Merriam, Charles E. (1874–1953)

Charles E. Merriam Jr., born in Hopkinton, Iowa, spent his early years in academia at Lenox College and then in the law program at Iowa State University. From there, he majored in social science at Columbia College. Merriam studied in Germany until he accepted a teaching appointment at the University of Chicago.

Merriam was an advocate of the political process, both professionally and personally. He was political science department chair in the 1920s to the 1940s and [Page 1020]set the political science agenda in post–World War II decades. Merriam became a proponent of empiricism in the humanities and in social and political science. As such, he objected to methodologies that subscribed to the denial of free will. To develop political theory, he promoted behavioral science while taking into account the principle of emergence, or more specifically, a reality in which unpredictable events may occur and shape the future of the nation and its citizens. He founded the behavioral movement at the University of Chicago as it related to the practice and teaching of political science. As a result, the university legitimized and established the field of behaviorism.

Merriam's focus was on the development of sovereignty, because of its lack of study in the United States. He illustrated his historical analysis of sovereignty by the examination of notable theorists—in particular, Thomas Hobbes (1588–1679), Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712–1778), and Immanuel Kant (1724–1804). Merriam's career evolved during a turbulent period in U.S. history, as the states unified into a sovereign nation and further transformed into a global power.

Merriam's American version of the Enlightenment period collided with two critical shifts in U.S. history: the Great Depression and both world wars. Nonetheless, he anchored his liberal stance with scientific exploration and its application to political theory and practice. He believed that empiricism and industrialization would encourage a rational discourse between citizens and government, resulting in thoughtful and comprehensive policy making in local and federal arenas. With this formula, Merriam could support political involvement.

Merriam's passion for politics led him to positions on Chicago city councils. His entrenched presence in political sectors led him to uncover corruption in local government. His activities alienated Republican members of city government, and not so surprisingly, garnered the support of fellow Democrats. That support and Merriam's reputation as a maverick in social change earned him an appointment on President Herbert Hoover's Research Committee on Social Trends. Following that, he served on the National Resources Planning Board established by Franklin Roosevelt.

Merriam's involvement in philanthropic organizations, as well as his research and commitment to social change, resulted in the creation of the Social Science Research Council and the Public Administration Clearing House. He believed in top-down change with regard to reforming ineffectual political systems and practices. To facilitate this approach, he utilized quantitative methods to explain political theory. Merriam lobbied for social scientists to deconstruct social and cultural phenomena for purposes of predicting and understanding political processes and outcomes. Subsequently, he used scientific laws and empirical results to improve the quality of life. Merriam believed in incorporating quantitative methods into politics to enhance the lives of citizens.

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