Sociology and political arithmetic: some principles of a new policy science
This paper advances the position that sociology needs to develop an approach to research which focuses on fundamental social problems. In doing so it shares many of the intellectual values and goals of political arithmetic while seeking to move methodologically beyond it. Since such problems are com...
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Published in | The British journal of sociology Vol. 55; no. 1; pp. 3 - 22 |
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Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Oxford, UK and Malden, USA
Blackwell Publishing Ltd
01.03.2004
Wiley Subscription Services, Inc |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | This paper advances the position that sociology needs to develop an approach to research which focuses on fundamental social problems. In doing so it shares many of the intellectual values and goals of political arithmetic while seeking to move methodologically beyond it. Since such problems are complex they will require, typically, interdisciplinary input and a concomitant approach to the development and appraisal of theories. We are not, therefore, advocating the primacy of sociology but arguing that it has a distinctive part to play in addressing the fundamental problems of the twenty-first century. However, a policy-oriented sociology has also to take up the task, so clearly defined by the tradition of political arithmetic, which is to hold governments to account. Consequently a central principle of a new policy science is that it should contribute to democratic debate about policy. |
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Bibliography: | istex:2A387F1F382D6692B36F5E67C3713E7121BD35B7 ark:/67375/WNG-R60LS350-X ArticleID:BJOS002 We would like to thank Rajani Naidoo, Ian Jamieson, Phillip Milner, Amanda Coffey, Stephen Gorrard and Trevor Welland for their comments on an earlier draft of this paper. ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-1 content type line 23 ObjectType-Article-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 |
ISSN: | 0007-1315 1468-4446 1468-4446 |
DOI: | 10.1111/j.1468-4446.2004.00002.x |