The Problem of Actor Designation in Political Analysis

Abstract

One of the most important but least recognized aspects of analysis can be called the problem of actor designation. Any analysis, be it of a system, structure, process or relationship, collectivity or individual, focuses upon designated actors as critical analytic components. Characters in arenas must be distinguished and identified. Indeed, the most fundamental conceptions of the very term political implicitly or explicitly employ the actor notion in their key definitions.' Nonetheless, despite the central analytic position of the, actor notion and actor designation, there has been little appreciation of their profound significance for analysis and little attention paid to their problematic features. This essay presents a basic exploration of actor designation in analysis. First, we shall explicate the conception of a actor so that our core concern will be clear. Then we shall indicate the crucial significance of actor designation for most major areas of analysis. Third, we shall suggest some essential criteria for fruitful actor designation. Finally, we shall consider several important residual problems that plague analysis.