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Political Theory and Political Science

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  • Almond, Gabriel A.

Abstract

Like Rachel, Jacob's beloved but still childless bride, who asked herself and the Lord each morning, “Am I?,” or “Can I?,” so presidents of this Association on these annual occasions intermittently ask, “Are we a science?,” or “Can we become one?” My predecessor, David Truman, raised this question last September applying some of the notions of Thomas Kuhn in his recent book on scientific revolutions. I shall be following in Truman's footsteps, repeating much that he said but viewing the development of the profession from a somewhat different perspective and intellectual history. My comments will be organized around three assertions.First, there was a coherent theoretical formulation in the American political theory of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.Second, the development of professional political science in the United States from the turn of the century until well into the 1950's was carried on largely in terms of this paradigm, to use Kuhn's term. The most significant and characteristic theoretical speculation and research during these decades produced anomalous findings which cumulatively shook its validity.Third, in the last decade or two the elements of a new, more surely scientific paradigm seem to be manifesting themselves rapidly. The core concept of this new approach is that of the political system.

Suggested Citation

  • Almond, Gabriel A., 1966. "Political Theory and Political Science," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 60(4), pages 869-879, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:cup:apsrev:v:60:y:1966:i:04:p:869-879_12
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    Cited by:

    1. Mohamed, Issam A.W., 2010. "The Institutional Framework and Decision Making in Sudan," MPRA Paper 34491, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Avner De‐Shalit, 2004. "Political Philosophy and Empowering Citizens," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 52(4), pages 802-818, December.
    3. Lucia Biondi & Enrico Bracci, 2018. "Sustainability, Popular and Integrated Reporting in the Public Sector: A Fad and Fashion Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-16, August.
    4. Alessio Faccia & Leonardo José Mataruna-Dos-Santos & Hussein Munoz Helù & Daniel Range, 2020. "Measuring and Monitoring Sustainability in Listed European Football Clubs: A Value-Added Reporting Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(23), pages 1-13, November.

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