Do political scientists in a liberal democracy bear a special responsibility that goes beyond their academic pursuits? Ceaser, a scholar of American political parties, argues that they do, and he challenges colleagues and students to reexamine what they do as political scientists. He observes that liberal democracy is a compound of two elements not easily wed: constitutionalism and republicanism. The role of political science is to perform the "superintendent" function of keeping these parts together.

About the Author

James W. Ceaser is a professor of government and foreign affairs at the University of Virginia. He is the author of Presidential Selection: Theory and Development and Reforming the Reforms.

Reviews
A welcome candidate for a prospective list of texts for introductory courses in American politics and political theory. -- Avery Leiserson Journal of Politics "An illuminating and forceful defense of Tocquevillian or traditional political science against its two contenders within the profession, a scientific political science increasingly equated with rational choice theory and an activist moralistic political science, which Ceaser terms the 'new normativism.'. Review of Politics



Book Information
ISBN 9780801845116
Author James W. Ceaser
Format Paperback
Page Count 256
Imprint Johns Hopkins University Press
Publisher Johns Hopkins University Press
Weight(grams) 431g