What Is Democracy and How Do We Study It?

This book explores different approaches to studying democracy, including normative political theory, positivist quantitative analysis, behaviorism, critical theory, post-structuralism, historical institutionalism, process tracing, case studies, and literature reviews. It provides readers with an understanding of the assumptions made by researchers and highlights the variety of ways a single question can be studied.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 228 pages
\n Publication date: 02 February 2021
\n Publisher: University of Toronto Press
\n

Political science research encompasses a diverse range of approaches, each with its unique methodology and objectives. This comprehensive book delves into a fundamental question that drives political science inquiry: what is democracy? In a single volume, it presents original research that showcases a wide array of methodologies employed to study this complex concept. The chapters in this book cover a broad spectrum of approaches and related methods, including normative political theory, positivist quantitative analysis, behaviorism, critical theory, post-structuralism, historical institutionalism, process tracing, case studies, and literature reviews. By exploring these diverse approaches, readers are invited to engage with the different assumptions made by researchers as they embark on their research endeavors. This comparative analysis allows readers to appreciate the richness and complexity of studying a single question from multiple perspectives, shedding light on the diverse ways in which democracy can be understood and analyzed. Whether you are a student of democracy or an enthusiast of research design and methodological approaches, this book offers valuable insights and perspectives that will enhance your understanding of the field.

\n Weight: 340g\n
Dimension: 151 x 228 x 18 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781487588571\n \n