The World of Biology and Politics: Organization and Research Areas (Research in Biopolitics)

This volume describes (a) the present academic and institutional status of Biopolitics and (b) the wide range of research areas that have emerged within the field. The Introduction puts into perspective the major differences and similarities between Biopolitics and more traditional approaches to political science in terms of basic concepts, scope, research methodology, and the resulting implications for public policy. The next two chapters focus on the institutions and organizations that have significantly influenced the structure and direction of the 'movement.' Chapter 4 describes how and why evolutionary theory has had an increasingly influential impact on political science. Chapters 5 through 9 are 'case studies' of how biological perspectives have been productively used in several of the discipline's established 'fields.' Chapter 10 is a measured critical analysis of the enterprise and Chapter 11 looks at where biopolitics as a field might be moving.

Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Albert Somit and Steven A. Peterson, Biology and Politics: An Introduction
Chapter 2: Biology and Politics: Organizational Issues
A. Albert Somit and Steven A. Peterson, International Political Science Association s Research Committee # 12
B. David Goetze, Association for Politics and the Life Sciences
C. Rob Sprinkle, Politics and the Life Sciences
Chapter 3: Graduate Training in Biology and Politics
A. Albert Somit, and Milton Lodge, The Program at the State University of New York at Stony Brook
B. Andrea Bonnicksen, The Biopolitics Program at Northern Illinois University
C. Rebecca Hannagan, Bootstrapping 'Biology-Minded' Graduate Programs
D. Albert Somit, Other Related Aspects of Training Students
Chapter 4: Tatu Vanhanen, On the Evolutionary Roots of the Social Sciences
Chapter 5: John Friend and Bradley Thayer, Neuropolitics and Political Science: Providing a Foundation for the Study of Politics
Chapter 6: Johan van der Dennen, The Biopolitics of Great Apes
Chapter 7: Odelia Funke, Biopolicy: Can it provide a new paradigm?
Chapter 8: Robert E. Gilbert, Attempted Assassination and Presidential Achievement: The Case of Ronald Reagan
Chapter 9: Steven A. Peterson, Toward an Evolutionary Synthesis of Individualist and Communist Anarchism
Chapter 10: Robert Blank and Michael Bang Petersen, Success or Failure? A Critical but Optimistic Evaluation of Biopolitics
Chapter 11: Albert Somit and Steven A. Peterson, Quo Vadis? Biology and Politics and the Future