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According to Easton the ‘… behavioural aspects of the new movement in political research involve more than method and reflect the inception of a theoretical search for stable units for understanding behaviour in its political aspects’. The behavioural approach is based on the conviction that there are certain fundamental units of analysis relating to human… Continue reading Search for stable units of analysis

A comparison of traditional and behavioural approaches will make the distinction between their approaches, methods, focus, scope and subject matter clear. These differences show that the behavioural approach is really a revolt against traditional political enquiry. The eight intellectual foundation stones listed by Easton are proof of this revolt.

The charge that the behavioural approach by focusing too much on other social sciences tends to compromise the boundary of political science is not valid. After all, politics should not be viewed independently of social factors and influences. Political sociology, for example, has helped in the understanding of the context in which institutions and formal… Continue reading Inter-disciplinary approach

It is also not true that the behavioural approach ignores formal political structures completely. It may be that the emphasis on inputs like pressure, demands and supports is greater than on outputs like decisions and policies. However, the systems analysis and conversion processes of the political system do take into account both formal and informal… Continue reading Focus on both formal institutions and informal political processes

Subjective awareness The behavioural approach should not be understood only in terms of behaviourism. It is not only concerned with the behaviour of actors but also with their subjective awareness and individual orientations. These individual orientations involve components such as the cognitive (relating to knowledge of political objects), affective (feeling of attachment, involvement, rejection about… Continue reading Achievements of the Behavioural Approach

Those who favour the traditional approach have criticized the regularity assumption of behaviouralists, arguing that political reality is not uniform, and human nature and behaviour cannot be uniformly or regularly expressed. Further, human nature and behaviour are not amenable to objective study and as such no generalization is possible. Given the large number of social,… Continue reading Traditionalist Critique of Behaviouralist Assumptions

Behaviouralism in political analysis has represented different things to different people—a methodological or technical orientation; a search for stable units of political analysis in the form of individuals, groups, processes, functions, structures, political culture, communication, decision-making, etc.; a movement or revolution in political analysis. David Easton has laid down eight assumptions and objectives of behaviouralism,… Continue reading The Intellectual Foundation Stones of Behaviouralism: David Easton

In the first half of the twentieth century, a visible shift in the study of political science was seen in the writings of those who stressed on the role of human nature and psychology in politics, the role of informal structures and their influence on formal political institutions, and the study of processes rather than… Continue reading Behavioural Approach

Contemporary approaches to political study are functionally oriented, behavioural and fact-oriented. While traditional approaches largely rely on philosophical, deductive, historical and, in a few cases, comparative and empirical methods, contemporary approaches are based on scientific and empirical methods, and use statistical and quantitative techniques. Thus, both in their focus and scope of study, as well… Continue reading Contemporary Approaches and Methods

The description and classification (taxonomy) of political institutions has also been an important approach in political study. For example, Aristotle classified governments on the basis of type of constitutions/governments; Bodin on the basis of location of sovereignty; Bryce on the basis of type of democracy; and Wheare on the basis of levels of government. Some… Continue reading Descriptive-Taxonomic Approach