Syllabus APPROACHES & THEORIES IN POLITICAL SCIENCE - 56865 Last update 02-08-2016 HU Credits: 4 Degree/Cycle: 2nd degree (Master) Responsible Department: political science Academic year: 0 Semester: 2nd Semester Teaching Languages: Hebrew Campus: Mt. Scopus Course/Module Coordinator: Professor Moshe Maor Coordinator Email: moshe.maor@mail.huji.ac.il Coordinator Office Hours: Tuesday 7:30-8:30, Thu. 10:00-10:30, 12:00-12:30, Office 4315B page 1 / 9
Teaching Staff: Prof Moshe Maor Course/Module description: Approaches and Theories in Political Science is a compulsory MA course which maps the broad way of approaching political science. We shall begin with an introduction to scientific inquiry and concept analysis and then move on to consider eight different approaches in political science: Behavioralism; Rational Choice; the Institutional Approach; the Interpretive Approach; Political Psychology; Feminism; Marxism, and Normative Theory. For each of these approaches, we shall introduce the main assumptions and principles, and discuss relevant debates and disagreements. The course will provide students with an understanding of concept analysis and theory building, and it will introduce them to the major approaches and theories in political science. The course will improve students ability to critically and innovatively approach conceptual discussions and debates. By the end of the course, students will be able to critically evaluate and compare the main theories by which local, national and international political processes may be understood, and use the various theories and approaches in their own work. Course/Module aims: The course is composed of two sections: First part: Introduction and basic issues in the social sciences. Second part: Some central theoretical approaches in Political Science. Learning outcomes - On successful completion of this module, students should be able to: The course will provide students with an understanding of concept analysis and theory building, and it will introduce them to the major approaches and theories in political science. The course will improve students ability to critically and innovatively approach conceptual discussions and debates. By the end of the course, students will be able to critically evaluate and compare the main theories by which local, national and international political processes may be understood, and use the various theories and approaches in their own work. Attendance requirements(%): All the students are required to attend all the classes. A maximum of justified nonattendance to three classes per semester will be tolerated. Students missing more than three classes per semester will not be able to complete the course. Nonattendance to class because reserve army service or illness is accepted as page 2 / 9
justification but the students will have to attend all the rest of the classes and complete the readings and papers. Students are required to bring with them to class the corresponding readings in the form of printed articles or electronic files. The second option is highly recommended. Teaching arrangement and method of instruction: All the students are required to attend all the classes. A maximum of justified non-attendance to three classes per semester will be tolerated. Students missing more than three classes per semester will not be able to complete the course. Non-attendance to class because reserve army service or illness is accepted as justification but the students will have to attend all the rest of the classes and complete the readings and papers. Students are required to bring with them to class the corresponding readings in the form of printed articles or electronic files. The second option is highly recommended. Course/Module Content: A. The Philosophy and Methods of Political Science 1. Introduction 2. Falsification and Research Paradigms 3-4. The Nature of Theory and Causality in Political Science Isms What is an Explanation? What is a Theory? 5. What is Originality in the Social Science? 6. Concepts 7. Power 8. Revolution; Culture; Democracy; Peasant; Institutionalization 9. Policy Overreaction, Policy Underreaction, Policy Bubbles B Approaches & Theories For each topic, please refer to the following themes: Theoretical core (assumptions; principles) Explanatory power (explaining change) page 3 / 9
Limitations Points of Intersection with other approaches The use of the approach in comparative analysis 10. Behavioralism 11. Rational Choice 12. The Institutional Approach 13. The Interpretive Approach 14. Political Psychology 15. Feminism 16. Normative Theory 17. Marxism Required Reading: A. The Philosophy and Methods of Political Science 1. Introduction 2. Falsification and Research Paradigms Popper, K. R. 1965. Science: Conjectures and Refutations, In Conjectures and Refutations, London: Routledge, pp. 33-55. Popper, K. R. 1934. A Survey of Some Fundamental Problems, In: The Logic of Scientific Discovery, London: Routledge, Chapter 1. Kuhn, T. 1970. The Structure of Scientific Revolutions, Chicago: University of Chicago Press. Non-Compulsory Reading: Kuhn, T.S. 1963. The Function of Dogma in Scientific Research, In Crombie, A. (ed.) Scientific Change, Oxford: Heinemann Educational Books, ch. 11. Kuhn, T. S. 1970. Logic of Discovery or Psychology of Research? In Criticism and the Growth of Knowledge, eds. Lakatos I. and A. Musgrave. Cambridge: Cambridge University. McDonagh, L. E. 1976. Attitude Changes and Paradigm Shifts: Social Psychological Foundations of Kuhnian Thesis, Social Studies of Science, 6, 51-76. Stephens, J. 1973. The Kuhnian Paradigm and Political Inquiry: An Appraisal, American Journal of Political Science 17, 467-488. Geddes, B. 2003. Paradigms and Sand Castles: Theory Building and Research Design in Comparative Politics, Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press, pp. 6-17. 3-4. The Nature of Theory and Causality in Political Science Isms page 4 / 9
Dowding, K. 2016. The Philosophy and Methods if Political Science. London: Palgrave, 9-35. You can read most of the Dowding book online, via the HU library's catalog: just click on the photo in the full bibliographic record in the catalog and that will lead you to the Google books page for that title, where you need to click again on the book's cover photo, this leads to most of the full text of the book. March, D. and G. Stoker (eds.) 2010. Theory and Methods in Political Science, 2nd ed., Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave, 1-14, 325-342. What is an Explanation? Dowding, K. 2016. The Philosophy and Methods if Political Science. London: Palgrave, 36-67. Gerring, J. 2005. Causation: A Unified Framework for the Social Sciences. Journal of Theoretical Politics 17(2), 163-198. Gerring, J. 2001. Social Science Methodology: A Critical Framework, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, pp. 128-154. What is a Theory? Dowding, K. 2016. The Philosophy and Methods if Political Science. London: Palgrave, 68-99. 5. What is Originality in the Social Science? Guetzkow, J. and M. Lamont. 2004. What is Originality in the Humanities and the Social Sciences, American Sociological Review, 69, 190-212. Solomon, M. 2004. Messing with Common Sense, Science, 305, 44-45. 6. Concepts Dowding, K. 2016. The Philosophy and Methods if Political Science. London: Palgrave, 189-212. Sartori, G. 1970. Concept Misformation in Comparative Politics, American Political Science Review, 64, 1033-1053 Gerring, J. 1999. What Makes a Concept Good? Polity 31, 357-393. 7. Power Bachrach, P. and M. S. Baratz. 1962. The Two Faces of Power, American Political Science Review 56: 94752. Lukes, S. 2005. Power: A Radical View, Introduction and Chapter 1. Gaventa, J. 1982. Power and Powerlessness: Quiescence and Rebellion in an page 5 / 9
Appalachian Valley, Urbana: University of Illinois Press, Chapter 1. Cameron, C. M. 2000. Veto Bargaining: Presidents and the Politics of Negative Power. New York: Cambridge University Press, Chapters 3, 4, 6 and 8. Moe, T. M. 2005. Power and Political Institutions, Perspectives on Politics, 3: 215233. 8. Revolution; Culture; Democracy; Peasant; Institutionalization Kotowski, C. 2009. Revolution. In: Collier, D. and J. Gerring (eds.) Concepts and Method in Social Science: The Tradition of Giovanni Sartori, pp. 203-240. Gerring, J. and P. A. Baresi. 2009. Culture. In: Collier, D. and J. Gerring (eds.) Concepts and Method in Social Science: The Tradition of Giovanni Sartori, pp. 241-268. Collier, D. and S. Levitsky. 2009. Democracy. In: Collier, D. and J. Gerring (eds.) Concepts and Method in Social Science: The Tradition of Giovanni Sartori, pp. 269-288. Kurtz, M. J. 2009. Peasant. In: Collier, D. and J. Gerring (eds.) Concepts and Method in Social Science: The Tradition of Giovanni Sartori, pp. 289-314. Levitsky, S. 2009. Institutionalization. In: Collier, D. and J. Gerring (eds.) Concepts and Method in Social Science: The Tradition of Giovanni Sartori, pp. 315-328. 9. Policy Overreaction, Policy Underreaction, Policy Bubbles Maor, M. 2012. Policy Overreaction. Journal of Public Policy 32(3), 231-259. Maor, M. 2014. Policy Persistence, Risk Estimation and Policy Underreaction. Policy Sciences 47(4), 425-443. Maor, M. 2014. Policy Bubbles: Policy Overreaction and Positive Feedback. Governance 27(3), 469-487. Maor, M. 2016. Emotion-Driven Negative Policy Bubbles. Policy Sciences, 49(2), 191-210. B Approaches & Theories For each topic, please refer to the following themes: Theoretical core (assumptions; principles) Explanatory power (explaining change) Limitations Points of Intersection with other approaches The use of the approach in comparative analysis page 6 / 9
10. Behavioralism March, D. and G. Stoker (eds.) 2010. Theory and Methods in Political Science, 3rd ed., Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave, 23-41. Gunnell, J. G. 2013. The Reconstitution of Political Theory: David Easton, Behavioralism, and the Long Road to System, Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences, DOI: 10.1002/jhbs.21593 11. Rational Choice March, D. and G. Stoker (eds.) 2010. Theory and Methods in Political Science, 3rd ed., Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave, 42-59. Morris, I.L. and J.A. Oppenheimer 2004. Rational Choice and Politics. In: Politics from Anarchy to Democracy, Stanford, California: Stanford University Press, pp. 1-36. Hondmoor, A. 2010. Review Article: Major Combat Operations Have Ended? Arguing about Rational Choice, British Journal of Political Science 41: 191-210. Non-compulsory reading: Green, D. and Shapiro, I. 1994. Pathologies of Rational Choice Theory: A Critique of Applications in Political Science. New Haven: Yale University Press. 12. The Institutional Approach ed., Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave, 60-79. Peters, G. B. 2012. Institutional Theory in Political Science: The New Institutionalism. 3rd. ed. London: Bloomsbury Pub. Fioretos, O., et al. 2016. Historical Institutionalism in Political Science. In: Fioretos, O., et al. (Eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Historical Institutionalism. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 5-30. Non-compulsory readings: Hall, P. A. 2016. Politics as a Process Structured in Space and Time. In: Fioretos, O., et al. (Eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Historical Institutionalism. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 31-50. Conran, J. and K. Thelen. 2016. Institutional Change. In: Fioretos, O., et al. (Eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Historical Institutionalism. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 51-70. Pierson, P. 2004. Politics in Time: History, Institutions, and Social Analysis, Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press, Chapters 1-3 & Conclusion. Katzenelson, I. and B.R. Weingast. 2007. Preferences and Situations: Points of Intersection between Historical and Rational Choice Institutionalism. Russell Sage Foundation. 13. The Interpretive Approach ed., Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave, 80-98. page 7 / 9
Yanow, D. and Schwartz-Shea, P. 2015. Interpretation and Method: Empirical Research Methods and the Interpretive Turn, 2nd ed., London: Routledge, Chs. 1-7. 14. Political Psychology ed., Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave, 100-113. Huddy, L. et al. 2013. Introduction: Theoretical Foundations of Political Psychology. In Huddy et al. (Eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Political Psychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Non-compulsory reading: Chong, D. 2013. Rational Choice Theory and Political Psychology. In Huddy et al. (Eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Political Psychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Redlawsk, D. P. and Lau R. R. 2013. Behavioral Decision Making. In Huddy et al. (Eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Political Psychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Brader, T. and G. E. Marcus. 2013. Emotion and Political Psychology. In Huddy et al. (Eds.) The Oxford Handbook of Political Psychology. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 15. Feminism ed., Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave, 114-135. Mazur, A. 2012. A Feminist Empirical and Integrative Approach in Political Science: Breaking Down the Glass Wall? In: Kincaid, H. (ed.) The Oxford Handbook of Philosophy of Social Sciences, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 533-558. Chappell L. and G. Waylen. 2013. Gender and the Hidden Life of Institutions, Public Administration, 91: 599-615. 16. Normative Theory ed., Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave, 156-180. Dowding, K. 2016. The Philosophy and Methods if Political Science. London: Palgrave, 213-242. 17. Marxism ed., Houndmills, Basingstoke: Palgrave, 136-155. Additional Reading Material: Further reading materials may be added during the year in accordance with the needs of the class. page 8 / 9
Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org) Course/Module evaluation: End of year written/oral examination 0 % Presentation 20 % Participation in Tutorials 0 % Project work 60 % Assignments 20 % Reports 0 % Research project 0 % Quizzes 0 % Other 0 % Additional information: - Students must read all scheduled materials and be prepared to discuss them in class. - Students must submit 2 essays, 2000 words each, in English. The questions which will be used in writing the essays relates to the material studied in class and the students research interest and/or (potential) research proposal. The choice is yours, but my approval is necessary. Please see me about this before you start writing the essay. The idea is that the two essays will be incorporated in the research proposal (20%). - Students who are not able to independently relate the material studied in class and their research interest will be given two questions to be used in writing an essay. - Students will submit a research proposal (double spaced 20 pages max., excluding bibliography and notes, in English). The proposal is due by the end of September, 2017 (60%). - Students will deliver a presentation in class on a selected approach or theory in political science (20%). Course Instructor: Alon Burstein Email: alon.burstein@mail.huji.ac.il Mobile 054-7359121 Office Hours: Tuesday, 10:00-11:00, and by appointment. Office: Political Science TA offices 4312 / 4313. page 9 / 9