James L. Payne

James L. Payne (born 1939) is an American social scientist writing on political science, economics, social science methodology, foreign policy, and political philosophy. After teaching political science at the university level for 20 years, he left academia to conduct research and writing as an independent scholar.
==Education==
After obtaining his B.A. from Oberlin College in 1962, Payne went on to study political science at the University of California, Berkeley. He earned his M.A. in 1963, and his Ph.D. in 1967.
==Academic career==
From 1973 to 1987, Payne taught political science at Texas A&M University. He has also held teaching positions at Yale University, Wesleyan University, and Johns Hopkins University. From 1986 to 1988, Payne held the position of visiting scholar at Bowling Green State University, and in 1996 he was named a Bradley Fellow at the Heritage Foundation in Washington D.C..
In 1985, Payne retired from academic tenure to study independently as the Director of Lytton Research and Analysis in Sandpoint, Idaho. He currently holds this position.
==Research and views==
Payne is critical of the efficacy of government programs. Pointing to numerous cases of government failure, Payne questions why so many Americans so firmly believe their government capable of solving a wide variety of economic and social problems.
Payne has also documented the reduction in violent force throughout history. In his 2004 book, A History of Force, Payne argues that the global reduction in violence is due to increased economic prosperity, as well as improved communication and access to information. Payne also argues that since government relies on the use of force, the reduction in force corresponds to a growing irreverence for government institutions and politicians.
==Publications==
===Books===
* The Motivation of Politicians (1984)
* Why Nations Arm (1989)
* Princess Navina Visits Malvolia (1990)
* Princess Navina Visits Mandaat (1994)
* Six Political Illusions; A Primer on Government for Idealists Fed Up with History Repeating Itself (2010)
* Take Me to Your Government; Four Fables (2013)
* The Big Governement We Love to Hate (Forthcoming 2021)
===Articles===
* “The Real Case against Activist Global Warming Policy,” The Independent Review (Fall 2014)
* “What FDR Knew about Welfare Policy,” The Wall Street Journal (May 19, 2016)
* “The Government Nobody Knows—Nor Wants to Know,” The Independent Review (Winter, 2018)
==In the media==
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== References ==
==External links==
* James L. Payne: The Independent Institute
* About James L. Payne - Amazon.com
* James L. Payne | People - Foundation for Economic Education
* James L. Payne | Hoover Institution
* Buy A History of Force: Exploring the Worldwide Movement
* James L. Payne, 1991 - SAGE Journals
* James L. Payne - Thriftbooks
* James L. Payne | Payne & Fears
* James L. Payne (Author of Six Political Illusions) - Goodreads
Category:1939 births
Category:American social scientists
Category:American economists
Category:Political science
Category:Social science methodology
Category:Foreign policy
Category:Political philosophy
Category:Bachelor's degrees
Category:Master's degrees
Category:Doctoral degrees
Category:Oberlin College alumni
Category:University of California, Berkeley alumni
Category:Texas A&M University faculty