Post-behavioralism
{{Short description|Movement in political science}}
Post-behavioralism (or post-behaviouralism) also known as neo-behavioralism (or neo-behaviouralism) was a reaction against the dominance of behavioralist methods in the study of politics. One of the key figures in post-behaviouralist thinking was David Easton who was originally one of the leading advocates of the "behavioral revolution". Chaurasia, Radhey (2003) History of Political Thought, New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers, p. 135 Post-behavioralists claimed that despite the alleged value-neutrality of behavioralist research it was biased towards the status quo and social preservation rather than social change.
Key tenets
- Post-behavioralism challenged the idea that academic research had to be value neutralSanford Schram, Brian Caterino, (2006) Making political science matter: debating knowledge, research, and method, New York: New York University Press, p. 167 and argued that values should not be neglected. Chaurasia, Radhey (2003) History of Political Thought, New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers, p. 137
- Post-behavioralism claimed that behavioralism's bias towards observable and measurable phenomena meant that too much emphasis was being placed on easily studied trivial issues at the expense of more important topics.Jay M. Shafritz (2004) Dictionary of public policy and administration, Oxford: Westview Press, p. 20
- Research should be more relevant to societyChaurasia, Radhey (2003) History of Political Thought, New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers, p. 137 and intellectuals have a positive role to play in society. Chaurasia, Radhey (2003) History of Political Thought, New Delhi: Atlantic Publishers, p. 138
Criticism
Heinz Eulau described post-behavioralism as a "near hysterical response to political frustrations engendered by the disconcerting and shocking events of the late sixties and early seventies".Eulau, Heinz (1981). "Foreword: On Revolutions That Never Were." In S. L.. Long (ed.), The Handbook of Political Behavior. New York: Plenum Press.
See also
References
Further reading
- Easton, David (1969) The New Revolution in Political Science, The American Political Science, 63/4: 1051-1061
{{Positivism}}