Meaning of Post – behaviouralism Post – behaviouralism is an intellectual revolution. This is a reform movement in Behaviouralism. This gives stress on action and relevance. Behaviouralists themselves had started imposing questions on the usefulness of Behaviouralism even before the end of the decade of 1960. As a result, a new movement took birth which was known as Post – behaviouralism.

Aim of Post – Behaviouralism: 

The main purpose of Post – behaviouralism is that research and study of Political Science should be relevant in context of real needs of society. Post – behaviouralism urges political thinkers to study neutrahy and lead the society, instead of being indifferent to social and political problems and being escapists. 

Reasons of emergence of Post – behaviouralism: 

Post – behaviouralism came into existence due to shortcomings of traditional and Behaviouralism approaches. 

The reasons for the emergence of post – behaviouralism are as follows:

1. Reaction against Behaviouralism: 

Post – behaviouralism movement is a reaction against Behaviouralism. Behaviouralism tried to provide a scientific approach to Political Science, but these efforts were insufficient and incomplete. 

2. Dissatisfaction with study methods: 

It is not right to try to use study methods of natural science in Political Science because nature of man and society is changeable. Thus, it is not possible to study political science as natural sciences and on that criteria. 

3. Distress for Behaviouralistic Research: 

Behaviouralism Research ignores values and gives stress only on facts. Post – behaviouralism believes that values and facts both are useful and relevant. Importance of values in study of Political Science cannot be ignored. 

4. Ignorance of duties towards world humanity:

 At the time, when the behaviouralists were busy in making concepts, models and principles, the world was facing immense social, economical and cultural problems. Behaviouralists were ignorant of these problems. The contemporary society was moving towards division and destruction.

Not only this, Behaviouralism, had not any inkling of problems like Vietnam problem, growing internal chaos in America, Nuclear war, increasing possibilities of dictatorship and population explosion, and thus no efforts were made by them to solve these problems.

Features / Basic Concepts of Post – behaviouralism: 

Features and basic concepts of Post – behaviouralism, are as follows:

• Inference before procedure. 
• Emphasis on social change. 
•  Stress on solution of problems. 
• Important role of values. 
•  Important role of intellectuals. 
•  Emphasis on action. 
• Politicization of professions.

Criticism of Post – behaviouralism: 

Though Post – behaviouralism has provided a new outlook to Political Science by removing the shortcomings of traditional approach and Behaviouralism, yet, it is not free from criticism. 

It is criticized on the following basis: 

1. Post – behaviouralism wants to make study of Political Science value free and realistic along with value based, idealistic and objective, which is not possible. 

2. Post – behaviouralism gives more importance to technique as compared to facts. 

3. Post – behaviouralism seems to be representative of American national interests. 

4. Post – behaviouralism is the representative of only liberal values. 

5. Post – behaviouralism has limited relevance for the third world.

Importance of Post – behaviouralism: 

The importance of Post – behaviouralism cannot be ignored in spite of its many criticisms. It has established a balance between traditionalism and behaviouralism by removing their shortcomings. It represents the balanced and the modern phase of development of Political Science: