Meaning and Characteristics of Post-behaviourlism | Post-behaviouralism in political Science notes

Q) Write a Meaning and Characteristics of post-behaviourlism.

Introduction – 

The post-behaviourlism Approach to develop a greater understanding of the prospects of political Science. The Post-Behavioural Approach is such an approach which developed offer witnessing the loopholes of Behavioural approach.. Considering The popularity in 1940’s Behavioural approach has been one of the most important approaches most to political Science. but in 1970’s there was general dissatisfaction with the achievemetats of behaviouralists as it failed to solve pratical problems of the society and it led to the emergence of Post-Behavioural Approach. The Failure of the Behavioural Approach to make any real progress towards the objective of building a Approach and that result in Post – Behavioural Approach.

David Easton, who at one time was a behaviourlist criticized it for its limitations in later course. Thus, the post-Behavioural Approach complains that the Behavioural Approach had not taken into account serious social matters.

Meaning – 

Post – Behavioural Approach is both a movement and academie tendency. It opposed the efforts of the Behavioural Approach to make Political Science a value free Science. The post Behavioural Approach isa future oriented approach which wants to Solve problems of both present and future. To this approach, the Study of political Science Should put ‘ importance on Social change’. To it political science must have some relevance to Society. Along with relevance, this approach believes that action is the core of Study political science. It accept that politics Science needs to study all realities of politics, Social change, Values etc.

According to David Easton,” Post-behaviourlism is future-oriented, seeking to propel political Science in new directions, and to add rather than to deny its part heritage. It is a genuine revolution, not reaction; a becoming, not a preservation; a reform, not a counter reformation.”

Characteristics of Post-Behaviouralism –

Characteristics of Post-Behaviouralism as given by David Easton :-

1) Political Science should be value-free-

The behaviourlists emphasised scientism and Value – free techniques while completely ignoring the importance of Values. People dislike it since all information was based on faulty premises. There is no doubling that values played an important part in political study and were the driving factor behind knowledge.

2) Substance must have precedence over technique –

According to David Easton, Substance must take precedence over tactics. It was useful to have advanced investigation tools, but the most crucial aspect was the objective for which these tools were used. It was not worth undertaking scientific research unless it was relevant and significant to current the urgent Societal concerns. To the behaviouralists’ slogan that it was better to be wrong than ambiguous the Post behaviourdlists Counter- slogan that it was better to be vague than non retevantly exact.

3) Political scientists must protect humane Values of civilizations – 

The post Behaviourlists argue that the political Scientists, being, intellectuals must protect and promote the human values of civilization. If political scientist continued to avoid social concerns, they would be reduced to the status of technologists, mechanics for fiddling with society. Under these conditions, they would be unable to claim the privilege of unfettered inquiry and quasi extraterritorial protection from societal onslaughts.

4) Emphasis Should on social change and not Social preservation –

 The post behaviouralist say that contemporary political science should focus on social change rather than social preservation, as the behaviouralist did. The behaviouralist has confined themselves solely to the description and analysis of facts without taking sufficient care to understand these facts in their broader social context, resulting in “an ideology of social conservatism tempered by modest incremental change” in behavioural Political Science.

5) Post- behaviouralism emphasises action in place of contemplative Science–

According to David Easton that behavioural Scientists should pay more attention to action rather than contemplative Science. Their entire research should be oriented towards studying the social and political ills of the society and the method to remove them.

Conclusion –

 Post-behaviourlists advocate that political Science should be related to urgent social problems. It should therefore be purposive. political Scientists should find out Solutions to contemporary problems. The research should be relevant to the understanding of social issues. Political scientists must play the leading role in acting for the post behavioural change. To quote Easton, “The post-behavioural movement in political Science is presenting us with a new image of our discipline and the obligations of our profession.”

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