A definition of the State, thus, would be in terms of either: (i) the State as a concept having identifiable elements and characteristics (people, territory, government and supreme authority); (ii) forms and stages in evolution (city-state, nation-state, etc.); or (iii) the State as an idea having moral and teleological end. As such, definitions of what… Continue reading Defining the State in Terms of ‘Concept’ and ‘Idea’
Month: January 2023
Idea of the State
It may not be inappropriate to look at the State as a concept with its characteristic elements (people, territory, government and supreme authority) and varied forms on the one hand, and as an idea of an ultimate, perfect political and civic association of human life on the other. The idea of the State is different… Continue reading Idea of the State
Concept of the State
The State, as a power separate from society, did not exist from the beginning of human history. It might have emerged either as a specific way of organizing civic and public activities by groups of people with similar allegiance, habitation, leadership and resources at command or as a specific agency to work for the powerful… Continue reading Concept of the State
Concept and Idea of the State
The concept of the State has received different treatment by different political thinkers. Some glorify it, some denigrate and reject it, some seek to restrict its role and functions and some make it central to the goal of public welfare. The Organic-Idealist school of thinkers (Plato, Aristotle, W. F. Hegel, T. H. Green, Bluntschli, etc.)… Continue reading Concept and Idea of the State
Introduction
Have you ever wondered why we pay taxes, drive on the left, do not smoke or drink alcohol in public places? For that matter, why do we expect that some entity would provide reservations in jobs, cheaper petrol, diesel, food, electricity and fertilizers to the people? Furthermore, why do we assume that the safety and… Continue reading Introduction
Relevant research
In the name of detached research, keeping away from the ‘brute realities of politics’ has made behaviouralism irrelevant. In an era of social upheavals and conflicts, fear and anxiety, if the political scientist was aloof and carrying out detached research and analysis, what use was political science to society? Post-behaviouralism insists on socially and politically… Continue reading Relevant research
Change orientation
Behaviouralism was charged with being an ‘ideology of social conservatism tempered by modest incremental change’. Post-behaviouralism advocates change orientation and reform over preservation.
Post-behaviouralism
The behavioural approach came under criticism by many political theorists for neglecting theory-building and even political science. Political philosophers such as Strauss argued that the behavioural approach was symptomatic of the crisis in political theory because it neglected normative issues. By the late 1960s, a Caucus for New Political Science developed within the America Political… Continue reading Post-behaviouralism
Post-behaviouralism
The behavioural approach came under criticism by many political theorists for neglecting theory-building and even political science. Political philosophers such as Strauss argued that the behavioural approach was symptomatic of the crisis in political theory because it neglected normative issues. By the late 1960s, a Caucus for New Political Science developed within the America Political… Continue reading Post-behaviouralism
Elements of Behavioural Analysis in Kautilya, Machiavelli and Hobbes
We may mention here that the history of political thought within the traditional fold also contains elements of behavioural analysis. Kautilya, Machiavelli, Hobbes and Bentham have contributed in this direction. Jeremy Bentham’s utilitarian creed of pain and pleasure, for example, drives from human nature. Kautilya’s Arthashastra presents a very pragmatic view of statecraft and administration. His analysis… Continue reading Elements of Behavioural Analysis in Kautilya, Machiavelli and Hobbes