Discuss the revival of Political theory.

Revival of Political Theory

Political Theory is not Dead: The political theory during the last several decades has declined. But the declining condition does not indicate that political theory is dead. Incredible attachment to value conception, great apathy towards the application of scientific methods and techniques, and the predominance of philosophy over political theory made it considerably irrelevant in the real world. So we can draw a subtle distinction between declining condition of political theory and its death.

Political science in general and political theory, in particular, was always treated as very important branch of social science. Political science was and still is a very popular subject and is studied and taught in almost every university. Up to the Second World War political science generally meant the study of state and different political organisations and institutions such as legislature executive, judiciary political parties pressure groups, etc. The subject was restricted within the activities of these organisations and institutions. Political theory revolved around these traditional conceptions.

This traditional outlook considerably dwarfed the content and scope of political theory: Particularly in the field of policy-making political theory had no spectacular role to play. But the real scope of political theory is much broader than the one envisaged by traditional thinkers.

Commencement of Resurgence: The post-Second World War period specifically the 1950s-witnessed new directions in the development of Political theory and it is observed that the War served as a dividing line between the old and the new concepts of political theory. A large number of scholars from Europe migrated to America and many of them began serious research work on political theory and their interest did not lie in the study of political theory in traditional way.

They arrived at the conclusion that the traditional method of analysing political phenomena and theory was not adequate for new reforms or rejuvenation of political theory. New methods are to be devised. This tendency finally laid the foundation of a new way of studying political theory. A critic writes, “Consequently the large new generation provided the impetus for the search of a new kind of political science”.

The main resurgence was found in United States where American Political Science Association and Rockefeller Foundation played the pioneer role. A large number of researchers gathered at various research institutes and universities of America and their painstaking efforts really enriched the empirical approach to the study of political theory leading to its resurgence.

Resurgence is Multi-faceted Pluralism: The Resurgence in Political Theory that took place after the Second World War assumed various shapes and manifestations and the present space cannot comprise them all Some may be briefly stated. One such manifestation is pluralism. Pluralism wants to emphasise that in any society there are numerous individuals who cherish different tastes, interests and values. Pluralism has a clear liberal lineage.

The state or authority cannot impose any decision upon the people against their wishes. In any liberal society or pluralist society there can exist number of institutions and organisations to cater the interests and values of individuals. After the 1950s, states of Europe and America could not ignore the variety of individuals’ interests. Political scientists also wanted to propound the doctrine that there might be conflict among individuals so far as their tastes and interests

The state or authority cannot impose any decision upon the people against their wishes. In any liberal society or pluralist society there can exist number of institutions and organisations to cater the interests and values of individuals. After the 1950s, states of Europe and America could not ignore the variety of individuals’interests. Political scientists also wanted to propound the doctrine that there might be conflict among individuals so far as their tastes and interests are concerned.

But that does not create an atmosphere of animosity or long drawn struggle as Marx and his followers assumed. That is, pluralism proceeded to prove that pluralist society is much better than a regimented one. Pluralism further assumes that there is no need of mass struggle or revolution for establishment of an ordered society.  Pluralist society is endowed with certain self-regulating mechanisms which have enough ability to put society into order.

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