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17 J. Pol. Stud. 1 (2010)

handle is hein.journals/jlo17 and id is 1 raw text is: The Possibility or Desirability of a Value Free Political Study, an Insight Brian - Vincent Ikejiaku* Abstract This paper, succinctly but critically addresses the puzzling and burning question, which any political science scholar cannot avoid - whether a value-free approach in political studies/social sciences is either possible or desirable? In an attempt to answer this question, the paper briefly considers the contributions of scholars and commentators in political science and social sciences' disciplines, which either oppose or support this subject matter. However, the paper took a stand; it argues that a value-freedom political study (or social sciences) is neither possible nor desirable. The paper concluded categorically that though, the study of politics will not lose its scientific or philosophical character because it is value laden or normative. However those scholars who solicit for a political study that will be free of value, is not only simply engaging in challenging and herculean intellectual exercise, but also in an arid and fruitless one in that matter. Key words: political-studies, value-free, value-laden, political-philosophy, behaviouralist, international relations, social sciences Introduction Some scholars of politics have been championing, advocating and campaigning that political studies should be made to circumvent the prejudice associated to political ideology. Being influenced by what they term as extremely unempirical, subjectivity, unscientific, non-philosophical, value-judgmental and non-justifiable of some subjects, they call for a value-free approach or scientific methodology to the study of politics. The presentation below attempts to look into and make a short, but vital contribution to this subject matter, which has become a matter of debate in the academic circle of politics and social sciences, particularly since the late 1950s. * The author is associated with Research Institute for Law, Politics and Justice, Keele University, Keele, UK.

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