Positive political theory

Not to be confused with Positivism.

Positive political theory or explanatory political theory is the study of politics using formal methods such as social choice theory, game theory, and statistical analysis. In particular, social choice theoretic methods are often used to describe and (axiomatically) analyze the performance of rules or institutions. The outcomes of the rules or institutions described are then analyzed by game theory, where the individuals/parties/nations involved in a given interaction are modeled as rational agents playing a game, guided by self-interest. Based on this assumption, the outcome of the interactions can be predicted as an equilibrium of the game.

The founder of the field was William H. Riker. In his book The Theory of Political Coalitions (1962), he applied the principles of game theory to the study of politics.

References

• W. H. Riker, P. C. Ordeshook (1973). An introduction to positive political theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ, Prentice-Hall
• D. Austen-Smith, J.S. Banks (1999). Positive political theory I: collective preference. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press
• P. T. Spiller (1996). A Positive Political Theory of Regulatory Instruments: Contracts, Administrative Law or Regulatory. Southern California Law Review
• D. Austen-Smith, J.S. Banks (1998). Social choice theory, game theory, and positive political theory. Annual Review of Political Science doi:10.1146/annurev.polisci.1.1.259
• J. R. Macey (1992). Separated Powers and Positive Political Theory: The Tug of War Over Administrative Agencies. Georgetown Law Journal
• J. Ferejohn (1995). Law, Legislation, and Positive Political Theory. Modern Political Economy: Old Topics, New Directions.

See also

• Public choice theory
• Rational choice theory
• Social choice theory
• Iron law of oligarchy
• Elite theory
• Voting systems
• William H. Riker

External links

• Google scholar article list
• The origins of positive political theory
• NAS memoir of William H. Riker with discussion of his contributions