D2. Is there a European Political Science?

For many philosophers of science, the concept of science is itself essentially contested. Different debates are conducted about political science. One - still continuing - is best known from Schmitter's thesis of American hegemony over the discipline and the Goodin/Klingemann rebuttal. Another, centred on the so-called Perestroika movement within the United States itself, also protests against hegemony, especially of quantitative methodology as a defining characteristic of good political science. Similarly within Europe academe, there are many who view 'political science' as just one methodological approach among several for good research into politics.

Against this background, this Panel invites papers which discuss whether there is, or should be, an European political science. Despite very different academic histories, is the study of politics in Europe converging towards shared assumptions about research and teaching? Is there, and should there be, a common core to the academic expertise within European University Departments of Politics or Political Science? Conversely, do research and teaching about European politics necessitate a distinct, European perspective?

Chair: Richard Topf (London Metropolitan University)