The Process of Government: A Study of Social Pressures

by Arthur Fisher Bentley, T.Z. Lavine (Introduction)

Arthur F. Bentley originally wrote this book over the years 1896-1908 while working as a Chicago newspaper reporter and editor, during which time he had a "sense of tremendous social activity taking place," and a feeling that "all the politics of the country, so to speak, were drifting across [his] desk." This prompted Bentley to develop an analysis of group interests, which he believed to be the true dictators of government decisions.He was hailed on methodological grounds as an early supporter of the "behavioral revolution," which called for the use of natural scientific methods in the social sciences and for offering a group theory of politics. Bentley's implicit critique of narrow empiricism reflects the diverse influences of Dilthey, Simmel, and Dewey. The Process of Government was virtually ignored until the post-World War II period, but is now regarded as a classic in political science.

Genres: Nonfiction, Philosophy, Sociology

534 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 1908

Reviews

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

So here's the problem with this otherwise great work of theory: it's super dense and probably doesn't say what you think it says because Bentley's use of language is both imprecise and non-contemporary. But if you are inclined to believe that we perhaps put too much stake in ideology in our accounts of domestic politics, then Bentley might either confuse you to death or give you something to think real hard about.

[Steven Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An early gem in the development of the discipline of political science. At the time this book came out (early 1900s), it took a different path from many other works. Bentley argued that groups and group processes were important in understanding politics. A precursor of the group theory of politics. . . .