Examine the epistemological foundations, methodological orientations, and analytical implications of the Normative and Behavioural approaches in the study of Political Science.

Introduction The intellectual evolution of Political Science has been marked by a foundational methodological contest between the Normative and Behavioural approaches. This contest is not merely methodological but epistemological—concerning the nature of political knowledge itself, the criteria of validity, and the purpose of political inquiry. While the Normative tradition conceptualizes politics as an ethical and … Continue reading Examine the epistemological foundations, methodological orientations, and analytical implications of the Normative and Behavioural approaches in the study of Political Science.

How can the competing arguments within the normative–empirical debate in political theory be examined to assess their respective contributions to the methodological foundations, epistemological orientation, and practical relevance of the discipline?

The normative–empirical debate in political theory stands at the heart of the discipline’s self-understanding, methodological foundations, and practical relevance. It is a debate not merely about preferences for method but about the very identity of political theory—whether it is a prescriptive enterprise grounded in values and moral reasoning, or an explanatory one grounded in observation … Continue reading How can the competing arguments within the normative–empirical debate in political theory be examined to assess their respective contributions to the methodological foundations, epistemological orientation, and practical relevance of the discipline?

The concept of justice occupies a central and contested position within modern political theory, serving as a foundational normative principle that shapes the organization of societies, the distribution of rights and resources, and the legitimacy of political authority. Justice is broadly concerned with questions of fairness, moral rightness, and the appropriate ordering of social relations. … Continue reading How is the concept of justice conceptualized within modern political theory, and in what ways does it intersect with the principles of liberty and equality?