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Concrete Theory: An Emerging Political Method

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 August 2014

Ruth Lane
Ruth Lane*
Affiliation:
American University
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Abstract

Concrete theory is defined by a cluster of attributes—emphasis on governmental and other political elites, on strategic decision-making processes freed from narrow notions of economic rationality, and on a concern with the environment and institutions within which choice occurs. The approach has been observed recently in all research-oriented subfields within political science. Eight exemplars are discussed. Concrete theory demonstrates a novel combination of strong interest in empirical political processes, formalized through models that emphasize logical structure and depth explanation. Its effect is to bridge the gap between behavioral and institutional approaches.

Type
Articles
Information
American Political Science Review , Volume 84 , Issue 3 , September 1990 , pp. 927 - 940
Copyright
Copyright © American Political Science Association 1990

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