The Rational Choice Approach to Politics: A Challenge to Democratic Theory

@article{citeulike:840931, abstract = {In just three decades rational choice theory has emerged as one of the most active, influential, and ambitious subfields in the discipline of political science. Rational choice theory contends that political behavior is best explained through the application of its supposedly \"value-neutral\" assumptions which posit man as a self-interested, purposeful, maximizing being. Through the logic of methodological individualism, assumptions about human nature are treated as empirical discoveries. My central argument is that by assuming that self-interest is an empirically established component of human nature, rational choice theory supports and perpetuates a political life which is antithetical to important tenets of normative democratic theory. Rational choice theory offers an incoherent account of democratic citizenship and produces a political system which shows a constant biased against political change and pursuit of the public interest. This article concludes by discussing the merits of democratic deliberation for achieving these transformative ends.}, author = {Petracca, Mark P. }, citeulike-article-id = {840931}, journal = {The Review of Politics}, keywords = {choice, deliberative, democracy, rational}, number = {2}, pages = {289--319}, posted-at = {2006-09-12 14:33:19}, priority = {4}, title = {The Rational Choice Approach to Politics: A Challenge to Democratic Theory}, url = {http://www.jstor.org/stable/1407756}, volume = {53}, year = {1991} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:840931 L3 - citeulike-article-id:840931 TI - The Rational Choice Approach to Politics: A Challenge to Democratic Theory JF - The Review of Politics VL - 53 IS - 2 SP - 289 EP - 319 N2 - In just three decades rational choice theory has emerged as one of the most active, influential, and ambitious subfields in the discipline of political science. Rational choice theory contends that political behavior is best explained through the application of its supposedly "value-neutral" assumptions which posit man as a self-interested, purposeful, maximizing being. Through the logic of methodological individualism, assumptions about human nature are treated as empirical discoveries. My central argument is that by assuming that self-interest is an empirically established component of human nature, rational choice theory supports and perpetuates a political life which is antithetical to important tenets of normative democratic theory. Rational choice theory offers an incoherent account of democratic citizenship and produces a political system which shows a constant biased against political change and pursuit of the public interest. This article concludes by discussing the merits of democratic deliberation for achieving these transformative ends. KW - choice KW - deliberative KW - democracy KW - rational AU - Petracca, Mark PY - 1991/// UR - http://www.jstor.org/stable/1407756 ER -