Interpretive political science focuses on the meanings that shape actions and institutions, and the ways in which they do so. This Handbook explores the implications of interpretive theory for the study of politics. It provides the first definitive survey of the field edited by two of its pioneers. This Handbook is an invaluable resource for students, scholars and practitioners in the areas of international relations, comparative politics, political sociology, political psychology and public administration.

PART 1 INTRODUCTION 1. Interpretive political science: mapping the field PART II: THEORIES 2. Naturalism and Anti-Naturalism 3. Idealist Legacies 4. Hermeneutics 5. Historicism 6. Pragmatist Interpretivism 7. Colin Hay Social constructivism 8. Cultural studies 9. Post-Marxism 10. Governmentality PART III: METHODS 11. Quantitative methods 12. Ethnography 13. Textual Analysis 14. Historical methods 15. Storytelling PART IV: EMPIRICAL DISCIPLINES 16. International relations 17. Comparative Politics 18. American politics 19. European politics 20. Organizational sociology 21. Political sociology 22. Political psychology 23. Public law 24. Public Administration 25. Gender and Politics 26. Race and politics PART V: PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES 27. Policy analysis 28. Planning 29. Management 30. Accountancy 31. Social Welfare 32. Public Health

Mark Bevir is Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley, USA.

R. A. W. Rhodes is Professor of Government (Research) at the University of Southampton, UK and Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia.