The Relevance of Political Science

This stimulating volume bring together a host of well-known scholars to consider how, when and why political science contributes - or fails to contribute - policy-relevant insights to real-world concerns.' - Pippa Norris, Harvard University, USA, and the University of Sydney, Australia 'The call for relevance has been made ever more strongly in recent years. Few political scientists would disagree with this laudable aim, but they often do not know what relevance is, whether it is always to be preferred, and how to be relevant. The Relevance of Political Science ably answers these questions and many more. It addresses core intellectual issues about the nature of our discipline and offers solutions about how to broaden and deepen the intellectual endeavour.' - Peter John, University College London, UK

What does political science tell us about important real-world problems and issues? And to what extent does and can political analysis contribute to solutions? This is the challenge addressed by leading political scientists in this original text which will be essential reading for students and scholars alike.What does political science tell us about important real-world problems and issues? And to what extent does and can political analysis contribute to solutions? Debates about the funding, impact and relevance of political science in contemporary democracies have made this a vital and hotly contested topic of discussion, and in this original text authors from around the world respond to the challenge. A robust defence is offered of the achievements of political science research, but the book is not overly sanguine given its sustained recognition of the need for improvement in the way that political science is done. New insights are provided into the general issues raised by relevance, into blockages to relevance, and into the contributions that the different subfields of political science can and do make. The book concludes with a new manifesto for relevance that seeks to combine a commitment to rigour with a commitment to engagement.