Max Kaase

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Max Kaase (born May 14, 1935 in Krefeld ) is a German political scientist .

Life

Kaase studied economics , sociology and political science at the University of Cologne . There he received a diploma in economics in 1959 and received his doctorate in 1964. From 1965 to 1966 he was a fellow of the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS), from 1968 to 1971 he carried out research with a habilitation grant from the German Research Foundation (DFG) and then became a Ford fellow Foundation from 1971 to 1972. In 1972 he received his Venia Legendi for political science from the University of Mannheim . From 1974 to 1979 he was director of the Center for Surveys, Methods and Analyzes eV (ZUMA) in Mannheim. From October 1993 to 2000 he carried out research at the Social Science Research Center Berlin (WZB). From 2000 to 2003 Max Kaase was Vice President of the European Science Foundation (ESF). He has also been Vice President and Dean of the International University Bremen (IUB) since 2000, and from 2003 to 2006 he was President of the International Political Science Association (IPSA).

Awards

Kaase has been the recipient of the Federal Cross of Merit on Ribbon since September 12, 2000 . He has received several awards for his research, including honorary doctorates from City University London (2004) and the University of Bremen.

Research priorities

Today Kaase is considered one of the leading German political and social scientists . Its scientific-theoretical orientation consists in the theory-based empirical analysis of social, political and communication-scientific issues. This example involves the question of suitable indicators of democracy measure , must comply with the established methodological standards. When examining a causal relationship between two variables, the scientist must e.g. For example, make sure that your case selection is not based solely on the dependent variables. So if one considers a causality between the existence of white pigeons and parliamentary democracy to be given, one must also check the pigeon population in countries in which autocratic systems are established. An empirical-analytical social researcher must therefore always expose his approaches to comprehensive falsifiability and thus avoid the logical circular argument. The stated rational, epistemological perspective of Kaase generally tends towards positivism .

plant

Through his comparative political and social analyzes, Kaase made a significant contribution to the international networking of the German social sciences . His scientific work was not limited to Germany. In 1997, for example, an "inventory of the strengths and weaknesses of economic and social sciences in Western Europe", which was often quoted in scientific debates, was published by an international research group led by Max Kaase on behalf of the European Commission . He published numerous works together with English scholars such as "Beliefs in Government" or "Political Action. Mass Participation in Five Democracies ".

In the course of his academic life, Kaase published well over a hundred papers on a variety of social science topics. Examples:

"Beliefs in Government"

"Beliefs in Government" is the fifth part of a study that deals with the role of the European state and the related expectations and ideas from civil society and literature. In addition, the framework conditions of state control are examined , taking into account the influence of transnational interest groups and international regimes .
The empirical findings of the “Beliefs in Government” studies are summarized and evaluated with regard to the political processes that have an impact on the masses in modern Europe. Against this background, comprehensive conclusions are drawn about the importance of political participation , mass opinion, post-materialism , post-modernism , as well as democratic stability and democratic change. It is a publication of far-reaching scientific importance and extremely topical.

"Germany as an information and knowledge society"

Kaase expresses the importance of empirical analyzes and prognoses , especially in the background of the increased spread of the Internet and modern communication. The rapid development of communication technology and the resulting change from an industrial society to an information and knowledge society mean, according to Kaase, that it seems utopian today to make predictions for the future. With Delphi studies one can try at least to show certain trends . This is also necessary so that one can react appropriately to changes in good time. In this context, various statistical surveys show, for example, that the assumption of a change to an information and knowledge society is based on an empirical basis. Indicators for this include the increased spread of the Internet, the positive employment effects of information and communication technology (ICT), the importance of ICT for economic growth and the not yet exhausted growth potential.

more publishments

  • Change of party preferences. An analysis using the example of the 1961 federal election, Verlag Anton Hain, Meisenheim am Glan 1967.
  • Political Action. Mass Participation in Five Western Democracies (with Samuel H. Barnes), Beverly Hills: Sage, 1979.
  • Political violence and repression - results of population surveys. Volume IV (together with Friedhelm Neidhardt). In: Hans-Dieter Schwind, Jürgen Baumann et al. (eds.), Causes, Prevention and Control of Violence. Analyzes and proposals of the Independent Government Commission to Prevent and Combat Violence (Violence Commission), Duncker & Humblot, Berlin 1990.
  • Beliefs in Government (with Kenneth Newton). Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1995.
  • Estranged Friends: The Transatlantic Consequences of Societal Change (with Andrew Kohut), Council on Foreign Relations Press, New York 1996.
  • Political system (together with Andreas Eisen, Oscar W. Gabriel, Oskar Niedermayer , Hellmut Wollmann), Leske + Budrich, Opladen 1996.
  • A learning democracy. 50 years of the Federal Republic of Germany (together with Günther Schmid). WZB yearbook 1999, edition sigma, Berlin 1999.

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Kaase, Max
BRIEF DESCRIPTION German political scientist
DATE OF BIRTH May 14, 1935
PLACE OF BIRTH Krefeld