth claims • To impose one’s own view of reality • People rely on different sources of knowledge that they believe to be true • Three main sources of knowledge: Authority, Personal, Scientific

  6. Authority as a source of Truth • Unquestioned source of knowledge • Sometimes referred to as Dogma • Person, authority figure (examples?) • Religion/Document (examples?) • Ideology Problem with this source of knowledge? • Can put “blinders” on a believer • What about conflicts with other sources of information?

  7. Religious Zeal • For example, both Christian and Islamic Fundamentalists talk of relying on God and faith to make decisions about war and terrorism • If the “war on terror” is a “divine mission” with “God on our side” against “evil doers” • Doesn’t leave a lot of room for questioning • Using Political Science to determine the best way do diffuse the threat of terrorism would be, at best, a secondary concern

  8. The problem with dogma>science • If you know you are right and driven by religious or ideological faith, may be willing to use any tool available, including misleading those who “don’t understand” to achieve your end • Blinds believer to potential problems and alternatives

  9. Personal Reflection as a source of Truth • Use logic, thought, reflection, intuition, intelligence, hunches to determine truth • Plato’s Philosopher Kings (most brilliant, no property, men) Problem with this source of knowledge? • Function of Personal Circumstances • Generally colored by authority influences (religion, ideology, etc.) • Again, no mechanism for resolving disputes

  10. Scientific Method • Sets out procedure/mechanism for reaching knowledge claims • Form hypothesis, collect data, test hypothesis • Advantages over the other sources of knowledge? • Is falsifiable • Can never prove truth, can just fail to disprove

  11. Which of the three main sources of political information (authority, personal reflection, or science) seems to have had the most powerful impact on the contemporary world? • Why is this the case?

  12. Politics as a Science • Political science as a science emerged out of a post–World War II movement called the behavioral revolution in the social sciences that attempted to bring with it:* More objectivity* The application of the scientific method* The use of quantifiable data

  13. Strengths of the Scientific Enterprise • Can move us beyond the hunch to firm evidence • Strives to eliminate anecdotal evidence • Attempts to bring the highest possible levels of objectivity • Brings a systematic logic to political problem solving

  14. Weaknesses of the Scientific Method • Not all political problems suitable for empirical research • General difficulty conducting controlled experiments in the social sciences • Spider complex (spinning grand theories from relatively small findings) • Obsession with a particular research tool • Tendency to focus on the status quo • Triviality

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