A History of American Political Theory is a comprehensive
attempt to understand the full sweep of American political thought
since the founding. Working within the liberal-progressive
tradition, Merriam reviewed American political history in its
entirety, from the founding down to his own day. He was not out to
reduce political thought to a single element such as economics
alone; his aim was to encompass the whole of modem social
science.
The political science of the liberal-progressive tradition has
roots and assumptions that were born in this period and nurtured by
scholars such as Merriam. The progressive tradition in general and
Merriam in particular interpreted the rise of a new science of
politics that would be required for the liberal-progressive world
view he represented. His work stands at a momentous fork in the
road; two great traditions of how American democracy should be
understood, interpreted, and analyzed parted company and afterward
each went their separate ways. These traditions are represented,
respectively, by the founders and the liberal-progressives. There
was much at stake in these academic debates, though the
consequences were not entirely foreseen at the time.
An overview of the authors, works, and general source material
covered in History of American Political Theories is impressive.
Merriam viewed the study of American democracy as an eclectic
activity embracing the broadest definition of the social sciences,
with particular emphasis on psychology. Such a transformation
required that the social sciences be grouped as a whole rather than
fragmented into separate and distinct academic departments.
General
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!