Abstract
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title> <jats:p>Empirical Political Theory: A Methodological Framework is the first sustained attempt to provide a systematic methodological foundation for empirically informed normative political theory. While political science has developed an extensive methodological literature, normative political theory has long lacked an equivalent resource. This book fills that gap by defining the field of empirical political theory, clarifying its boundaries with potlitical science, and developing tools that enable theorists to integrate empirical findings supporting and reinforcing normative evaluation. The framework rests on two central contributions. First, it offers a typology of how empirical data can function within political theory, including spotlighting, definition, conversion, institutional clarity, theoretical clarity, and theory improvement. Second, it introduces a research template—description and patterning, evaluation, and prescription with a feedback loop—that guides the design of empirically informed studies. The book also explores the naturalization of political science methods in political theory, the conditions under which empirically informed political theories can be falsified, and the role of empirical sensitivity in avoiding status quo bias. A final chapter looks ahead to the transformative potential of artificial intelligence for argument mining, data usage, and research design in political theory. All political theory studies rely on methods, whether in selecting cases, using empirics, or constructing arguments. Empirical Political Theory: A Methodological Framework argues that making such methods explicit fosters transparency, consistency, and rigor. It provides a pluralistic methodological toolkit that strengthens the evaluative core of political theory.</jats:p>