Empirical political theory a methodological framework Nahshon Perez

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Perez, Nahshon, 1973- author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Political science--Research--Methodology.

Political science.

Political science--Data processing.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Oxford New York, NY Oxford University Press [2026]

Summary:

'Empirical Political Theory' establishes a systematic methodological foundation for empirically informed normative political theory. While political science has developed a rich methodological literature, political theory has often left its methods implicit. Yet political theory research involves methodological choices through case selection, argument-structure, or empirical claims, and making these explicit improves transparency, rigor, and consistency. The book pursues two central objectives. First, it offers a typology of how empirical data function in political theory, including spotlighting, definition, conversion, institutional clarity, theoretical clarity, and theory improvement. This typology provides a structured way for scholars to recognize and refine their own uses of data. Second, it proposes a research template organized around three stages (description and patterning, evaluation, and prescription) linked by a feedback loop

Contents:

Cover

Title page

Copyright page

Dedication page

Acknowledgments

Contents

Introduction: Why Explicit Methodological Awareness Is Crucial to Normative Political Theory

1 The Methodological Turn of Political Theory and the Rise of Empirically Informed Political Theory

1.1 Introducing the Methodological Turn in Political Theory

1.2 Empirical Political Theory: A Working Definition (and Some Examples)

1.3 What Empirical Political Theory Is Not (and Will Not Be Discussed in This Book)

2 Demarcating Normative Political Theory from Political Science: And Why It Matters Methodologically

2.1 Three Views of the Relationships between Normative Political Theory and Empirical Political Science: "Pure Normative,'' "Hybrid Normative-Empirical,'' and "Pure Empirical

2.2 Normative Political Theory and Empirical Political Science: A Suggested Demarcation

2.3 The Dualistic Methodological Implications of the Suggested Demarcation Principle

2.4 Conclusion

3 The Various Uses of Empirical Statements/``Data'' within Political Theory: A Typology

3.1 Preliminaries

3.2 Categories of Data Usage

3.3 Conclusion

4 Empirical Political Theory: A Research Template

4.1 The Empirical Turn of Analytical Political Theory and the Importance of Templates

4.2 Dividing and Categorizing Empirical Political Theory

4.3 Evaluation in Empirical Political Theory

4.4 The Methodology of Empirical Political Theory: Is the Monistic Worry Justified?

4.5 The Case for Explicit Methodological Awareness in Political Theory

4.6 Conclusion

5 The Case for Methodological Naturalization: Between Political Theory and Political Science

5.1 Empirical Political Theory and Political Science Methods: Suggestive Naturalization

5.2 Political Theory and Political Science Methods: Exemplifying Naturalization

5.3 Conclusion.

6 Refuting Political Theories?: An Empiricist View

6.1 Attempts by Scholars to Examine Descriptive or Causal Statements Central to Given Political Theories

6.2 Some Examples: What Would Be the Status of Political Theory X If Central Empirical Assertion Y within It Is Demonstrated to Be False?

6.3 Operationalization of Normative Theories and Its Consequences

6.4 Refutation in Political Theory

6.5 Conclusion

7 Is Empirical Political Theory Bent toward the Status Quo?

7.1 Exploring and Defining Status Quo Bias

7.2 Some Examples: Anderson, Carens, and Wenar on Empirics and Radicalism

7.3 Data-Sensitive Research in Political Theory: More Radical Than Conservative?

7.4 Conclusion

8 A Brief Look into the Future: Artificial Intelligence: The Changing Landscape of Empirical Political Theory

8.1 Two Necessary Preliminary Comments

8.2 Conclusion

Conclusion: The Contributions and Future Directions of Empirical Political Theory

What We Have Learned: An Overview of Empirical Political Theory-A Methodological Overview

Looking toward the Future of Empirically Informed Normative Political Theory

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index

Description based on online resource; title from digital title page (viewed on May 14, 2026)

Other Format:

Print version :

Print version Perez, Nahshon, 1973- Empirical political theory

ISBN:

9780198966555

0198966555

9780198966562

0198966563

9780198966548

0198966547

OCLC:

1574215061

Publisher Number:

CIPO000355287

Access Restriction:

Restricted for use by site license