THE LOGIC OF INQUIRY IN POST-SOVIET STUDIES - ART OR SCIENCE

In an effort to make explicit methodological principles in the logic o f inquiry of post-Soviet studies, this article examines and critiques positions advanced by some leading Sovietologists that (1) there is a qualitative difference between the natural and social sciences (antina turalism) and (2) communist regimes were somehow unique and therefore beyond the pale of social science research methods. In addition, there are pragmatic reasons to press the naturalist position in order to fa cilitate the acquisition of a systematic knowledge base in the study o f post-communist regimes and societies, The consequences of assumption s based on scientific realism in recent methodological discussions are also examined. Copyright (C) 1996 The Regents of the University of Ca lifornia