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Largely as a consequence of their search for explanatory theories, political scientists have been increasingly drawn to epistemological discourse. All too often however, this newfound epistemological sophistication has produced attempts at epistemological legislation, in which the "correct" approach to political inquiry is definitively & philosophically dictated. Yet, ultimately, such a legislation of methods is untenable. For, as an analysis of the problem of conceptual-meaning reveals, all scientific epistemologies derive from an untestable set of ontological assumptions (which, in the case of the social sciences, take the form of assumed philosophical anthropologies). Any epistemology is both validated & constituted by a set of "nonscientific" assumptions. Recognizing this epistemological contingency might lead to either an epistemological license or a mandated closure of epistemological choice. However, both of these options constitute a foresaking of rational discourse. A more apt response to epistemological contingency involves the analysis of those ontological assumptions that should constitute both an appropriate & adequate basis for the scientific explanation of politics. Comparing these assumptions to those extant in the discipline, one finds that many political scientists resort to assumptions that are either inappropriate to or unnecessary for a political science. As such, the epistemologies & methods these authors commend should be abandoned & replaced by ones that more aptly provide a basis for the explanation of political action. AA.

In this lively and witty history of the study of political culture, Michael Brint examines the differences between the French sociological tradition from Montesquieu to Tocqueville; the German tradition of cultural philosophy from Kant to Weber; and the American scientific or behavioral tradition from Almond and Verba forward. Enlisting his own tra

ABSTRACTThe present day vagueness of the definition of a party's character by the location on a left‐right continuum is first considered. A theoretically based measurable formal definition of a party's location is proposed, determined by the solutions given by the parties to a population's collectivistic and individualistic needs as measurable components of the parties'images. Multivariate analysis of Israeli data produced a structure of intercorrelations, showing the relative location of three parties on a political map, defined by the extent of the perceived attractivity and similarity of the need‐satisfaction provided by each party.

"This book analyzes how science-based nature protection campaigns are transforming society and the environment through extensive fieldwork in China's southwestern cities. Furthermore, it examines the role of ecology in constituting state power and social inequality"--

Intro -- AFRICAN ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS -- AFRICAN ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS -- CONTENTS -- PREFACE -- Chapter 1 ECONOMIC GROWTH IN AFRICA, 1960-2003: EVIDENCE FROM THE SOLOW GROWTH MODEL -- ABSTRACT -- INTRODUCTION -- EMPIRICAL METHODOLOGY -- THE DATA -- EMPIRICAL RESULTS AND DISCUSSION -- CONCLUSIONS -- REFERENCES -- Chapter 2 CAN AFRICA TAP THE BENEFITS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? -- ABSTRACT -- BENEFITS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT -- BASIC STEPS AFRICA SHOULD TAKE TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT -- Good Political Leadership -- Political Stability -- Competent Civil Service -- Mass Literacy and Vocational Schooling -- Open and Competitive Markets -- CONCLUSIONS -- REFERENCES -- Chapter 3 DEVELOPMENT CHALLENGES AND NATURAL RESOURCES IN RURAL AFRICA -- ABSTRACT -- 1. INTRODUCTION -- 2. FARMING SYSTEMS, NATURAL RESOURCES AND DEVELOPMENT NEEDS -- 2.1. Status and Challenges -- Heterogeneous Agro-Ecological and Farming Systems -- Challenges -- Population growth -- Climate change -- Nutrient depletion and soil degradation -- Urbanisation -- Degradational Vs Conservationary Pathways -- 2.2. Concepts and Models -- General Conceptual Framework -- System Components of Development/Resource Management Pathways -- Analytical Layers/Scales -- 2.3. Methodologies and Application -- 3. CASE STUDY FROM A RIFT VALLEY COMMUNITY -- 3.1. Introduction to a Case Study -- 3.2. Methods -- Hypotheses -- Study Area -- Analytical Methods -- 3.3. Results -- Soil Management at Plot Level -- Identification o Conservatory ad Degradational Pathways -- Determinants of Conservatory/Degradational Pathways -- 3.4. Discussions -- 4. CONCLUSION -- Newly Emerging Challenge and Future Research Agenda -- REFERENCES -- APPENDIX 1. EXPLANATORY VARIABLES FOR THE CLD PATTERNS