Examine the importance of behavioural approach in political theory. What led to its decline?
How the answer moves
The flow snapshot — the routes in, the body, the counter-view and the routes out.
Route 1 chief legacy of positivism → revolt against formalism → politics as empirical science.
Route 2 its scientific ambition = both its rise and its fall.
Merriam’s call → Easton recentres the human being → foundations + tools → Almond, Dahl → Parsons: technique outran theory → neglect of values (Strauss) → 1960s crises, status-quo charge.
Its methods and empirical gains were absorbed, not discarded — only the value-free claim fell.
Route 1 decline as correction, not death — post-behavioural relevance restores values.
Route 2 synthesis of fact and value.
Model answer
Handwritten, in the form it would be written in the examination hall.
Also asked on this head
Political Theory — 10 questions in the Vault.
- Comment on decline of political theory. (150 words)
- Comment on Post-Behavioural approach. (150 words)
- Discuss the significance of a normative approach to political theory.
How this is taught
The same flow snapshot, built for every head of the syllabus, with the answer written in class.
The first session of Foundation 2027 is published in full.
Six programmes across three levels.