Premium
A Critical Appraisal of the Statecraft Interpretation
Author(s) -
Buller Jim
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
public administration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.313
H-Index - 93
eISSN - 1467-9299
pISSN - 0033-3298
DOI - 10.1111/1467-9299.00175
Subject(s) - interpretation (philosophy) , reductionism , critical appraisal , politics , epistemology , criticism , neglect , sociology , political science , positive economics , philosophy , law , economics , psychology , linguistics , alternative medicine , pathology , medicine , psychiatry
This article subjects the Statecraft interpretation to critical assessment. It argues that, while Bulpitt has provided a parsimonious and stimulating contribution to our understanding of British politics, his work needs to be developed. More specifically, although the Statecraft thesis evolved out of Bulpitt’s concerns with the methodology of political science, a neglect of ontological and epistemological questions has led it to propound explanations which are both reductionist and insensitive to empirical criticism. The article concludes by suggesting ways in which the Statecraft interpretation can be developed to take account of these weaknesses.