W HAT IS A POLITICAL THEORY ? o Definition: Abstract
intellectual thinking about politics from a specific perspective A
theory having to do with the political relationships among men, one
concerned with the organization and basis of government A.S.
Kaufman Purpose: To explore politics; further understand its
complexities predict political behavior Compare governments
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M AIN T HEORIES Rational Choice Theory Dependency Theory
(versus Free Market Theory) Culture Theory Systems Theory
Structural Functional Theory
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R ATIONAL C HOICE T HEORY When put in a situation, political
actors will choose route that yields highest benefits Political
behavior can always be predicted by simplified models of choice
Objective perspective Based on four main components: Assumption of
rationality Constraints given Strategic Interaction
Equilibrium
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C RITICISMS Disregards influence of political culture Overly
objective Does not take into account legal norms and constitutional
constraints
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D EPENDENCY T HEORY Marxian critique of global economy How do
developed and developing countries interact? Developed countries
maintain their position by keeping developing nations in
subservient position Economic force, free market practices
Developing nations must stay in economic and political ruts for
developed nations to thrive Free markets facilitate demise of
developing nations Developing nations provide goods to developed
these maintain the latters high living standards
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VERSUS F REE M ARKET T HEORY opposing theories FMT asserts that
developing countries benefit from free, open markets as they climb
towards becoming established powers Recognizes it will be painful
at first; justified by long term benefits Liberal politics aid
developing countries Becomes an issue of democratization/ dominant
countries forcing democracy upon developing ones Many conservatives
are strong supporters of this (capitalism!!!)
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H ISTORICAL CONTEXT OF D EPENDENCY THEORY VERSUS F REE M ARKET
THEORY Post WW2- Free Market Theory gains popularity World Bank and
IMF emerge with liberal recipes for escaping debt 1960s/1970s- Free
Market Theory proves to be near demise of many countries;
dependency theory arises to directly oppose it Dependency theory
arises to counter the capitalistic, imperialistic powers that were
attempting to dominate world politics (hintUnited States)
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C RITICISM Dependency Theory: Its success is contingent upon
wealth always increasing over time Lack of competition Free Market
Theory: Promotes imperialistic power regimes Capitalism is the
enemy
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C ULTURE T HEORY Nature of politics derives from culture
collective society influences decisions, individual calculations do
not Argument against rational choice theory Decisions are based on
how people react to the two social dimensions: grid and group Grid-
influence of societal rules/norms in decision making Group- to what
degree do people identify with societal groups
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C ULTURE T HEORY C ONT : Four distinct worldviews dictate ones
values; derive from ones group/grid preferences Hierarchism (high
grid, high group) Individualism (low grid, low group)
Egalitarianism (low grid, high group) Fatalism (high grid, low
group)
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C RITICISM Overly embraces collective entities Overly embraces
a functionalist perspective Disregards individual conviction
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S YSTEMS THEORY David Easton applies it to political science:
1953 Asserts that all political systems are essentially the same
(all are subject to input/output cycle) Connection amongst all
political institutions Reliance, free trade between all Easton
proposed political systems to be looked at as a delimited and fluid
set of decision making steps: Changes in surrounding environment
demands for action (inputs) policy made in response (outcomes)
generate feedback changes in surrounding environment(and so
on)
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C RITICISM Limited view of system Why does a political system
become authoritative? Systems theory doesnt know Cant be applied to
developing countries
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S TRUCTURAL F UNCTIONAL T HEORY Almond and Powell apply it to
political science: early 1970s Cant understand a political system
without understanding both its structures and each structures
function By studying the functions, one can discern between
countries with similar political institutions Each institution
(structure) has a function each function is integral in maintaining
the political system Conservative by nature
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C ONT. Ex: Interest groups articulate political issues; parties
express them coherently; government enacts new policies.etc
Multiple institutions can have overlapping functions CRITICISM: Too
ideologically based (conservative) Approach is too
methodological
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O VERVIEW Rational Choice Theory vs Culture Theory RCT:
individuals calculate what route will most benefit them CT:
collective entities (group) influence political decision making
Free Market Theory vs Dependency Theory FMT: Developing nations
benefit from free markets/liberal policies DT: Developed nations
benefit from developing nations struggles; they keep them in
subservient position through free market practices Systems Theory
vs Structural Functional Theory ST: everything is based off the
same system; the input/output process can be applied to all systems
SFT: focuses on the functions that are unique to each system and
its structure
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O THER T HEORIES The Great Man Theory: Through charismatic
authority, military prowess, intelligence, etc, leaders throughout
history have altered history dramatically Modernization Theory:
Technological advancements, division of labor, social evolution all
lead to political change; change in social and cultural values Game
Theory: Views politics in terms of a game: everything is either a
player, strategy or payoff Strategic decision making Prisoners
Dilemma Risk versus reward
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As are all theories, political theories are abundant and
ideologically diverse. Each seeks to explain based on different
perspectives. With this diversity, you all can develop your own
opinions about political systems by drawing inspiration from
whichever theory (or theories) resonates most with you
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W ORKS C ITED http://ww2.odu.edu/al/jchen/Comparative%20Poli
tics%20(Graduate)/Review%20Essays/Week%205 /Min%20Xia.pdf
http://consumptionreadinggroup.files.wordpress.c
om/2012/03/cox-the-empirical-content-of-rational- choice-theory.pdf
http://www.carlislerainey.com/CPO2002_Files/Mo dels.pdf
http://frameworksinstitute.org/ezine28.html
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-dependency-
theory.htmhttp://www.wisegeek.org/what-is-dependency-
theory.htm
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W ORKS C ITED
http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/colleges/SPA/Bue
chnerInstitute/Centers/WOPPR/diggingblog/Documen
ts/Jenkins-Smith%20WOPPR%20Blog.pdf
http://www.shareyouressays.com/112575/12-
important-criticism-of-eastons-systems-theory-of- political-science
http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/40969897?uid=3
739256&uid=2129&uid=2134&uid=2474261127&uid=
2&uid=70&uid=3&uid=2474261117&uid=60&purcha se-
type=none&accessType=none&sid=21102980996087&
showMyJstorPss=false&seq=3&showAccess=false
http://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/do
cs/Great_man_theory.htmlhttp://www.princeton.edu/~achaney/tmve/wiki100k/do
cs/Great_man_theory.html