What Makes Politics A Science?

The scientization of politics is an important turning point in the history of political science,and also a unique source of vitality and creativity of modern political science,and an important trend of contemporary Chinese political science research.C.E.Merriam played a key role in the process of turning politics into science.This paper chooses Merriam’s thought on the scientization of politics as the research object in order to enrich the understanding of the important turning point of the development of political science.Meriam’s advocacy of the scientization of politics is closely related to his early life course.Meanwhile,the theoretical origin of the scientization of politics and the time background of Meriam also shaped the appearance of his political science thought.First,Meriam’s family life,learning experience and political practice shaped his thought of the scientization of politics from different aspects in different stages.Secondly,the simple empirical factors in traditional political theory and the pragmatism trend of American social science have provided support and inspiration for the scientization of political science.In Merriam’s time,the expansion of cities,the expansion of political participation and the development of natural science together constitute the background of Merriam’s political science thought.Merriam put forward the scientization of politics has three interrelated purposes.Firstly,At that time,the research methods of American politics were deeply influenced by European politics,especially German politics.In terms of research objects,American politics focused on static legal and institutional research,which lacked its own characteristics and independence.Therefore,he hoped to establish the unique identity of American politics through scientific politics and improve the independence of the study of American politics.Secondly,he hoped to enhance the practical utility of American political science through scientific research,find the best plan for political action and the elimination of the waste in political action through scientific political research.Finally,he hoped that political science could adapt itself to the development of natural science,so that scientific progress could benefit mankind better,and thus release the political possibilities in human nature.Merriam systematically explained his idea of scientization of politics.He first called for improvement in the collection of political information,which needs to be accomplished by establishing a sound collection mechanism,strengthening the training and staffing of investigators,and seeking adequate financial support,which constitutes the basis for the scientization of politics.Secondly,he called on politics to learn from and cooperate with other disciplines.On the one hand,scientific research tools such as psychology and statistics should be used to carry out research;on the other hand,research achievements of biology,ethnography,geography and other disciplines should be paid attention to.Politics should also actively assume the responsibility to deal with new problems brought by the development of science.This constituted his path of the scientization of politics.Finally,he emphasized the need to improve the organizational level of political research.Through the effective organization of political prudence and the establishment of social science research organizations to provide funding and cooperation platform support for the scientization of politics.Merriam systematically explained the scientific thought of political science for the first time in the history of politics,created a new research method for political science,and shaped the operation mode of contemporary American political science research.However,Merriam’s definition and interpretation of scientific thought of politics are also ambiguous and contradictory.His pragmatism may also make politics more instrumental.In addition,his dichotomy of traditional politics and new political science leads to his relative contempt for political theory,which inevitably leads to criticism.However,although Merriam’s understanding of the scientization of politics were relatively crude,and the work of subsequent generations of scholars who were influenced by him also clearly outstripped his,his contribution to the early transformation of political science is unquestionable.In terms of the scientization and localization of political science,Meriam’s work also has a reference significance for the construction of political science in contemporary China.