Behaviouralism in Political Science focuses on understanding and explaining human behavior through observable actions, emphasizing the importance of empirical observation and scientific methods.
Introduction
The field of political science has seen significant changes over the years, with different schools of thought shaping the way we study and understand politics. One such transformation was brought about by the emergence of behaviouralism around the 1930s in the US, a movement that aimed to make political studies more scientific by focusing on the observation of human behavior. In this article, we’ll explore the key concepts of behaviouralism and its assumptions, as well as the subsequent development of post-behaviouralism.
Behaviouralism: A Scientific Approach to Political Science
Behaviouralism as an approach emerged in the 20th century around the 1930s in the United States and later gained prominence in the 1940s and 1950s, marking a revolutionary shift in the study of politics. Behavioural approach in political science has borrowed concepts and methodology from Sociology, Anthropology, and Psychology.
Earlier Charles Merriam advocated the idea of Behaviouralism in his book “New Aspects of Politics”, for which he is also regarded as the founder of Behavioral approach in comparative Politics. Behaviouralism focused on the individual as the primary factor or actor. It stresses upon the scientific and value free study of politics and focuses on the role of individual behaviour at various levels. Overall It sought to transform political science into a ‘science of politics’ by emphasizing empirical observation and analysis of human behavior.
David Easton in his famous work A Framework for Political Analysis (1965) has said that the assumptions and objectives of behaviouralism lay the intellectual foundation- stones for political analysis. Behaviouralism as a protest movement revolutionized the thought system of political science in the nineteen forties and fifties.
Here are some of the core ideas associated with behaviouralism:
Observation of Human Behavior: Behaviouralists believed that the behavior of individuals in the political arena could be observed and analyzed objectively, making it a neutral and measurable phenomenon.
Regularities in Behavior: While people may behave differently under various circumstances, behaviouralists argued that there were regularities and patterns that could be discerned in political behavior through systematic observation.
Scientific Methodology: Behaviouralists collected and interpreted data in a methodological and scientific manner, borrowing techniques from other scientific disciplines. They were careful not to mix empirical judgment with value judgment.
Quantification: In their research, behaviouralists measured and quantified data and facts, aiming to bring a scientific rigor to their analysis.
Systematisation: Researchers in political behavior aimed for systematic analysis, with the ultimate goal of uncovering general principles and contributing to the development of political theory.
Pure Science: Behaviouralists claimed that their approach was rooted in the principles of pure science, making their conclusions more acceptable and prestigious.
Post-Behaviouralism: A New Direction for Political Science
While behaviouralism represented a significant shift in the study of politics, it was not without its critics. Like behaviouralism, it was again propounded by David Easton in his presidential address to the American Political Science Association in 1969. The main slogans were “Action” and “Relevance”.
Post-behaviouralism emerged as a reform movement, urging political scientists to focus on pressing and contemporary issues, moving away from the purely scientific pursuit of ‘pure politics.’ It asserts that Values and ideals are equally important.
Here are some key aspects of post-behaviouralism:
Action and Relevance: Post-behaviouralism emphasized action and relevance, encouraging political scientists to address urgent societal challenges and provide practical solutions.
Value-Neutralism: Post-behaviouralism called for a departure from value-neutralism, asserting that political scientists should be more responsible and committed to the well-being of society.
Future-Oriented: This new approach, as envisioned by scholars like Leo Strauss and Hannah Arendt, aimed to propel political science in new directions, making it more future-oriented and focused on the evolving needs of society.
Conclusion
The journey from behaviouralism to post-behaviouralism reflects the dynamic nature of political science. These shifts in methodology and focus have shaped the field and continue to influence the way we study and understand politics in our ever-changing world.
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