Interpretation and social explanation

Finlayson, Alan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3939-349X (2017) Interpretation and social explanation. Political Studies Review, 15 (2). pp. 210-216. ISSN 1478-9299

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Abstract

In this article I focus on those aspects of Keith Dowding’s book that are most concerned with interpretive approaches to the study of politics. I argue that, in ways not adequately captured by Dowding’s descriptions, the historical study of political concepts tells us something about their historical political effects and for this reason has a distinct value for how we think about and study politics. Furthermore, I argue, concepts of and about politics, including the concepts of political science, cannot be fully separated from the political contexts of which they are a part. Concepts which function as generalisable explanations at one point in time can shape the thinking and behaviour of political actors and thus be very particular causes. A philosophy or method of political science unaware of or inattentive to this dimension of politics and political science is incomplete.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	interpretivism,political science methods,dowding
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies (former - to 2024)
UEA Research Groups:	Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Research Groups > Policy & Politics Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Research Groups > Political, Social and International Studies Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Research Groups > Cultural Politics, Communications & Media
Depositing User:	Pure Connector
Date Deposited:	06 Jan 2017 00:02
Last Modified:	25 Sep 2024 12:28
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/61927
DOI:	10.1177/1478929917693644

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