№ 5 - 2002
Melville A.Yu.
The “Funnel of Causality” Methodology as Intermediary Synthesis of “Structure and Agency” in the Analysis of Democratic Transitions

In his article, the author discusses the possibility and advisability of the “funnel of causality” methodology being employed in the research of democratic transitions. He demonstrates that the said methodology is one of conceivable and empirically justified approaches to the problem of social causality, one that may be highly efficient in the solution of the so-called “structure and agency” dilemma. At the same time the author holds that the synthesis of “structure and agency” provided by the “funnel of causality”, is but purely intermediary and does not relieve of the need for the elaboration of an integrative theory.