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While a plethora of books have been written about various studies in social science, few works are dedicated to the instruction of how to be an effective social science scholar. Serious students are not only interested in their specialty subject, but also in how academic life is lived and how scholarly work is carried out. In this second edition of Craftways, Aaron Wildavsky provides an introduction to the norms and mores of political science in particular and social science in general. Aaron Wildavsky has long been admired as one of the most productive political scientists of his generation. Repeated expressions of interest in his scholarly craft led him to gather together essays concerning how a professional scholar works. In this new edition, Wildavsky focuses on what he believes students of the social sciences most want to know: what kind of person is a social scientist? How do and how ought social scientists treat one another? What does excellence consist of in research and in teaching? Intent on providing thorough answers to these questions, Wildavsky has added chapters dedicated to the organization of professional life. "Talking and Teaching" reflects on the necessity for a social scientist to give seminars and lecture effectively. "On Being a Department Chair" concerns the political administration of an academic department and the norms of academic life. Also included are entirely new chapters on how to read social science, how to work with others on collaborative projects, and how to improve one's academic writing. This enhanced volume will be a valuable resource for both students and faculty in the social sciences.

These essays use a common interpretive framework to show how economic and other concepts are socially constructed, how political philosophers and the workings of democracy can be understood, and how rational choice theories might be given wider application and greater discriminatory power. Aaron Wildavsky hoped that fellow social scientists would be persuaded of the unifying and integrating potential of what Mary Douglas called "grid-group theory" (which he further developed as "cultural theory") by seeing this explanatory tool used in so many different ways and with regard to such a variety of issues and questions.

A new edition of a classic introductory college level text addressing the processes involved in American presidential elections. Strategic issues are first covered, including voters, groups, and rules and resources. Next, the nomination process and the campaign are covered, followed by examination o

The aim of An Operational Approach to Policy Analysis: The Craft is to cut through the ambiguity and contradictions inherent in policy analysis by means of an operational-prescriptive approach. Its main objective is to encapsulate the essential concepts, methods and tools of policy analysis and to provide an insight into factors acting within and around the policy analysis process. Based on the collaborative research of Iris Geva-May and Aaron Wildavsky, the first full draft of An Operational Approach to Policy Analysis: The Craft was completed just before Dr Wildavsky's untimely death. Since that time, Dr Geva-May has worked to thoroughly revise and update the manuscript. An Operational Approach to Policy Analysis: The Craft can be used by researchers in political science, or as a textbook for any course in policy analysis, policy planning and evaluation. It will serve as a valuable source for students of political science, public policy, administration and management, as well as for policy analysts, researchers and executives in both the US and abroad.

While a plethora of books have been written about various studies in social science, few works are dedicated to the instruction of how to be an effective social science scholar. Serious students are not only interested in their specialty subject, but also in how academic life is lived and how scholarly work is carried out. In this second edition of Craftways, Aaron Wildavsky provides an introduction to the norms and mores of political science in particular and social science in general. Aaron Wildavsky has long been admired as one of the most productive political scientists of his generation. Repeated expressions of interest in his scholarly craft led him to gather together essays concerning how a professional scholar works. In this new edition, Wildavsky focuses on what he believes students of the social sciences most want to know: what kind of person is a social scientist? How do and how ought social scientists treat one another? What does excellence consist of in research and in teaching? Intent on providing thorough answers to these questions, Wildavsky has added chapters dedicated to the organization of professional life. "Talking and Teaching" reflects on the necessity for a social scientist to give seminars and lecture effectively. "On Being a Department Chair" concerns the political administration of an academic department and the norms of academic life. Also included are entirely new chapters on how to read social science, how to work with others on collaborative projects, and how to improve one's academic writing. This enhanced volume will be a valuable resource for both students and faculty in the social sciences.

Amid the chaos of questions and conflicting information, Aaron Wildavsky arrives with just what the beleaguered citizen needs: a clear, fair, and factual look at how the rival claims of environmentalists and industrialists work, what they mean, and where to start sorting them out.

In Cultural Analysis, the fourth collection of his essays posthumously published by Transaction, Wildavsky argues that American politics, public law, and public administration are the contested terrain of rival, inescapable political cultures. Analysts of American politics distinguish liberals from conservatives and Democrats from Republicans, but do not explain how these categories of political allegiance develop, maintain themselves, or change. Wildavsky offers a cultural-functional explanation for ideological and partisan coherence and realignment. Wildavsky also felt that these dualisms did not adequately capture the ideological and partisan variation he observed on the political landscape. Like others, he detected another recurring strain of political allegiance: that of classical liberalism or libertarianism. People of this political stripe valued freedom more than equality (the primary political value of contemporary liberals), and also more than order, the primary political value of conservatives.

In Cultural Analysis, the fourth collection of his essays posthumously published by Transaction, Wildavsky argues that American politics, public law, and public administration are the contested terrain of rival, inescapable political cultures. Analysts of American politics distinguish liberals from conservatives and Democrats from Republicans, but do not explain how these categories of political allegiance develop, maintain themselves, or change. Wildavsky offers a cultural-functional explanation for ideological and partisan coherence and realignment. Wildavsky also felt that these dualisms did not adequately capture the ideological and partisan variation he observed on the political landscape. Like others, he detected another recurring strain of political allegiance: that of classical liberalism or libertarianism. People of this political stripe valued freedom more than equality (the primary political value of contemporary liberals), and also more than order, the primary political value of conservatives.