New Labour, Old Epistemology? Reflections on Political Science, New Institutionalism and The Blair Government
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 6313675 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Stuart Mcanulla (corresponding author) |
| Year | 2007 |
| Volume | 60 |
| Issue | 2 |
| Pages | 313-331 |
| Publication date | 2007-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Parliamentary Affairs (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0031-2290 • E-ISSN: 1460-2482 |
| Publisher | Oxford University Press (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1093/pa/gsm007 |
| OpenAlex | W2114671633 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 8 |
This paper provides a response to Bevir's remarkable new book ‘New Labour: A Critique’ (Bevir, New Labour: A Critique, Routledge, 2005). It is argued that the author's criticism of the place of positivism in political science is powerful but incomplete. Aspects of institutionalist theory are defended against Bevir's criticisms, particularly the assumption that institutional structures can play a legitimate role in political science explanation. The paper offers some support to Bevir's view that new Labour's relies excessively on new institutionalist/positivist theory in its approach to policy reform. However, it is argued that this reliance is problematic for reasons that differ in part from those offered by Bevir. It is proposed that it is positivism's privileging of observation and measurement that most bedevil new Labour's strategy (as well as political science). Finally, the paper questions Bevir's contention that his interpretivism offers a promising vantage point from which to ground an alternative social democratic approach
Criticism · Democracy · Epistemology · Government (linguistics · Institutionalism · New institutionalism · Political science · Politics · Positivism · Sociology · Irish and British Studies · Law · Philosophy · Political and Economic history of UK and US · Social Policy and Reform Studies
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| Unique citing works | 8 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,5 |
| Citation span | 2010 - 2016 (7) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 8 |