CH 1 POLITICS Introduction to Comparative Politics I

CH. 1 POLITICS Introduction to Comparative Politics

I. The Comparative Method • The process by which different cases are compared in order to better understand their qualities, and to develop hypotheses, theories, and concepts • Typology: A system of classification based on groupings or types with common sets of attributes • Comparative politics—field within political science politics that focuses on domestic politics and analyzes patterns of similarity and difference in political systems • Social system involved in making authoritative public decisions.

I. The Comparative Method • Two basic ways to make comparisons – Normative Comparisons: Focuses on philosophies, norms, or “should” • “Should all democracies offer universal health care? ” – Empirical Comparisons: Drawing conclusions on the basis of facts, measurement, or observation. • “Do all democracies have universal health care? ”

I. The Comparative Method • Comparative politics through much of the Cold War (late 1940 s–early 1990 s) was dominated by the – Three Worlds System: The typology that prevailed during the Cold War, dividing states into three groups: the democratic world, the Communist World, and the poor (as measured by HDI or per capita GDP). – Developed Countries, Developing Countries, and Least Developed Countries.

DEVELOPED COUNTRIES • Developed Countries; industrialized democracies – High per capita GDP, HDI, well-developed infrastructure, healthcare, and education systems – Consolidated democracies

DEVELOPING COUNTRIES • Developing Countries – also know as Newly Industrialized Countries (NICs) or Transitional democracies • Rapid economic growth, but still rather low per capita GDP, weaknesses in infrastructure, healthcare, and/or education

UNDERDEVELOPED COUNTRIES • Least Developed Countries –Low to no economic growth, poorest of the poor. Little development in infrastructure, healthcare, and education

HUMAN DEVELOPMENT INDEX • HDI • An estimate of the overall health, wealth and education of a country’s people • Lower numerical index indicates a more developed country

GINI INDEX • A statistical formula that measures the level of inequality in a country • 0 = perfect equality • 100 = perfect inequality

GLOBALIZATION • Intensification of worldwide interconnectedness (interdependence) of economies, political systems, and societies on a GLOBAL scale • Associated with speed and magnitude of cross-border flows of trade, investment and finance, processes of migration, cultural diffusion, and communication • Economic, political, social