Factors Influencing the Development of Political Science in Canada: A Case and a Model

Abstract

Based on a literature review, this study provides an overview of the factors influencing the development of political science in Canada.Inevitably, this approach has a chronological bias, but it has been widened to take account of different perspectives and factors normally considered external to the discipline. The analysis points to episodic rather than linear development and takes account of the interrelationships and variable weights of the social, intellectual, academic, international and economic climates at different times. A model of development is presented which, while limited by its one-country focus, assembles pertinent variables to be tested against experience in other countries and certain considerations relevant to the nurturing of disciplines.

Czech Study of Public Policy in the Perspective of Three Dominant Approaches

“…A particular study has a specific configuration depending on the significant features of the particular approaches that comprise it. To better understand the configuration of Czech policy study it seems appropriate to use the historiographic approach applied by Peter deLeon (1988) to the development of policy sciences or by John Trent and Michael Stein (Trent, 1987;Trent & Stein, 2002;Stein, 1998) to the development of political science.…”

“…not only its autonomy from foreign imports, but also the ways it enriches international scholarship (see Trent, 1987). On the basis of the studied literature and considering the difficulty of the task given my obviously subjective, distorted view, I have decided to make an arbitrary selection of what from the three approaches has enriched Czech study of public policy or formed its typical features and what constitutes a significant configuration to the field.…”

Let One Hundred Flowers Bloom, Let One Hundred Thoughts Contend: Political Science with Chinese Characteristics

“…Evidence of indigenization and methodological nationalism (and methodological regionalism) can be found throughout the discipline, as well as in subfields such as public administration and comparative politics. Scholarly calls for indigenization can be found in nations as diverse as Canada [38], Australia [34], Korea [9], and India [26], as well as in regions such as East Asia [22], Central and Eastern Europe [14], and the European Union [36].…”

Political Science and Chinese Political Studies

“…Scholarly calls for indigenization can be found in nations as diverse as Canada (Trent 1987 ) , Australia (Rhodes 2010 ) , Korea (Chung 2007 ) , and India (Mehta 1987 ) , as well as in regions such as East Asia (Lee 2000 ) , Central and Eastern Europe (Drechsler 2000 ) , and the European Union (Rosamond 2008 ) . Indigenization and methodological nationalism are a natural consequence of national pride, national service, and national goals.…”