理性选择与民主制度——威廉·赖克与美国实证政治理论

Rational Choice and Democracy——William H.Riker and the Positive Political Theory

20世纪60、70年代,由威廉·赖克所创立的美国实证政治理论的诞生,标志着政治科学取代传统政治学的主导地位,成为20世纪国际政治学发展史上最重要的事件。赖克将理性选择方法用于政治领域,有力推动了政治研究的科学化发展,并创立了罗彻斯特政治科学学派。以理性选择方法为基础的实证政治理论,在很大程度上颠覆了传统政治学对民主制度的理解。但是,由于其方法论具有根本性缺陷,实证政治理论在分析广泛的政治现象时就缺乏充分的解释力。

In the midst of twentieth century,the appearance of William Riker's positive political theory denoted that political science had replaced the traditional political research,which became the most important event in the history of political research.Different from other scholars of rational choice,Riker applied rational choice methods to the analysis of political life,promoted the development of scientification of political research and created the Rochester School in political science.Positive political theory subverted the traditional understanding on democracy of politics.However,due to the deficiency of its methodology,positive political theory has a limited capacity of explanation in political research.