Democracy, Development and Conflict Prevention - Research Proposal Example

Grant Proposal Introduction 1 Research question The research aims at studying at a topic provided by the Institute of Democracy, Development and Conflict prevention. The topics will cover the research projects that the institute intends to sponsor. The institute has research projects on state building and its failure, democratization and democratic consolidation, economic and political development, and political violence especially civil conflicts. 1.2 Background of the study The research will cover on the project of economic and political development. The project demands countries to uphold democratization and democratic consolidation. In addition, a country that has democracy in its systems will experience stability and there will be less civil conflicts. The research is going to discuss in depth the tools that are important in influencing economic and political development. It will discuss the need of political science in promoting both political and economic development. The research shall rely on John Mill’s principles of inductive inquiry. The scholars wish to apply for a grant for conducting qualitative research within IDDCP’s primary topic areas. It demands the scholars to understand the research is comparative in nature. The researcher understands that in Mill’s method of difference, for good qualitative research, there should be a combination of state building and state failure, with the democratization and democratic consolidation, with economic and political development. There three are essential, because, for instance, there is no economic and political development; there would be no good qualitative research. The other two topics are necessary but not sufficient. In Mill’s method of agreement, a good qualitative research will require a study in state building and state failure, and democratization and democratic consolidation. Additionally, state building and economic and political development is essential for good research. However, democratization and economic and political development would not give a good research. It means state building and state failure is necessary but not sufficient. 1.3 Significance of the study The study is very important in seeking a grant to conduct qualitative research within IDDCP topic areas. Political science offers extensive knowledge on the topics. In addition, the primordial importance of this study is to provide necessary political knowledge to the researchers in the political field. The information may include the specific roles of researchers in understanding the various topics provided by IDDCP. In the end, it would assist in broadening the political knowledge of the researchers. Additionally, the researchers may be in a position to be successful applicants of the grants. Thus, the study would be an important tool in determining the scholars who deserve a grant from the institute. The study will be the basis of expanding knowledge in political science. The knowledge will be important in producing additional experts in the field of political science. Furthermore, it would help in the development of both economic and political leaders. 1.4 Purpose of the study The study aims at applying for a grant from the Institute of Democracy, Development and conflict resolution. The grant would facilitate the qualitative research within the institution’s primary topic areas. The researcher of this proposal has extensive knowledge on the projects pioneered by this institution. Specifically, the researcher focused more on the project of economic and political development. All the projects depend on economic and political development, for success. The study shall show the importance of leaders when it comes to bringing stability to both political and economic sectors of the country, especially the political leaders. Leadership is the backbone for any organization. Every leader has to be knowledgeable and competent. The research shall be useful because it will be a source of knowledge to these leaders. The paper shall explain why without the knowledge of political science, all the projects that the institution intends to fund, is doomed to fail. It will show the crucial role of this subject in developing the future leaders of any country. In addition, the paper shall highlight why most countries are not stable because of lack of political leadership. The study shall discuss the importance of leaders in developing the future of any country. Specifically, the researcher noted the role of leaders in creating stability in the political and economic field. The paper shall explain why knowledge in political science is the best tool, to establish good leaders. Moreover, the paper shall relate all other projects that the institute intends to sponsor because all the projects are comparative in nature. 2. Literature review 2.1 Economic development There is a relationship between political science and economics. A study by Sarmah indicates how the two are social sciences. Additionally, the research highlights political science as a study of politics in theory and practice, whereas economics the study of how people produce resources. Various academic leaders show how political science and economics share relationships (Sarmah 40-200). Economists around the world concluded that political leaders have a great control of the economy. It shows how practicalities of the government are the link between political science and economics. For example, a Politian may influence how the government spends (Sarmah 40-200). Additionally, the study shows how knowledge in political science is crucial in analyzing various economic aspects. For example, there are situations where political leaders have to determine the areas that face inequalities within the society. The political leaders in such case face a challenge of working towards equality of opportunity for all people. It demands the leaders to have extensive knowledge of political science to avoid any interference wherever possible. Furthermore, the leaders should have economic knowledge to provide equality of opportunity. There is a clear connection between political science and economics. The study indicates how it is important to broaden the knowledge of political science in order to experience economic development. It is evident how economic production thrives in areas that have good political leaders. The prestige of any government across the world is economic development. A country with good economic development has political leaders who are capable of developing good economic policies. The citizens of any country choose political leaders who look certain to continue with the country’s economic notions and doctrines. Such cases demand political leaders to be conversant with the economic doctrines that are popular in their respective countries. The study further discusses the common crossovers between political science and economic development. The crossover comes in because of rational choice theory. The study shows how political theory could contradict with the economic theory. However, the study indicates that it depends with the level of simplicity of the political reality. For instance, economic leaders may rely on rational choice theory to assume that a consumer will always choose the cheapest goods. On the other hand, politics may explain why some consumers would opt to pay high for the goods because they consider expensive goods come from ethical suppliers. 2.2 Political development The study by Sarmah shows why political science is crucial for political development. Political science will make it possible for leaders to understand the different phases of political development. It shows how political development goes hand in hand with political modernization and westernization (Sarmah 100). Every student in the political science class is aware that political development depends on two basics; structural differentiation and cultural secularization. It means every political leader with the knowledge in political science can understand the process involved in creating new subsystems or structures. Furthermore, they are in a position to understand the process that people become empirical in their political actions. The discussion further points out at various variables that are crucial for political development. The important variables are capacity and equality. Political science will offer extensive knowledge on capacity and equality. The other projects that the IDDCP intends to sponsor are relates to political development. For instance, a country that has a stable political environment will always experience state building. The country shall quickly gain momentum in rebuilding its economy after any political crisis. Any country that promotes democracy enjoys a good and stable political environment. Moreover, there will be less political violence, especially the civil conflicts. Such cases explain why political development is successful in countries that have stable political environment. Political science gives adequate practical knowledge. The study indicates how this practical knowledge is important in developing the political systems of any country. For example, in case of conflict between the congress and the senate, knowledge in political science will be useful in identifying the causes and solutions to this conflict. A leader with the knowledge in political science is more rationale and a constructive participant in public affairs. The study concludes that the political science is a broad and inclusive discipline. 3. Hypotheses The study has many clear topics that need discussion. The research shall focus more on economic and political development. Economic and political development is a very wide topic because it covers all other projects. The research found out that for there to be state development with fewer conflicts and the country, which promotes democracy, there should be both economic and political development. The research proposes a general hypothesis, “Economic and political development is essential for state development, democratization, and prevention of political violence, especially civil conflicts.” 4. Methodology The focus of the research is to conduct a qualitative research within IDDCP primary topics. It has the aim of obtaining a grant that would aid the research on economic and political development. The study entails many complex issues, which demands the researcher to do extensive research. The task of doing the research has both utilitarian and cognitive characteristics. It is evident the scope of work is very large and requires the researcher quickly to adapt to various methodology. The adaptation would help the researcher cover individual tasks with ease. It would demand provision of a wide range of research tools, for better clarification of results. The researcher used various methods, for example, scientific methods. The technique was crucial in critically analyzing of various literatures. The literatures covered the issue of economic and political development. There was involvement of action research to cover the context of strategic management deeply. Furthermore, the researcher relied on critical thinking, to define the scope of the research. Logical deduction accompanied critical thinking. The research had to explain the role of political science instructors on provision of extensive knowledge, and the connection between economics and political science. Information about the role came mainly from review of numerous literatures. In addition, the researcher had to rely on critical thinking method to deduce further information. The research demanded a practical dimension of leadership in its role in promoting political development. In order to present the practical dimension, the paper relied on action research. Furthermore, logical deduction came in handy when defining the publics role in determining the correct type of political leaders. Literature review was important because it would provide a source for critical appraisal of the connection between political science and economics. It would help synthesise information on the importance of political leaders in any countries, their skills, and experiences. Action research involved communication between the researchers and the participants. The researcher used his practical experiences in conducting the action research because of experience in conducting other research. The research wanted to prepare the best protocol in reliability case study. To ensure it was the best, the researcher prepared research questions. The answers for questions would help in answering the research question. A database stored all the interviews and documentation in the field. The rationale for conducting a survey was to get a generalized view of the importance of political science in developing the best national leaders. The researcher triangulated the findings from the survey against empirical data. The empirical data came from the interviews present in the database. It helped to identify the theoretical framework that described the importance of political science. The researcher used the internet to further the study on the relationship between political science and economics. Furthermore, the library was a very good source of crucial information. The information came from latest journals and book sections. The journals gave the latest information on the current trends in political science. In addition, magazines were important tools in providing information. Work cited Sarmah, D. K. Political Science (+2 Stage). New York: New Age International,, 2007.Print Read More