Lecture 2

Question 1

What is a theory in polisci?

Answer 1

The importance of theory in
understanding and analyzing
political phenomena
▪ Theories bridge what we
observe in the political world
and how we explain or
understand these
▪ Not all theories are created
equal; they differ in scope,
focus, and how they’re applied

Question 2

Core themes in political theory

Answer 2

Power
Legitimacy
Authority
Justice
Equality
Rights
Ideology

Question 3

Ambrogio Lorenzetti, 1338

Answer 3

The paintings are normative
They want to illustrate what good and bad governance look like and the effects of bad governance on the city
Justice should be fair but ruled with an iron fist, order requires violence
Should be used as a warning to both the people and rulers to know that they must act in line with the christian values

Question 4

Moral realists

Answer 4

There can be an objective true or a false

Question 5

Relativists

Answer 5

Reject the possibility of unambiguous objective truths about normativity

Question 6

Ideal and non-ideal

Answer 6

Theories are “ideal” or non-ideal” in relation to:
The degree to which they assume full compliance
The degree to which they are “realistic” or “utopian”
Whether a theory is “transitional” or “end state”

Question 7

Concept in political science

Answer 7

To do political science (to study and analyze political phenomena or ideas) we need to be able to compare. To compare, we need points of reference (concepts). Concepts à abstract categories or representations, used to capture and communicate specific political phenomena or ideas. Articulating concepts = conceptualization.

Question 8

Hypotheses and falsification

Answer 8

Some empirical theories: mostly positivist and can be used to generate causal hypotheses. Hypothesis: A specific prediction derived from a theory, that can be tested against empirical evidence. Testing a hypothesis means trying to prove it wrong. If a theory generates a lot of hypotheses that are rejected, the theory may need to be updated or abandoned.

Question 9

Alternative to hypothesis testing

Answer 9

Interpretative inquiry is a Thick description (Geertz) Critical theory, including Marxist, feminist and post-colonial perspectives. Normative analysis.

Question 10

Rational choice theory

Answer 10

works from the assumption that individuals often engage in politics based on calculated decisions, aiming to maximize their interest. Has some substantive explanations. People will generally engage in a self-interested way: substantive. But also has methodological aspects.

Question 11

Institutionalism

Answer 11

highlights how formal structures, institutions, and procedures play a central role in shaping political actions and outcomes.

Question 12

Hermeneutic

Answer 12

that agenda is unrealistic, no generalised human behaviour, no predictions, interrogate detailed rich individuals (specific).
what exactly is hermeneutism? Hermeneutics is the study of interpretation, especially of written texts. It explores how we understand and derive meaning from various forms of communication.

Question 13

Constructivism

Answer 13

underscores how politics is deeply influenced by shared beliefs, norms, and ideas.

Question 14

Marxism

Answer 14

stresses politics as an arena of class struggle, rooted in economic determinism and power dynamics.

Question 15

Feminism

Answer 15

focuses on gender relations, patriarchal structures, and the fight for gender equality within the political sphere (normative, but you can also have oriented on empirical).

Question 16

Good concepts

Answer 16

Clarity and coherence: concepts can be easily understood without multiple possible interpretations

Logically consistency: the requirement that -definitional elements of a concept must not logically conflict. -related concepts must be mutually intelligible.

Usefulness: beyond academic rigor, a concept should add value to discussions, comparisons, and even policymaking in the real world.

Question 17

Literature and conceptualization

Answer 17

Conceptualization often require reading existing literature defining political concepts If we can adopt an established definition of a concept rather than creating our own, this roots our use in an academic debate/literature. But, concepts do not exist ‘in the world’. Existing definitions should be held to the standards of clarity, coherence, consistency and usefulness. à Democratic backsliding: existing conceptualization are too vague, incoherent etc. and there not useful. The paper: objective criteria.

Question 18

From conceptualization to operationalization

Answer 18

From conceptualization to operationalization Once we decide on clear, coherent, consistent and useful concepts the next task is operationalization. Operationalization is the process of making concepts measurable, and is particularly important for empirical theories. It is important that operational measures truly reflect the core essence of a concept – though there can be pragmatic concessions. Most importantly, we should not ‘retro-fit’ concepts to what we happen to be able to measure easily

Question 19

Populism as ideational concept

Answer 19

Ideational definition: populism is a thin-centered ideology that considers society to be separated into two homogenous and antagonistic groups: pure people and the corrupt elite.

Question 20

Populism as discourse

Answer 20

Discursive definition: an anti-status quo discourse that simplifies the political space by symbolically dividing society between ‘the people’ and its ‘other’ (Panizza 2005) But if populism should be measured in words (written or spoken), does this not miss useful visual, aesthetic and performative cues of populist politics?

Question 21

Populism as organizational concept

Answer 21

Organizational definition: a political strategy through which personalistic leader seeks or exercises government power based on direct, unmediated, uninstitutionalized support from large numbers of mostly unorganized followers (Weyland 2001) But if populism is limited like this, what do we do with highly formalized and organized political actors often classified as populist (e.g., Marine Le Pen, Geert Wilders)? Is a definition that excludes them useful?

Question 22

Populism as stylistic concept

Answer 22

Stylistic definition: a performative political style that features : appeals to ‘the people’ versus ‘the elite’; ‘bad manners’; and the performance of crisis, breakdown or threat (Moffit 2016) But is the ‘bad manners’ criterion not self- referential? Can it be sufficiently clear and consistent in different contexts?

Question 23

Normative vs empirical

Answer 23

▪ Normative theories are ethical
and value-driven – often
stemming from philosophy
▪ They seek to evaluate or
prescribe
▪ Empirical theories are grounded
in observation, data collection,
and factual analysis
▪ They seek to explain or understand

Question 24

Defining theory in polisci

Answer 24

▪ A systematic and organized set of ideas that
help understand and analyze political
phenomena
▪ Different theories, different roles: explaining,
understanding, evaluating and prescribing
▪ Textbook on empirical theory: A general set of
explanatory claims about some specifiable
empirical range (D&E p.25)

Question 25

Behaviouralism

Answer 25

emphasizes observable and
measurable behaviors, especially in the context
of voting patterns and public opinion

Question 26

Good and bad definitions of populism

Answer 26

‘Good’ definition: A political approach or
movement characterized by a charismatic leader
and direct appeals to the masses, emphasizing
the interests of ordinary people, contrasted to an
entrenched, corrupt elite.
▪
‘Bad’ definition: When a political leader exploits
the emotions of ordinary people, like when
Donald Trump gave election speeches accusing
Hillary Clinton of criminal behaviour.