Grand Theories and Ideologies in the Social Sciences

This book analyzes the main competing grand theories in the social sciences, including developmentalism, dependency analysis, Marxism, institutionalism, rational choice, Freudianism, environmentalism, sociobiology, neurosciences, and transitions to democracy.

"I am most impressed with this project. It is refreshing to read a book by the next generation of scholars as they develop their positions on these fundamental views of the world and of politics. Wiarda is to be commended for this effort; he has constructed an edited volume that will get the attention of a wide readership. This text will be popular both with the graduate school community and undergraduates as well as instructors in beginning comparative politics courses looking to assign a text as supplementary reading to introduce college students to the world of the key grand theories of social science." - Michael Kryzanek, Professor of Political Science and Executive Director of the Center for International Engagement, Bridgewater State College

Autorentext

HOWARD J. WIARDA****is Dean Rusk Professor of International Relations and Head of the Department of International Affairs at University of Georgia, USA.

Inhalt
Developmentalism Then and Now: The Origins and Resurgence of an Enduring Grand Theory; K.Johnson Marxism, Dependency, and the World Systems Analysis: Are They Making a Comeback; B.Stone Political Culture: Explanatory Variable or Residual Category?; H.Meyer Sociological Approaches: Old and New in Political Sociology; A.P.Kryzanek Psychoanalysis and the Study of Political Science; S.Powell Institutions and Institutionalism; S.Sahu Rational Choice Theory: Why Irrationality Makes More Sense for Comparative Politics; J.D.J.Nakaska Environmental and Geographic Determinism: Jared Diamond and His Ideas; S.Hong Science or Ideology?: Sociobiology and Its Aftermath; M.Bayar Neuronopolitics: The Brainy Approach to Political Science; J.Dix Transitions to Democracy: Grand Theory or Grand Idea?; M.Clary Non-Western and Indigenous Theories of Change; L.Langford