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Behavioural Approach
Focuses on observing, recording, and analyzing human behavior to understand politics. Systematic, empirical, positivist; separates value from fact.
Charles Merriam, Graham Wallas, Arthur Bentley
Eight characteristics (David Easton): Regularities, Verification, Techniques, Quantification, Values, Systematization, Pure Science, Integration
Post-behaviouralism: Rejects value-neutrality; holistic, interpretive, contextual, policy-relevant.
Political System Approach
Views political system as interrelated institutions, activities, actors, and processes interacting with society. Influenced by Biology and General Systems Theory.
David Easton (father), Gabriel Almond, Morton Kaplan, Karl Deutsch, Talcott Parsons
Inputs: Demands & Support. Output: Laws, rules, regulations, judicial decisions. Structural-functionalism derived from system approach; 'Black Box' model.
Structural-Functional Approach
Studies political systems as structures fulfilling essential functions for stability and continuity.
Gabriel Almond, G.C. Powell
Structures: legislature, executive, judiciary, bureaucracy, political parties. Functions: lawmaking, policy implementation, adjudication, socialization.
Interdependence & Equilibrium: structures are interconnected; aim to maintain system stability. Criticism: status quoist, static, Eurocentric.
Political Culture Approach
Studies attitudes, values, beliefs, and orientations of people toward politics.
Gabriel Almond, Sydney Verba, Rajni Kothari, Morris Jones, Fred Riggs
3 Orientations: Cognitive, Affective, Evaluative. Civic Culture: combination of parochial, subject, participative. Focus on political socialization and cultural pluralism.
Criticism: Determinism, static, vague, methodological challenges.
New Institutionalism
Analyzes the role of institutions (both hard and soft) in shaping political behavior, linked to socio-cultural context.
James March & Johan Olsen, Douglas North, Paul Pierson, William Scott
Variants: Rational Choice (logic of instrumentality), Sociological/Cultural (logic of appropriateness). Includes informal norms, values, practices. Historical-path-dependent perspective.
Modernization Theory
Emerging 1960s-70s. Advocates following the development path of Western nations to achieve modernization.
Gabriel Almond, Lucian Pye, David Apter, James Coleman, Samuel Huntington
Focus: political development, capacity, equality, differentiation. Critique: US-centric, ignores local contexts.
Dependency Theory
Critiques modernization theory as Eurocentric; global capitalist system exploits developing countries.
Raúl Prebisch, Dos Santos, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Andre Gunder Frank, Immanuel Wallerstein
Core-periphery model, unequal exchange, Latin America as fertile ground. Progressive comparativists.
Elite Theory
Argues that a small minority (elites) hold political power while masses are mostly bystanders.
Gaetano Mosca, Vilfredo Pareto, C. Wright Mills, Robert Michels, Schumpeter, Ortega y Gasset, Karl Mannheim, Burnham
Concepts: Circulation of Elites, Iron Law of Oligarchy, Power Elites, Political Formula. Critiques democracy and pluralism.