Understanding Traditional vs. Modern Political Science

Political science has evolved significantly over time. Traditionally, political science focused heavily on philosophy, history, law, and institutions. It often dealt with 'what should be' (normative) rather than 'what is' (empirical).

The rise of modern political scientists brought about a shift, often referred to as the behavioral revolution. This new approach emphasized empirical observation, scientific methods, data collection, and the study of actual political behavior. Modern Political Scientists sought to understand politics as it is practiced, using quantitative and qualitative methods.

Challenging the Traditional View

Challenging the traditional view meant moving away from purely philosophical or historical analyses towards a more scientific study of politics. Several political thinkers contributed to this shift.

Let's look at the options provided:

• Freud: Sigmund Freud was a neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis. While his work influenced various social sciences, he is not considered a political scientist who challenged traditional political science methodologies directly.
• Laswell: Harold Laswell was a prominent American political scientist and communication theorist. He was a key figure in the behavioral movement in political science, advocating for the use of psychological insights and empirical methods to study political power and behavior. His work significantly contributed to developing a modern approach to studying politics.
• Bernard Crick: Sir Bernard Crick was a British political theorist. His work often defended the traditional approach to political science and emphasized the importance of studying the state, institutions, and the history of political thought. He was more of a critic of behavioralism than one of its pioneers.
• Charles Merriam: Charles Merriam was another influential American political scientist from the University of Chicago. He is often credited as a founder of behavioralism and a major figure who pushed for a more scientific study of politics in the early 20th century, influencing a generation of Modern Political Scientists, including Laswell.

Identifying Early Modern Political Scientists

Both Charles Merriam and Harold Laswell were pivotal figures in initiating the challenge to the traditional view and laying the groundwork for modern political science, particularly through the development of behavioralism. While Merriam was influential earlier, Laswell's systematic application of empirical techniques and psychological theories made him a central figure in establishing the behavioral approach that defined much of 20th-century political science.

The question asks for the "first among modern political scientists" to challenge the traditional view. The transition from traditional to modern approaches was a process involving several scholars. However, Harold Laswell is widely recognized for his significant and early contributions to the behavioral movement, which fundamentally challenged the established traditional view in political science.

His work, focusing on power, personality, and political behavior, employed empirical methods and interdisciplinary approaches that differed sharply from traditional political theory and historical studies. This placed him firmly among the pioneers of Modern Political Scientists who advocated for a scientific study of politics.

Considering the options and the historical context of the shift towards a modern approach in political science, Harold Laswell stands out as a significant early figure who actively challenged and moved beyond the traditional view through his research and methodology.

The development of Modern Political Scientists and their methods marked a distinct departure from the older, traditional political science, focusing on empirical evidence and analysis of political behavior.

Conclusion

Based on their contributions to the behavioral revolution and the adoption of scientific methods, figures like Charles Merriam and Harold Laswell were instrumental in challenging the traditional approach to political science. Harold Laswell is recognized as one of the key early Modern Political Scientists who drove this change.