To understand what is political inquiry, it’s essential to first unravel what

comprises social scientific research. Any scientific research has four main
characteristics-

1. The goal is inference. Scientific research is designed to make descriptive

or explanatory inferences on the basis of empirical information about the
world. It may involve descriptive inference using observations from the world
to learn about other unobserved facts. Or that something may involve causal
inference learning about causal effects from the data observed.

2. The procedures are public. Scientific research uses explicit, codified, and
public methods to generate and analyze data whose reliability can therefore be
assessed. Any research that is not a public act, makes no contribution to the
field of social sciences.

3. The conclusions are uncertain. Reaching perfectly certain conclusions from

uncertain data is obviously impossible. Indeed, uncertainty is a central aspect of
all research and all knowledge about the world. Without a reasonable estimate
of uncertainty, a description of the real world is uninterpretable.

4. The content is the method. The content of “science” is primarily the

methods and rules, not the subject matter, since we can use these methods to
study virtually anything.

These four features of science have a further implication: science at its best is a
social enterprise. Within this idea of a social enterprise and any social science
research is the very basis on which humans view the world. Alasdair MacIntyre
uses the German word Weltanschauung to describe the deeply held beliefs,
perspectives, and values that shape how individuals or groups understand and
interpret the world. It literally translated to “worldviews”. In academic terms
this can be further complicated into the idea of human inquiry.

Human inquiry refers to the broad, general process by which people seek to
understand the world around them. It’s the foundation of all types of inquiry,
including scientific, philosophical, and political. Political inquiry is a specific
form of human inquiry that focuses on: power, governance, institutions, laws,
behavior, ideologies, etc.

Human Inquiry
Earl Babbie argues that most of what we know is a matter of believing what
we've been told. It's the way human societies are structured. The basis of
knowledge is agreement. Therefore, the modes of learning become agreement,
personal experience, discovery, tradition, and most importantly, direct
experience or observation. Ordinary human enquiry requires causal and
probability reasoning. The attempt to predict is often placed in a context of
knowledge and understanding. Therefore, human enquiry aims at answering
both what and why.

Political Inquiry
Political inquiry is the methods used to measure and establish knowledge in the
field of political science. Political science is the study of political behavior from
both a systematic and individual perspective. The methods of political inquiry
have evolved over time to include theoretical, traditionalist and empirical
approaches.

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The theoretical approach to political inquiry is how political scientists use ideas,
ideologies, and conceptual frameworks to understand and explain political life.
It was most commonly used by thinkers like Aristotle and Plato. It helps
provide conceptual tools (like power, authority, legitimacy, justice, etc.) and
offers interpretations of political events and processes.

2. Traditionalist
The traditionalist view was adopted in the mid-nineteenth century and was a
combination of historical, legalistic, and institutional perspectives. The
historical view employs the use of case studies and compares current political
systems to the advantages and disadvantages of previous ones. The legalistic
view applies the same method to the study of laws and political doctrine while
the institutional approach focuses on political systems such as a branch of
government. Case studies in these three areas have the potential to provide an
abundance of detail for each of these perspectives. However, it fails to account
for some of the cause and affect interactions of these systems that is available in
other sciences.

3. Empirical
The empirical approach to political science emerged from the concepts of
behaviorism where the scienti c method was applied to study political
behavior. The application of empirical methods made it possible to test different
hypotheses, which differentiates from the descriptive study employed in the
traditionalist method. The results of empirical studies are then used to generate
models that can predict political behavior.

While the practice of empiricism is good for making large generalizations about
political phenomenon, it does not account for some of the more contextua1ized
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situations. The current trend in the study of political science is to either move
away from or supplement the empirical approach.

Why Do We Need Political Inquiry?

Political inquiry is essential for several reasons:

1. Enhancing Understanding of Power and Governance

• It helps us understand how power is distributed and exercised within and between societies,
which is crucial for effective governance and international relations.

2. Informing Policy Development

• Political inquiry provides evidence-based insights that inform the formulation and
implementation of policies on key issues such as healthcare, climate change, and
immigration.

3. Promoting Informed Citizenship

• By teaching critical thinking and methodological literacy, political inquiry enables citizens
to evaluate the quality of information and arguments, fostering more informed participation
in democratic processes.

4. Advancing Social Justice and Equality

• It explores issues related to social justice, human rights, and equality, helping societies
address and resolve these challenges.

5. Supporting Con ict Resolution

• Understanding political dynamics and causes of con ict is vital for managing and resolving
disputes within and between nations.

6. Adapting to Globalization and Change

• Political inquiry examines the effects of globalization, technological advancement, and

environmental change on political systems and societies, helping policymakers adapt to new
realities.

7. Improving Political Debate and Decision-Making

• By grounding discussions in systematic and empirical research, political inquiry raises the
level of political debate, reducing reliance on speculation and wishful thinking.

8. Developing Research and Analytical Skills

• It equips students and professionals with the skills to conduct rigorous research, evaluate
evidence, and contribute to the advancement of political science.
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