Volker von Prittwitz
Demands on
Political Analysis
Let us consider analysis as model based scrutiny,
usually with the intention to understand something better. Then obviously, two
variables are decisive for the quality of analysis:
1. the quality of the used
model (including the used terms and hypotheses)
2. the quality of the used
methods to address respectively to test the model.
Theories and Models
An addressed model has to be that simple that it can
be practically used, understood and implemented. On the other side, a model has
to represent sufficient particular characteristics of the modelized
object area. If a relatively scarce model is used, such as, if you' re not for us you' re against us, relatively simple
results are to be expected from the analysis. A richer model, including a
broader spectrum of variables and possible options, induces more differenciated results and, in the last end, more
responsible recommendations. Before this background, political theories, the
traditional basis of political philosophy and science, keep beeing
relevant. This demand is also for normative statements. Any reduction of
political analysis to empirical methods, hence, should be criticized and
avoided. That is even in comparative politics, a scientific area that is often
considered to be a pure methodical realm.
Specific models of issue areas often help to get more
concrete insights than general theories. Therefore,
general theories should be complemented by issue specific models, and the training
of political analysis should obligatory include options of practical specialisation. A further advantage of those models is, they make analysis easier handable
for influential policy networks. That's why area specific studies usually are
very influential amongst experts.
On the other side, policy networks sometimes tend to
exploit the public - see the German health sector. That's why besides area
specific models general models should be taken into consideration.
Methods
Any medium of analysis includes a certain array of
specific methods. In scientific analyses, qualitative as well as quantitative
methods of empirical research are usable. The quality of a scientific analysis,
hence, depends also on how quantitative and qualitative research methods are chosen,
combined, and conducted. This constitutes regular methodical demands to
scientific analysis of political structures, processes and behaving. Political
speculation that avoids empirical testing should not longer
be considered to be scientific.
Aside of science, finally, other media, such as
journalistic print media, TV media, online media, and artificial media as
caricatures, comics and political cabaret, use analytical methods (technics).
Even in artificial areas, aesthetic aspects of how to analyze can
completely dominate over aspects of what to analyze. Those analytical
technics of journalistic and artificial media should be recognized as
independent and worth to be specifically analyzed.
Analytical differenciation
induces, first, tendencies to building independent subsystems of political
analysis. By self-references to those subsystems and forms of self-setting -
see for example the area of cabaretistic analysis -
special technics get a better chance to develop and to spread. On the other
side, a plenty of stimulations, emerging from different media and ways of
thinking, fosters the vitality of any analysis. That's why communication
between different theoretical and methodical areas makes political analysis
richer.
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The author, Prof. Dr. Volker von Prittwitz
(www.volkervonprittwitz.de),
Free University Berlin.
See on the issue: Vergleichende
Politikanalyse, Stuttgart (Lucius&Lucius/UTB
2871) http://www.utb.de/katalog_suchen_detailseite.jsp?buchid=1686