Giovanni Sartori: an empirical and committed political scientist in overmuch empirical and little committed political science
Abstract
This article analyzes the work of Giovanni Sartori - in no doubt a political science legend - with regard to its distinctiveness in contrast to the mainstream of contemporary comparative politics. As this article argues, both Sartori's life and work are full of paradoxes.
A giant of political science whose work is widely acknowledged, Sartori stands somewhat outside of current methodological trends in the discipline he helped to shape. Founder of Italian political science and one of its most visible representatives and political columnists, Sartori also failed to influence the politics of Rome.
Neither were his recommendations ever adopted in Italy. This article studies these paradoxes and seeks to explain them.
The focus is on Sartori's theoretical and methodological approach to politics and political science as articulated not only in his scholarly works but also in essays and commentaries.