At present much of political science consists of a large body of formal theoretical work that remains largely
unexplored empirically and an expanding use of sophisticated statistical techniques. While there are examples of
noteworthy efforts to bridge the gap between these, there is still a need for much more cooperative work between
formal theorists and empirical researchers in the discipline. This book explores how empirical analysis has, can,
and should be used to evaluate formal models in political science. These developments, if combined, are potentially
a basis for a new revolution in political science.
Table of Contents
Part I. Introduction:
1. Political science's dilemma
Part II. Formal Models in Political Science:
2. What makes a model formal?
3. The variety of formal models
Part III. Empirical Evaluation of Formal Models:
4. Fundamentals of empirical evaluation
5. Evaluating assumptions
6. Evaluating predictions: equilibria, disequilibria, and multiequilibria
7. Evaluating relationship predictions
8. Evaluating alternative models
