What REALLY Determines Student Performance
Monday, 16 July 2012 10:47By P.L. Thomas, The Daily Censored | News Analysis
"After several decades of rigorous effort, it is fair to say that the majority of our attention in political science has been given to interstate war and civil war," explains Christian Davenport, adding:
"I would say that it would be interesting to count the number of articles over the last five years on terrorism and compare it to the number of articles on repression but regardless, I stand by the claim that most of our attention has been focused on those activities that challenge political authorities. Actually, it's probably not even close."Why is this the case? Why do governments get a pass? Well, it's not because of the actual number of deaths associated with different forms of violence...."I would argue that scholars, especially those in political science, who study challenges to governments do so because this is what governments want us to study. In many ways the targets of political scientists' gaze has been shaped by those whom we examine. This is what governments and foundations pay for — mostly."
While this is a powerful and much needed commentary on the inadequate and disproportionate critical work in political science, I believe the exact same charge can be leveled at the current