On the Rationality of Political People

Author: Liu Zhiwei
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-12-01
Features: The main purpose of this book is to address the phenomenon where some scholars in academia attempt to replace the "rationality of the economic man" with the "rationality of the political man," known as the "economic imperialism" that seeks to "rationalize colonialism" in fields such as political science. Using a comparative analysis framework, it elaborates on the connotations of both "rationality of the political man" and "rationality of the economic man" from the perspective of economic and political actors, identifies the main theoretical flaws of "economic imperialism," and reveals the key comparative differences between political behavior and economic behavior. Additionally, it employs institutional analysis to further highlight the comparative differences between political and economic systems in terms of core categories and value pursuits. Through historical analysis, it provides a macro overview and general assessment of the major developments and transformations in political science and economics from the "classical" to the "contemporary" era, as well as their impact on the fundamental theories of economics and political science. Furthermore, using the methods of "prescriptive analysis" and "descriptive analysis," it further points out the fundamental theoretical errors of "economic imperialism." In the process of comparing the "rationality of the political man" and the "rationality of the economic man," this study also analyzes related issues such as "the relationship between the state and society," "the legitimate acquisition and use of power," and "the choice between efficiency and fairness," and elaborates on the author's insights.