Political Research in the Changing World System

Abstract

Humankind is undergoing greater changes than it ever has before. These are related primarily to quantitative and qualitative demographic changes; technological and military capabilities; the emergence of information-rich societies; the presence of a diversity of viable and self-confident social and economic systems; the disparity between human expectations and accomplishments; and efforts to mobilize the effective thought of man kind. From these changes follow some key problems for political research of which these eight claim priority: peace research; social accounting and particularly explorations of the emancipatory capabilities of countries; analysis of shifting costs of national and inter national actors; a more precise knowledge of the double nature of capital: its 'hardware' and its intangible (information) aspects; understanding the problems of time and timing; further development of the theory of communication and control; greater comprehension of the politics of self-transformation; and the systematic search for knowledge on whether and how political scientists can find points of change as well as its forms and methods. A political science that derives its theories from discoveries and from the analysis of im plications, that goes on to invent solutions and design procedures for practical appli cations can do much to help mankind.