Comparative Politics and the Comparative Method (Lecture Notes)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts, debates, and developments from the lecture notes on comparative politics and the comparative method.

Comparative Politics as a Method

A methodological tool focusing on the 'how' of analysis across societies, not a fixed substantive field.

Sartori's 'unconscious' vs 'overconscious' thinkers

Unconscious thinkers deny a distinct methodology in comparative politics; overconscious rely on paradigmatic methods from political science.

Four Interpretations of Comparative Politics

1) The term denotes cross-societal/institutional focus; 2) the method is a basic scientific method; 3) a way to discover empirical relationships among variables; 4) distinction between method and technique.

Method vs Technique

A method is a general approach; a technique is a specific procedure within that method.

Lijphart’s Core Argument

Call for greater methodological awareness; the comparative method is often misused; comparative politics is defined as a method rather than a subject area.

Main Issue in Using the Comparative Method

How to employ the comparative method effectively given its inherent limitations.

Experimental vs Statistical vs Comparative Method

All aim to explain by establishing general empirical relationships between two variables; differ in control, data manipulation, and number of cases.

Equivalence (in Experimental Design)

Randomization to create equivalent groups; rarely used in political science due to ethical/practical limits.

Partialing in Statistics

Dividing the sample to isolate effects; useful but cannot fully solve all control problems.

Small-N Problem

Too few cases with too many variables; makes isolating causality and generalization difficult.

Stein Rokkan’s Aims (Macro and Micro)

Macro: structural elements of total systems; Micro: test propositions in other settings; treat nationality as a variable rather than one nation, one case.

Nationality as a Variable

Approach that uses nationality as a variable to test propositions across different settings.

Statistical Method vs Comparative Method

Statistical method manipulates data conceptually and uses partial correlations; comparative method uses many variables with few cases and emphasizes case selection.

Small-N Mitigation Strategies

Increase cases, reduce the property space, focus on comparable cases, and concentrate on the key analysis.

Two Fundamental Points for the Field’s Future

(1) Study is linked to normative concerns; (2) use appropriate scientific methods, blending humanistic roots with scientific aims.

Politics as Substantive Field vs Method

Comparative politics can employ methods beyond its own boundaries; the method can apply to other fields.

The Comparative Method and Case Studies

Certain case studies are implicit parts of the comparative method; a single case can be intensively examined with limited resources.

Atheoretical Case Studies

Interest-based, traditional single-country analyses; descriptive; lack theoretical framework.

Interpretive Case Studies

Interest-based; aim to illuminate the case, not to prove a generalization.

Hypothesis-Generating Case Studies

Theory-building; seeks to develop generalizations in areas lacking theory; often involves crucial experiments.

Theory-Confirming & Theory-Infirming Case Studies

Test single cases within established generalizations; may confirm or infirm a population.

Deviant Case Studies

Cases that deviate from generalizations; reveal deviants and refine or modify propositions; high theoretical value when paired with hypothesis-generation.

Congruence Theory (Eckstein)

Stability of governments increases when governmental authority patterns resemble societal authority patterns.

Munck (2006) – Past and Present of Comparative Politics

Works on definition of fields, subject matter, and theory/method roles; outlines Behavioral Revolution and Second Scientific Revolution.

Behavioral Revolution (1921–1966)

Shift toward behavior as subject matter; emphasizes scientific theory and methods; introduced small-N, case studies, and statistics; critiques of reductionism.

Second Scientific Revolution (1989–Present)

Reintegration of methodology; broader use of quantitative methods; rise of RCTs; democracy as core value; bridge to economics; debate over theory and practice.

Islands of Theories

Fragmented proliferation of mid-range theories; knowledge base grows but remains non-unified.

Quantitative vs Qualitative (Quanti-Quali) Research

Historical segregation of methods; late reintegration with RCTs and methodological bridges.

RUFHDSHFDS NO

Experimental design that strengthens causal inference; popularized by economists and influential in comparative politics debates.

Future of Comparative Politics

Move toward blending normative concerns with rigorous scientific methods; overcome divisions; integrate substance with method.