Comparative Politics An Introduction Fitting Comparative into Poli

Comparative Politics An Introduction

Fitting Comparative into Poli. Sci Sub-disciplines of Political Science American Politics Public Administration Political Theory International Politics International Relations Comparative Politics Others (Public Law, Methods, Public Policy, etc. )

Fitting Comparative into Poli. Sci “A scholar who studies only American presidents is an Americanist, whereas a scholar who studies only French presidents is a comparativist. Do not ask me how this makes sense—it does not” --Giovanni Sartori as quoted in Draper and Ramsay, 2008: xv.

Fitting Comparative into Poli. Sci “…it is impossible to understand a country without seeing how it varies from others. Those who know only one country know no country. ” -Seymour Martin Lipset (American Exceptionalism, 1996: 17).

What is “Comparative Politics”? Comparative Politics v. Comparative Government O’Neil: “Politics is often described as the struggle in any group for power that will give one or more persons the ability to make decisions for the larger group…. Politics is essentially the struggle for authority to make decisions that will affect public as a whole” (3). “Within political science, comparative politics is the subfield that compares this struggle across countries” (3). Note the linkage of power to politics.

What is “Comparative Politics”? Howard Wiarda’s defintion “systematic study and comparison of the world’s political systems” “seeks to explain differences between as well as similarities among countries” “It is particularly interested in exploring patterns, processes, and regularities among political systems” “It looks for trends, for changes in patterns” “It tries to develop propositions or hypotheses”

Defining Terms Theory: an attempt to explain and therefore to understand the complex reality around us. Empirical v. Normative Theory Proposition: stating the idea that two or more things are related. (White, 38) Hypothesis: propositions stated so that they can be tested empirically (White, 38) <or> “A hypothesis is a testable statement of relationship, derived from a theory” (Corbett, 73).

Defining Terms Independent and Dependent Variables Quantitative and Qualitative methods Operationalize/operationalization

Things to Compare Regime Types Institutional Structures Levels of Development Wealth (GDP and GDP per capita) Governance Capabilities of Citizens (Sen and Nussbaum) Meeting Physical Needs Insuring Physical Safety Making Informed Decisions Having Civil and Political Rights

Types of Comparative Political Inquiry Single Case Study Studies of Multiple Cases Area Studies Cross-Regional Studies Global Comparisons Thematic Studies