Postmodern Political Theory and Theorization: The Challenges for Political Scientists and Stakeholders of Politics

Abstract

Organisation and governance of the society have posed great challenges to mankind through the ages. Efforts by great political thinkers to solving these problems as they saw them in their various historical epochs often failed in many societies. Of great concern to this paper is the fact that in the postmodern era, political theory and theorisation in general were said to have suffered a great setback. Though, some scholars have argued on the contrary, the opinion of the former seems to have held majority of people sway. This situation of uncertainty regarding the true positions of political theory and theorisation in the postmodern period has made this inquiry necessary. This is owing to increasing socio-economic and political problems facing our time. This intellectual exercise therefore, clarifies the position of political theory in the postmodern era and identifies factors that are responsible for this setback. It also verifies the challenges that face postmodern political theory and process. Our inquiry revealed that lack of independent and creative political thinking by both political scientists and researchers in politics has caused a decline in political theory. Existing capitalist-democracy dominated socio-economic and political orders in the international environment within this period, as well as difficulties in the collection of data, and lack of fund are identified as some major factors hindering the development of political theory and theorisation since late 20h century.