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Moving away from the long-established paradigm which holds that all
political behavior is learned via socialization, this Handbook
assesses the contributions of biology to political science,
illustrating that behavior is in actual fact shaped by the
interplay between learning and biological influences. Describing
how a more biologically-oriented approach expands and enriches
political science, both conceptually and in terms of its research
capabilities, key chapters focus on general biological approaches
to politics, biopolitical contributions to mainstream areas within
political science, and linkages between biology and public policy.
Providing specific examples of how Neo-Darwinism can contribute to
more successful public policies, the Handbook further emphasizes
the close ties between a realistic understanding of human political
behavior and the likelihood that our species successfully resolves
the problems that now threaten its welfare. Original and
thought-provoking, this Handbook will prove an enriching read for
political scientists starting to consider the value of biological
factors in influencing political behavior, as well as for
behavioural scientists in other areas experiencing the same
paradigm shifts. Biologists will also find further grounding for
their research into biological and behavioral science. Contributors
include: K.Blanchard, Jr., R.H. Blank, D. Boisvert, E. Bucy, K.
Butts, P.A. Corning, D. Couvet, A. Fletcher, B.J. Foster, J.M.
Friend, A. Friesen, O. Funke, A. Ksiazkiewicz, M. Latner, V. Lemm,
L. Liesen, J. Losco, R.D. Masters, A. Mazur, G.R. Murray, W.J.
Patzelt, M.B. Petersen, S.A. Peterson, A. Somit, R.H. Sprinkle,
P.A. Stewart, B.A. Thayer, J. Vaske, M. Vatter, R.F. White, T.E.
Wohlers
The study of biology and politics examines the linkage between the
life sciences (broadly defined) and politics. Among biological
areas from which these linkages are drawn include: human ethology;
socio-biology; ethology; genetics; evolutionary theory;
neurosciences; biotechnology; and, bioethics amongst others. These
knowledge arenas are used to illuminate policy choices (biopolicy),
political behaviour, leadership behaviour, international politics,
and political philosophy, amongst others. Topics covered by this
volume include human nature in the theory and practice of modern
international relations; decision-making under uncertainty;
political culture and AIDS policy; and, emerging political
leadership in young adults.
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Research in Biopolitics (Hardcover)
Albert Somit, Steven A. Peterson; Volume editing by Vincent S.E. Falger, Peter Meyer, Johan M. G. Dennen
bundle available
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R3,282
Discovery Miles 32 820
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Ships in 12 - 17 working days
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The study of biology and politics examines the linkage between the
life sciences (broadly defined) and politics. Among biological
areas from which these linkages are drawn include: human ethology;
socio-biology; ethology; genetics; evolutionary theory;
neurosciences; biotechnology; and, bioethics, amongst others. These
knowledge arenas are used to illuminate policy choices (biopolicy),
political behaviour, leadership behaviour, international politics,
and political philosophy, amongst others.
"Evolutionary Approaches in the Behavioral Sciences" examines
perhaps the single most important post-World War II development in
the Behavioral Sciences - the emergence of a group of practitioners
who advocate 'a more biologically oriented' approach to their
discipline's subject matter. This contention directly challenges
the basic tenets underlying the long-dominant standard social
science model. Advocates of this model believe that human behavior
is not meaningfully influenced by our evolutionary background, but
is instead learned. Consequently, the possibility that our behavior
is genetically influenced is often ignored.The advocates of a 'more
biologically oriented' approach are attempting, in effect, an
intellectual revolution. Part I of this ground breaking volume
examines, discipline by discipline, the history of the evolutionary
thrust, leading figures and key literature, the degree of
acceptance (or rejection) within each discipline, and the likely
future prospects. Part II discusses the biobehavioral approach on a
geographic basis, with experts assessing the status of evolutionary
behavioral science across a number of countries and regions. The
contributing authors are social scientists who have personally
played an important role in the developments that they discuss.
This book provides a careful examination of the possible influence
of birth order on political achievement and behavior. The authors
look at American presidents, Supreme Court justices, United States
senators and representatives, and the careers of an entire West
Point class. For a comparative dimension, they also study British
Prime Ministers, U.N. Secretaries General, post-Renaissance popes,
leaders of the U.S.S.R., and great generals through the ages. What
the authors find is that there is no measurable relationship
between birth order (and being first born) and political
achievement and behavior. These findings cast considerable doubt on
the long standing belief that birth order has an important impact
on either achievement or behavior. The authors clarify that very
few studies suggesting such a relationship do not stand up under
careful scrutiny. This basic conclusion and other curious findings
from the study make Birth Order And Political Behavior insightful
reading for almost any behavioral scientist. The book will also be
relevant to courses in child development, clinical psychology,
psychiatry, political science, anthropology, and sociology.
Somit and Peterson seek to explain two apparently contradictory yet
well-established political phenomena: First, throughout human
history, the vast majority of political societies have been
authoritarian. Second, notwithstanding this pattern, from time to
time, democracies do emerge and some even have considerable
stability. A neo-Darwinian approach can help make sense of these
observations. Humans—social primates—have an inborn bias toward
authoritarian life, based on their tendency to engage in dominance
behavior and the formation of dominance hierarchies. Reinforcing
this bias is an impulse toward obedience. These factors are
associated with the propensity of humans to accept authoritarian
systems. Nonetheless, the authors argue, conditions of material
abundance combined with another human
characteristic—indoctrinability—can foster the emergence and
maintenance of democracies. Somit and Peterson assert that an
understanding of human nature from an evolutionary perspective can
help to explain how and why political systems have developed. They
conclude by pointing to policy implications that might enhance the
odds of formation and continuation of democratic forms of
government. Students and scholars of political science and
philosophy, sociology, and human biology will find this an
intriguing study.
This volume describes (a) the present academic and institutional
status of Biopolitics and (b) the wide range of research areas that
have emerged within the field. The Introduction puts into
perspective the major differences and similarities between
Biopolitics and more traditional approaches to political science in
terms of basic concepts, scope, research methodology, and the
resulting implications for public policy. The next two chapters
focus on the institutions and organizations that have significantly
influenced the structure and direction of the "movement." Chapter 4
describes how and why evolutionary theory has had an increasingly
influential impact on political science. Chapters 5 through 9 are
"case studies" of how biological perspectives have been
productively used in several of the discipline's established
"fields." Chapter 10 is a measured critical analysis of the
enterprise and Chapter 11 looks at where biopolitics as a field
might be moving.
"Biology can inform public policy in a number of ways. This volume
explores the linkage of the life sciences with policy (what the
book refers to as biopolicy). It features two points of departure:
the implications of the neurosciences for public policy; and the
implications of evolutionary theory for policy-making. The first
part of the book provides an introduction to the subject of
biopolicy as well as the relevance of the brain sciences and
evolutionary theory for this subject. The second part considers
several case studies of how these points of departure inform our
knowledge of policy. Among case studies provided here are the
implications for distribution of wealth, the roots of foreign
policy, violent behavior, policy decision-making, and the like. In
the final analysis, this book provides examples of how the life
sciences can inform public policy choices. Research in Biopolitics
is the only book series that focuses specifically on the
relationship between biology and politics, and provides
contemporary research for practitioners, including anthropologists,
sociologists, economists, biopolitical researchers, as well as
students of law and political science.
This volume examines cutting edge research in the study of biology
and politics. Following an introduction from the editors it is
divided into two main sections. The first part of the book explores
the linkage between evolution, genetics and politics with initial
chapters on abandoned baby legislation, a model of action and
norms, and the biopolitics of primates. The next four chapters have
a special focus on the use of twin studies to study political
phenomena and provide a biological critique of twin studies,
phenotypic measurement issues and twin studies, a survey of twin
studies research, and an example of using twin studies to explore
politically relevant behaviour. The second section looks at the
relationship of brain science to our understanding of politics.
With respect to the applicability of brain science it features
chapters summarizing what literature exists as well as how to use
neuroimaging techniques to study political behaviour.
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