Addendum to Political Sociology Models of Politics Addendum to Political Sociology

Looking Back Comparing C. Wright Mills and Parsons Liberal versus Conservative Functional versus Conflict Models Distinction based on function served Shared beliefs and values versus interests, particularly elite interests But structurally, models were the same: functional/teleological models

Now: Political Sociology Still have functional/conflict theories Pluralist Ruling elite Now have two new theories with new models Dialectical Interactive

Dialectical Levels of Analysis institution organization individual republicanism parties partisanship capitalism classes protest

Functional - - + shared beliefs and values republican (or interests) government - external threat

Interactive constituents authorities

Beyond Models All political theories tend to focus on politics, although some root politics in culture or economics: focus Most sociological theories today are liberal or conservative, but there are now radical theories as well As indicated with functional model, liberals and conservatives can use this model

Food for Thought Dialectical models can be conservative: Hegel Dialectical models can focus on culture: Radical Feminism Functional models can focus on economics: Rational Choice Can functional models be radical? Can dialectical models be liberal?