Comparative Government Week 2 Study Guide

Rational Choice Theory

Assumes indviduals act based on their self-interest, weighing costs and benefits. Useful for explaining voting behavior, policy decisions, and political negotiations

Normative theory vs. empirical theory

Normative: values and moral beliefs (should)

Empirical: empirical questions

Cultural theory

Emphasizes the role of cultural norms, values, and identities in shaping political behavior. Ex: Examining how religious values or ethnic identities influence political outcomes.

Institutional Theory

Focuses on how formal and informal institutions shape political behavior and outcomes. Ex: Analyzing how electoral systems affect party competition

Structuralism

Highlights the role of overarching economic, social, or historical structures in shaping political systems. Ex: Examining the impact of colonialism on political and economic development

Empirical evidence

Data collected through observation or experimentation

Qualitative vs Quantitive Data

Quantitative: statistical data, governance indicators. Utilizing statistical techniques on large databases to find patterns

Qualitative: Case studies, interviews, archival records. Understands context and detail

Selection bias

Choosing cases that confirm the hypothesis while ignoring contradictory evidence

Endogeneity

Whether variables influence each other reciprocally. Ex: Does economic development lead to democracy or vice versa?