Biology and Political Science (Routledge Studies in Science, Technology, and Society, 4)

Rapid Advances In The Life Sciences, Especially Molecular Biology And Neuroscience, Combined With Research In Ethnology And Related Areas Are Altering Our Understanding Of Human Nature And Behaviour. They Also Raise Challenging Social And Political Issues That Necessitate A Re-evaluation Of Existing Social Values And Structures. However Despite The Vast Implications Of This New Knowledge Of The Biological Foundations Of Human Behaviour, Mainstream Political Science Has Largely Dismissed And, In Some Cases, Overtly Rejected The Relevance Of Biology For Political Behaviour And Institutions. This Book Redresses The Balance. It Demonstrates The Increasing Convergence Of Interest Of Some Social Scientists In The Theories, Research And Findings Of The Life Sciences In Building A More Interdisciplinary Approach To The Study Of Politics. It Discusses The Development Of Biopolitics As An Academic Perspective Within Political Science, Reviews The Growing Literature In Biopolitics, And Presents A Coherent View Of Biopolitics As A Framework For Structuring Inquiry Across The Current Subfields Of Political Science.--jacket. Biology And Politics -- Biopolitical Theory -- Comparative Politics, World Politics And International Relations In Biopolitical Perspective -- Methodological Issues In Biopolitics -- Biology And Behavior -- Biopolicy I : Decision-making And Societal Issues -- Biopolicy Ii : Ecology And Environmental Issues At The Global Level -- Towards Human-centred Political Science -- Appendix : Brain-imaging Techniques. Robert H. Blank And Samuel M. Hines, Jr. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [153]-175) And Index. This book demonstrates the increasing interest of some social scientists in the theories, research and findings of life sciences in building a more interdisciplinary approach to the study of politics. It discusses the development of biopolitics as an academic perspective within political science, reviews the growing literature in the field and presents a coherent view of biopolitics as a framework for structuring inquiry across the current subfields of political science. On Tuesday, 27 June 2000, newspapers and the electronic media around the world announced that the genetic code of human life has been cracked by molecular biologists.