Political Science and Political Practice: The Pursuit of Grounded Inquiry

In: Perspectives on politics: a political science public sphere, Band 1, Heft 2, S. 349-354

Abstract

In reflecting on the relationship between political science & political practice, three examples are delineated to demonstrate a means by which to span the gap between the academy & politics. It is argued that noncalculating motivation as a component of political action is not scrutinized in the usual study of politics; implications of this claim are laid out, & a call is made for scholars to do more to accurately probe the motivations & practices of the political world. Some areas of study that might directly benefit political practitioners are noted (eg, how legislators' overseas travel impacts foreign policy), & specific ways that scholars can produce understandings that will satisfy truth in both theory & practice are delineated, eg, greater emphasis on comparative practice. 15 References. J. Zendejas