Theoretical versus practical explanation in political economy and economic sociology
The case of Tocqueville
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 4750076 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Richard Swedberg (0000-0003-0635-0581, Cornell University, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2008 |
| Volume | 6 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 427-447 |
| Publication date | 2008-04-15 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Socio-Economic Review (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1475-1461 • E-ISSN: 1475-147X |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (OUP) (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1093/ser/mwn004 |
| OpenAlex | W2098594881 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 4 |
This article represents an attempt to show the relevance of Tocqueville's analyses of economic phenomena to modern political economy and economic sociology. The entry point is his approach to explanation, which is midway between value neutrality (Weber) and the idea that explanations must lead to social change (Marx). Tocqueville instead argues that the analyst (here of economic phenomena) should focus on as well as encourage the actors' sense of freedom. This argument is illustrated with the help of Tocqueville's analysis of the economy in Democracy in America, Recollections and The Old Regime and the Revolution
Argument (complex analysis · Democracy · Economic sociology · Economics · Neoclassical economics · Neutrality · Political science · Politics · Positive economics · Relevance (law · Social science · Sociology · Value (mathematics · Law · Political Economy and Marxism · Political Theory and Influence
| Highly cited | No |
|---|