Does Political Theory Still Exist?: Revisiting Isaiah Berlin and the Challenge of Preserving the Subfield

• In Event: Reimagining Political Science Education: Innovations in Curriculum and Pedagogy

Abstract

Isaiah Berlin began his seminal work on the existential status of political theory by questioning whether political theory was alive and well, or whether his colleagues were correct in suggesting that political theory was dead or dying. While Berlin makes a compelling case that, from an intellectual perspective, political theory cannot die, political theorists ought to be as concerned as ever with the status of the subfield within the discipline. In this paper, I question the future status of political theory as a subfield within political science. I examine political science doctoral programs to evaluate whether political theory’s future is stable, or existentially uncertain. I consider whether each PhD-granting department offers doctoral students the opportunity to concentrate on political theory as either a major or minor subfield of study. I likewise consider whether doctoral students are required to complete any political theory coursework, regardless of their fields of study. I compare political theory’s status in doctoral programs with both substantive (e.g., American politics, comparative politics, international relations, etc.) and methodological fields of study, and find that, indeed, political theory has a tenuous future. I conclude with a call to preserve political theory as a valuable field of study.

Author

• Matthew Stein, College of Southern Nevada