Name : Mhd Ricky Karunia Lubis

Student Identity Number : 1201112489

Department : International Relations

Lecturer : Dr. Alimin Siregar, M.Si

Subject : Introduction to Political Science

Title : Approaches to Political Science

Time : 27th October 2012

Approaches to Political Science

Preface
These analysis is aimed at attaining a comprehensive and concise method of
understanding political science. These methods use several approaches to divide political
science into a detailed and specific complexivity through an analytic point of view.

1. Institutional Approach

This approach is familiarly called as traditional approach. This approach emerged in

the 19th century before the explosion of World War II. In this point, States are mostly thought
of as a comprehensive focus, particularly its constitution and jurisdication. Henceforth, a
profound access is required to be aware of how States function, what their roles are, or what
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methodology are utilized in making a decision. The discourse of this approach adequately
deals with the characteristics of Bills, sovereignty, or power as well jurisdication such as
parliament, council, or legal institutions.

This approach is quite remarkably normative by the assumption of Western

democracy as well States are interpreted as formal and constitutional norms. Gilchrist forms
political science as an art of studying in-depth States and government. Political science
concentrates on States as it is, as it has been, and as it ought to be. 2

1
Miriam Budiarjo, Dasar-dasar Ilmu Politik, PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama (2008), p.72

2
Wilbur White, White’s Political Dictionary, The World Publishing Company, 1947, p.220 1
Wilbur White, in addition, also forms political science as an art of studying background,
provision, and processes on States and government.

Those who implement this approach study political institutions mostly. However, due
to States are more universal to focus on and political institution is the inclusion of States,
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their interests is aimed to examine States. This focus objectively emphasizes what lead to
the emergence of States, the nature of States, the history of States, and the goal of States.

2. Behavioural Approach

After World War II, this approach emerged in United States of America in 1950s with
such a complex discourse. This methodology is triggered by several factors :

a. Descriptive characteristic on political science is not sophisticated

b. Many concerns that political science is potentially not capable of developing
rapidly
c. American government imply a skepticism on the capability of sholars to observe
political movement and phenomenon.

This approach does not recognize formal institutions as a core or independent actor,
but merely as a framework. This approach is aimed to study the behaviour of parliament,
jurisdication, or particular political institutions. 4

Perhaps the most striking characteristic of the behavioural approach in political

science is the ambiguity of the term itself, and of its synomym “political behaviour.” This
approach, in fact, like the Loch Ness monster : one can say with considerable confidence
what it is not, but it is difficult to say what it is. 5

Robert A. Dahl judges that behavioural approach is not that of the speculative
philosopher, the historian, the legalist, or the moralist. What, then, is it? Indeed, does it
exactly exist?

3
Isjwara F, Pengantar Ilmu Politik, Binacipta (1992), p.39

4
Miriam Budiarjo, op chit, p.79

5
Robert A. Dahl, The American Political Science Review, Yale University (1961), p.763
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 Below is a formula displayed by a table to devote a definite differences between
Institutional/traditional and behavioural perspectives.

Traditionalist Behaviouralist
Emphasizes Emphasizes
Values and norms Facts
Philosophy Empirical Observation
Applied Science Pure Science
Historical – Jurisdical Sociological – Psychological
Non quantitative Quantitative

The rapid diseemination of the Behavioural Approach in the United States no doubt
rest upon the existence of some key attitudes, and predispositions generated in the American
culture – pragmatism, factmindedness, confidence in science, and the like. 6

The first vision in the appearance of political science of the phenomenon variously
called political behavioural approach or behavioural (ist) research evidently occured in the
1920s. The term “political behaviour” was used speculatively by American political scientist
from the First World War onward. 7

There are two general objections to classifying political science as a science in

accordance with the complexivity of Political Behaviour :

a. Practical objections: political behavior is very complex, people can intentionally

mislead researchers, and data can be difficult or impossible to attain.
b. Philosophical objections: human reasoning cannot be objectively measured and
conditioned by the observer’s perceptions and opinions. 8

6
ibid, p.763

7
David Easton, The Political System (1953), p.203

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http://college.cqpress.com/sites/psrm/Home/chapter2.aspx

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 3. Neo – Marxist Approach

Most of Neo-Marxists are intellectual from “bourgeouis” class. Just the same as
intellectuals everywhere, they are reluctant to assimilate with a considerable organization,
such as political party or aggressively join political activity.

Neo-marxist seems to decline communist ideology from Soviet Union, but on the
other hand, they do not aknowledge the existence of capitalism in all aspects. In addition,
they also disagree with social – democrat. Though social – democrat system succeeds in
carrying out the concept of Welfare State in several West and North Europe and improves
social justice towards its civil society, but they are considered to be failed in discarding social
gap.

There are two elements in Max’ perspective that is thought to be attentive. First, his
speculation on the collapse of capitalism is unavoidable. Second, humanist ethics which
believe that human basically is good, and in typical advantagous situation human will escape
from the institutions that violate, mislead, and outrage.

The collapse of Communist itself impact on the existence of Marx simultaneously.

Both classic one or Neo-Marxist. All the debatable arguments are now questioned and
whether its validity still exists or not.

4. Dependency Theory

This approach focuses its observation on the First World and the Second World. The
establishment of Underdeveloped States, or the Third World, are always related to Western
benefit. This theory perceives that imperialism still exists, but in a distinct way of existing, i.e
in economic sector. The First World States dominate the economy of the Underdeveloped
States by controlling the establishment and projects in those States.

This theory also proposes that the poverty of the Third World is led by the control of
the powerful States, which in this context are the Seven big democracy States (the First
World) in which exploitative elements are highly terrible, the powerful States control and
exploit the weak States in mostly sufficient sectors. 9

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 5. Rational Choice

Though rational choice adherents possess their own perception, the basic
circumstance from this focus has been formed by James B. Rule :
a. Human action basically is an instrument in order that human can be prescribed as
an attempt to achieving a goal. To human, or to a larger union, goal and value are
set hierarchically that indicate a preference upon what is wanted and needed. This
is relatively stable.
b. The actors form the action through rational calculation abut which action will give
a sophisticated effectiveness on advantages seeked.
c. Social process periodically expands such as ratings, institutions, and practice.
These are the outcome of the calculation as what is explained above.

6. New Institutionalism Approach

New institutionalism exactly is led by behaviouralist approach that oversee politics

and public policy as an outcome of mass and large party action. The characteristic of this
approach is prescribed by the actors and its choice.

The essense of this focus is explained by Robert E. Goodin :

a. Actors and group implement their projects in a context restricted collectively
b. The restrictions consist of institutions
c. The restrictions in many cases give individual or particular group several
advantages in the endevour to obtain their own projects.
d. The restrictions influence the formula of preference and motivation from the
actors
e. These restrictions have a historical roots as a heritage in the past
f. These restrictions are obtaining, maintaining, and sparing a chance as well as
power to one actor or group.

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 Conclusion

The development of political science has been existing very rapidly. As we know,
political development and phenomenon always changes time to time, and scholars find it
difficult to make a consensus due to the distinction on analysis. The awareness of every
approach simply analyzes the reality of politics, none of the approaches is comprehensively
able to explain the truth of political life. This paradigm does no longer compete, but have to
co-ordinate their analysis each other.

Very recently, world is divided into two classifications; the First World and the
Second World. This indication also leads a new and innovative approach to access how far
the development of political science is. Political science has included all social aspects
universally through its rapid circulation.

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 Bibliography

Budiarjo, Miriam, Dasar-dasar Ilmu Politik, Jakarta, Edisi Revisi, 2008

Dahl, Robert, The American Political Science Review, Yale Uniersity, 1961

Easton, David, The Political System : An Inquiry into the State of Political Science,
New York, 1953

Isjwara F, Pengantar Ilmu Politik, Bandung, 1992

White, Wilbur, White’s Political Dictionary, The World Publishing Company, 1947

http://college.cqpress.com/sites/psrm/Home/chapter2.aspx

http://www.scribd.com/doc/28727512/teori-ketergantungan