Approaches and lessons in political career research: Babel or pieces of a patchwork?

<span>Political careers are a classic subject of elite studies. Scholars have sought to understand what affects political profiles and career patterns’ formation. However, political career research is characterized by a variety of approaches and explanations, which often do not communicate eac...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Michelangelo Vercesi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Asociación Española de Ciencia Política y de la Administración (AECPA) 2018-11-01
Series:Revista Española de Ciencia Política
Subjects:
Online Access:https://recyt.fecyt.es/index.php/recp/article/view/64331
Description
Summary:<span>Political careers are a classic subject of elite studies. Scholars have sought to understand what affects political profiles and career patterns’ formation. However, political career research is characterized by a variety of approaches and explanations, which often do not communicate each other. A framework that integrates existing contributions is lacking, and this undermines the process of accumulation of knowledge. A comprehensive assessment of the literature is necessary in view of this potentially welcomed undertaking. After a conceptual introduction, I provide here a general overview of the approaches used in political career research, classifiable into two main schools. It is stressed their theoretical arguments, methodological strategies, and deficits. The note will provide bases for developing further the research field, by underling epistemological, theoretical, and methodological lessons.</span>
ISSN:1575-6548
2173-9870