3장 정치학 연구방법론 Studying politics scientifically How do we know what is true? 1. By tradition The earth is flat. The sun revolves around the earth. “Conventional (traditional) wisdom” in politics? “Divided government increases gridlock.” “People vote for the candidate, not party.” “Economic development breeds democracy.” “The Democratic Party is weak on national security.”

Conventional wisdom? Myths? Facts? We need to test!!! The candidate with the most money wins elections. Education and income affect your party affiliation. Members of a political party vote for their own party’s legislation. Minimum wages are good for the economy. Liberals care more about the environment than conservatives. Christians and southern whites tend to be conservatives. Conservatives more actively support the right to carry firearms than liberals. Liberals in office raise the deficit. Poor people vote for liberal parties. Old people tend to be conservative. War can produce an exponential gain in a fallen economy.

Studying politics scientifically How do we know what is true? 2. Authority The CIA director says that there will be an “October Surprise!” My dad suggests that all lawyers are liars. Who or what is your “authoritative source” that tells you the truth?

Studying politics scientifically How do we know what is true? 3. By Logic If Jenny prefers chocolate ice cream to vanilla and prefers vanilla to strawberry, then will she prefer chocolate to strawberry ice cream? Why do some people not vote in elections?  There could be TWO logical but conflicting explanations.  People are too satisfied (or too cynical) to vote.

Arrow’s Paradox: Logic or Behavior? (Just for your reference! 단순 참조용) Let’s assume that three individuals have different preferences for three alternatives A, B, C, as following For person #1: A > B > C For person #2: B > C > A For person #3: C > A > B “Use majority rule to choose between A and C” I. Logical (Sequential) Choice of A vs. C A majority prefers A to B (person #1 & person #3) A majority prefers B to C (person #1 & person #2)  “Logically, if a majority prefers A to B and B to C, then a majority prefers A to C.”

II. What about behavioral choice between A vs. C? Person #1: A > B > C Person #2: B > C > A Person #3: C > A > B II. What about behavioral choice between A vs. C? Person #1 votes for A rather than C Person #2 votes for C rather than A Person #3 votes for C rather than A “Behaviorally (Individually), two persons (#2 & #3) choose C, while one person (#1) chooses A, so a majority prefers C to A.” For example, when Jenny looks at chocolate and strawberry, she might pick strawberry, not chocolate for some reason ???????? By logical approach, a majority prefers A to C. By behavioral approach, a majority prefers C to A.  “Arrow’s Paradox” or “Arrow’s Impossibility Theorem”

How do we know what is true? 4. By Faith Similar to the method of authority Most religions are faith-based. Ex) The divinity of Jesus Christ is accepted as a matter of faith. Religion and politics!!!

Religion and Politics: “Divine Divide”