Post-Behavioral approach

Comment on the Post-Behavioural approach. UPSC 2016 Paper 1A Qn no 1b

The post-behavioral approach emerged in the late 1960s as a critique of the traditional behavioral approach that uses normative methods to analyze the issues.

A shift from Pure Science to Applied Science -

By the end of 1960 exponents of Behavioralism realized that its strict adherence to 'pure science' was responsible for its failure to attend to the pressing social and political issues.

Key aspects of the post-behavioral approach -

  1. Value-Oriented Research - Post-behavioralists stress the importance of studying the issues relevant to societal change. Scientists adopted a rational interest in value construction and application and aimed their study at satisfying social needs and problem-solving.
  2. It emphasizes the need for research to address real-world problems, such as poverty, discrimination, or human rights, rather than being purely theoretical.
  3. It saw a shift of focus from strict methodological issues to a greater concern with public responsibilities of the discipline and with political problems.

The post-behavioral approach is influenced by the social movements of the 1960s, such as the civil rights movement, anti-war protests, and feminist movements.


Extra Information - In 1969, David Easton in his presidential address to the American Political Science Association, announced a new revolution in political science - 'a post-behavioral revolution'.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Buddhist contribution to Indian Political Thought

Evaluate the contributions of Buddhist tradition to Indian political thought. UPSC 2014 Paper 1A Qn 2c   The Buddhist tradition has made profound contributions to Indian political thought by introducing a unique blend of ethical, philosophical, and practical principles that have influenced governance, statecraft, and social justice. Rooted in the teachings of Gautama Buddha, the tradition emphasizes the integration of moral values with political practice, offering an alternative vision of power and governance distinct from the more hierarchical and ritualized structures of ancient Hindu polity. 1. Moral Foundations of Governance One of the central contributions of Buddhist tradition to Indian political thought is its emphasis on Dhamma (moral law) as the guiding principle of governance. Unlike the Dharma of Brahmanical tradition, which often had a caste-based interpretation, Dhamma in Buddhism is universal and egalitarian, focusing on ethical behavior, compassion, and the wel...
Read more

Human Rights - Universalism and Cultural Relativism

The debate on human rights is caught between the limitations of both universalism and cultural relativism. Comment. UPSC 2024 Paper 1A Qn 3a The debate on human rights is fundamentally shaped by the tension between universalism and cultural relativism, two competing perspectives on the nature, scope, and application of human rights. While universalists argue that human rights are inherent, inalienable, and applicable to all individuals regardless of cultural or social contexts, cultural relativists contend that rights must be understood within the specific traditions, values, and histories of different societies. This debate raises critical questions about the legitimacy, enforcement, and adaptability of human rights in a diverse global order.   The Universalist Perspective - Universalism, largely rooted in the Enlightenment tradition and codified in international human rights frameworks such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) (1948), asserts that human rights...
Read more

Participative Approach to Development

The idea of Democracy becomes a reality when people are involved in collective problem-solving. The type of system in which development projects are conceived, planned, executed, operated, and maintained by outsiders, people receive benefits with little or no participation in the actual process of development. The field investigations showed the 'top-down' approach as inefficient as outsourcing development projects needed to address social issues. The limitations were - Unequal distribution of development benefits among different sections of the population Increased dependency of people on external resources Indifference of people towards the facilities created Heavy spending by the government on the replacement, operation, and maintenance of facilities created Depletion of natural resources due to over-utilization Under-utilization of inputs, when unsuitable for use The studies demonstrated that the problems ...
Read more