Study Questions for Almond

1. What are the two dimensions by which political scientists are separated?
2. According to the Soft Left, why does positivism fail? Why can't we separate science and politics? Why must political science choose sides?
3. How does Almond characterize the Hard Right? How is the public choice (rational choice) approach criticized?
4. How does Almond describe the Soft Right? Why must political scientists include values?
5. Why is the Hard Left "nervous"?
6. How do these schools view the history of political science?
7. When (and with whom) have these debates existed previously?
8. How has European and American political science differed?
9. Which of these tables fits with which theorists of science? theories of social science?
10. What is Almond's purpose in writing this article?

Things to look for/keep in mind for future readings:

• which research traditions sit at which tables

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