Behavioral and Post-Behavioral Approaches: Weaknesses and Measurable Criteria for Evaluating Political Behavior The behavioral revolution sought to recast political science as an empirical, generalizing, and methodologically rigorous discipline. Its successor, the post-behavioral movement, reacted against what it perceived as behavioralism’s scientism and value-neutrality, urging relevance and normative engagement. Each contributed enduring tools and sensibilities; each … Continue reading What are the weakest aspects of behavioral and post-behavioral approaches in the analysis of political systems, and which measurable and quantifiable criteria can be employed within political science to evaluate political behavior?

Systems Theory in Political Science: Examining Its Limitations in Light of Kaplan’s Assertion Morton Kaplan’s proposition that the path toward a “scientific politics” requires analyzing political materials as systems of actions represents an important methodological milestone in twentieth-century political science. Emerging alongside general systems theory (Bertalanffy, 1950s) and cybernetics (Wiener, 1948), Kaplan’s work—particularly in System … Continue reading What limitations emerge in the application of systems theory to political science when examined in light of Kaplan’s assertion that a truly scientific politics can only evolve if political materials are analyzed as systems of actions?