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THEORY DESCRIPTION In simple terms, Easton's Behavioral approach to politics, proposed that a political system could be seen as a delimited (i.e. all political system have precise boundaries) and fluid (changing) system of steps in decision making. Simplifying his model:
THEORY ANALYSIS Easton aspired to make politics a science, this is, working with highly abstract models that described the regularities of patterns and processes in the political life in general. In his view, the highest level of abstraction could make scientific generalizations about politics possible. In sum, politics should be seen as a whole, not as a collection of different problems to be solved. His main model was driven by an organicist view of politics, as if it were a living object. His theory is a statement of what makes political systems adapt, survive and reproduce and, most importantly, change. He describes politics in a constant flux, thereby rejecting the idea of "equilibrium", so prevalent in political theories of our days (see Institutionalism ). Moreover, he rejects the idea that politics could be viewed by looking at different levels of analysis. His abstractions could account for any group and demand at any given time. His theory was highly influential in the Pluralist Tradition in political science until the late 1960s. (see Harold Lasswell and Robert Dahl ) CRITIQUES
SEE ALSO REFERENCES David Easton, The Political System: An Inquiry into the State of Political Science, Alfred A. Knopf, N.Y, 1953. |
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