The Art of Political Science: Spatial Diagrams as Iconic and Revelatory

• Published in: Perspectives on politics Vol. 9; no. 2; pp. 311 - 331
• Main Author: Brady, Henry E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, USA Cambridge University Press 01.06.2011
• Subjects: APSA Presidential Address; Competition; Conceptualization; Iconography; Median income; Political candidates; Political elections; Political ideologies; Political Parties; Political philosophy; Political representation; Political Science; Political science research; Political systems; Realignment; Spatial Analysis; Spatial models; Symbolism; Textbooks; Visual communication; Voting

Spatial diagrams of politics could and should be iconic for political science in much the same way as supply-and-demand curves are in economics. Many fundamental problems of political science can be connected with them, and many different concepts—such as ideological constraint, cross-pressures, fra...