Karl Popper never even attempted to work out an original theory of liberal democracy. His interes... more Karl Popper never even attempted to work out an original theory of liberal democracy. His interests in politics were limited in scope, and different aspects of his political thought differ greatly in depth and quality. Despite a keen interest in politics throughout his life, Popper remained an amateur in most matters political. He never even attempted to grapple with the standard range of problems that politicians and civil servants confront, nor did he participate in debates in contemporary political philosophy. This paper places Popper’s political thought in context, suggesting the aims and limits of his project in political philosophy, and some of the strengths and weaknesses of his work. It concludes by discussing the relevance and importance of Popper’s work for both political philosophy, empirical social science, and post-totalitarian politics.
... 186-211; Benjamin Page, "Die Czechoslovak Reform Movement, 1963-1968: A ... more ... 186-211; Benjamin Page, "Die Czechoslovak Reform Movement, 1963-1968: A Study in theTheory ... 94-8; and Emanuel Mandler, 'Intelektualove na ceste k nepoliticke politice', Soudobe dejiny2(l995 ... 22 On this aspect of Marx's concept of human nature, see John McMurtry, The ...
Abstract: No thought is possible without concepts, therefore no science is possible without conce... more Abstract: No thought is possible without concepts, therefore no science is possible without concepts. Concepts shape and guide thought, both fruitfully and unfruitfully. Sometimes concepts lead inquiry to previously unimagined depths. Sometimes concepts lead astray, or block thought and prevent inquiry from going anywhere. Sometimes the most penetrating and fruitful of concepts become inquiry blockers. And all concepts, even the most penetrating and fruitful, block as well as probing. What it is that makes some concepts and ...
Page 1. The Rise of the People and the Uselessness of Democracy as a Concept for Empirical Resear... more Page 1. The Rise of the People and the Uselessness of Democracy as a Concept for Empirical Research Fred Eidlin Department of Political Science University of Guelph , Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1 [email protected] Prepared for presentation at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 1-4 September. Page 2. The Rise of the People and the Uselessness of 'Democracy' as a Concept in Empirical Research ABSTRACT ...
Abstract: This article seeks to explain the political failure of the August, 1968 military occupa... more Abstract: This article seeks to explain the political failure of the August, 1968 military occupation of Czechoslovakia by forces of the Warsaw Pact. Although the military aspects of the intervention were well-planned and successfully carried out, its political objectives were not realized: No Czechoslovak leadership emerged which was willing to accept the occupation. Occupation forces were unsuccessful over a period of six days in their attempts to bring under control the resistance movement which crystallized in response to the ...
Karl Popper never even attempted to work out an original theory of liberal democracy. His interes... more Karl Popper never even attempted to work out an original theory of liberal democracy. His interests in politics were limited in scope, and different aspects of his political thought differ greatly in depth and quality. Despite a keen interest in politics throughout his life, Popper remained an amateur in most matters political. He never even attempted to grapple with the standard range of problems that politicians and civil servants confront, nor did he participate in debates in contemporary political philosophy. This paper places Popper’s political thought in context, suggesting the aims and limits of his project in political philosophy, and some of the strengths and weaknesses of his work. It concludes by discussing the relevance and importance of Popper’s work for both political philosophy, empirical social science, and post-totalitarian politics.
... 186-211; Benjamin Page, "Die Czechoslovak Reform Movement, 1963-1968: A ... more ... 186-211; Benjamin Page, "Die Czechoslovak Reform Movement, 1963-1968: A Study in theTheory ... 94-8; and Emanuel Mandler, 'Intelektualove na ceste k nepoliticke politice', Soudobe dejiny2(l995 ... 22 On this aspect of Marx's concept of human nature, see John McMurtry, The ...
Abstract: No thought is possible without concepts, therefore no science is possible without conce... more Abstract: No thought is possible without concepts, therefore no science is possible without concepts. Concepts shape and guide thought, both fruitfully and unfruitfully. Sometimes concepts lead inquiry to previously unimagined depths. Sometimes concepts lead astray, or block thought and prevent inquiry from going anywhere. Sometimes the most penetrating and fruitful of concepts become inquiry blockers. And all concepts, even the most penetrating and fruitful, block as well as probing. What it is that makes some concepts and ...
Page 1. The Rise of the People and the Uselessness of Democracy as a Concept for Empirical Resear... more Page 1. The Rise of the People and the Uselessness of Democracy as a Concept for Empirical Research Fred Eidlin Department of Political Science University of Guelph , Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1 [email protected] Prepared for presentation at the 2009 Annual Meeting of the American Political Science Association, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, 1-4 September. Page 2. The Rise of the People and the Uselessness of 'Democracy' as a Concept in Empirical Research ABSTRACT ...
Abstract: This article seeks to explain the political failure of the August, 1968 military occupa... more Abstract: This article seeks to explain the political failure of the August, 1968 military occupation of Czechoslovakia by forces of the Warsaw Pact. Although the military aspects of the intervention were well-planned and successfully carried out, its political objectives were not realized: No Czechoslovak leadership emerged which was willing to accept the occupation. Occupation forces were unsuccessful over a period of six days in their attempts to bring under control the resistance movement which crystallized in response to the ...
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