Post-behavioralism

Post-behavioralism (or post-behaviouralism) also known as neo-behavioralism (or neo-behaviouralism) was a reaction against the dominance of behavioralist methods in the study of politics. One of the key figures in post-behaviouralist thinking was David Easton who was originally one of the leading advocates of the "behavioural revolution".^[1] Post-behaviouralists claimed that despite the alleged value-neutrality of behaviouralist research it was biased towards the status quo and social preservation rather than social change.

Key tenets

• Post-behaviouralism challenged the idea that academic research had to be value neutral^[2] and argued that values should not be neglected.^[3]
• Post-behaviouralism claimed that behaviouralisms bias towards observable and measurable phenomena meant that too much emphasis was being placed on easily studied trivial issues at the expensive of more important topics.^[4]
• Research should be more relevant to society^[5] and intellectuals have a positive role to play in society.^[6]

Criticism

Eulau describes post-behaviouralism as a 'near hysterical response to political frustrations engendered by the disconcerting and shocking events of the late sixties and early seventies.^[7]

See also

• Positivism

Further reading

• Easton, David (1969) The New Revolution in Political Science, The American Political Science, 63/4: 1051-1061

References

1. ^ Chaurasia, Radhey (2003) History of Political Thought, New Dehli: Atlantic Publishers, P. 135
2. ^ Sanford Schram, Brian Caterino, (2006) Making political science matter: debating knowledge, research, and method, New York: New York University Press, P. 167
3. ^ Chaurasia, Radhey (2003) History of Political Thought, New Dehli: Atlantic Publishers, P. 137
4. ^ Jay M. Shafritz (2004) Dictionary of public policy and administration, Oxford: Westview Press, P. 20
5. ^ Chaurasia, Radhey (2003) History of Political Thought, New Dehli: Atlantic Publishers, P. 137
6. ^ Chaurasia, Radhey (2003) History of Political Thought, New Dehli: Atlantic Publishers, P. 138
7. ^ Eulau, Heinz (1981). "Foreword: On Revolutions That Never Were." In S. L.. Long (ed.), The Handbook of Political Behavior. New York: Plenum Press