poli sci comparative politics 250

study study study

Dependent Variable

the thing you are trying to explain, the “why”

Independent (/causal) Variable

factor that may be partially responsible for the outcome

Orientalism

form of “knowledge” that authorizes and justifies the assertion of wester power over the east

Qualitative Evidence

evidence based on analysis of non-numerical data (written sources, interviews)

Quantitative Evidence

evidence based on analysis of stats and numerical data

Primary Sources

produced at the time of events, 1st hand accounts (pictures, videos, govt. docs)

Secondary Sources

“one-step removed”, produced at later date or people and groups not directly involved (most scholarly articles and books)

Empirical Analysis

evidence based research and explanations for political outcomes and developments

Scholarly Literature Review

pieces of scholarly research that show how other scholars answer a specific question or topic

Hegemony/Hegemonic

social, political, and economic power that a ruling class or group wields, with relative stability, over an extended period of time in order to dominate another group

Charismatic authority

authority that rests on personality and charisma of leader (Jesus Christ) (must eventually convert to either traditional or legal-rational)

Traditional (‘eternal yesterday”) authority

authority that is passed down through family, believed at some point that God chose them (monarchy)

Legal-rational authority

authority based on a system of laws and procedures that are presumed to be neutral or rational (U.S.)

State

a human community that (successfully) claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory

Regime

norms and laws that make up a kind of government (democratic regime, authoritarian regime)

Government

leadership in charge of state (president, prime minister)

Legitimacy

a value whereby something or someone is recognized and accepted as right and proper (can be earned and taken, people will excuse it)

Sovereignty

the ability to carry out actions and policies within a territory independent of external actors and internal rivals

Autonomy

the ability of the state to wield its power independently of the public or international actors (NOT authoritarianism)

Political Power/State Capacity

capacity to affect political outcomes and decision-making

1.) act autonomously

2.) accumulate and hold resources

3.) shape social behavior

Comparative Politics

study of domestic politics outside of the u.s.

article summary who

Taiwan govt, pigeon racers, and Taiwan Citizens, Wu Chung-ming

article summary what

Pigeon racing in Taiwan is full of crime, Taiwan govt wants to shut it down but racers and citizens just want it regulated properly as pigeon racing is a very important part of Taiwan culture

article summary where

Taiwan

article summary when

August 28, 2025

3 key characteristics of CP (1)

1.) study of politics within domestic policies outside of the U.S.

3 key characteristics of CP (2)

2.) emphasis of politics are they are, not as they should be

3 key characteristics of CP (3)

3.) implicitly and explicitly comparative; emphasis on comparing and contrasting politics within and between countries, era, and regions

Differences between CP and Int. Relations

CP: study of politics WITHIN a country

IR: study of relations BETWEEN countries

The kinds of questions we ask in CP

why do some govts work more efficiently than others?

why do some parties win/lose elections?

why do genocides happen? how might they be prevented?

who has power? how does power change hands?

8 precautions and pitfalls (1)

identities are fluid, constructed, can change

8 precautions and pitfalls (2)

places aren’t fixed in time and place

8 precautions and pitfalls (3)

what is “normal”, “right”, and “appropriate” are culturally dependent

8 precautions and pitfalls (4)

playing field is not even

8 precautions and pitfalls (5)

go below the surface/below the tip of the iceberg

8 precautions and pitfalls (6)

may be more than 1 version of “the truth”

8 precautions and pitfalls (7)

hegemony: social, political, and economic power a ruling class/group wields in order to dominate another group

8 precautions and pitfalls (8)

avoid generalizations and be precise

the five steps in our “Doing CP” lecture (1)

observations

the five steps in our “Doing CP” lecture (2)

questions

the five steps in our “Doing CP” lecture (3)

“Literature Review” (how do other scholars answer this question)

the five steps in our “Doing CP” lecture (4)

Research (gathering info and data from a range of sources)

the five steps in our “Doing CP” lecture (5)

analysis

Definitions of the state, as defined by O’NeilWehW

the organization that maintains a monopoly of violence over a territory

Definitions of the state, as defined by Weber

a human community that (successfully) claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory.

The ways in which modern states are different than those in the past

its more unique and special now; more powerful

why compare?

broader perspective, identify trends in politics, the “why, better communication, breaks down stereotypes

What do scholars mean when they differentiate between states as “image” and

states as “practice?

(i think) state image is like the ideal functioning state, while practice is what is actually going on in the state

traditional state-society depiction (1)

state dominates society

traditional state-society depiction (2)

marxian view: economic elites (bourgeoisie dominates state and workers)

mélange model

state must compete for control to make rules/set laws/monopolize violence and coercion from other actors like militia, cartels, mafia for the right to dominate territory. either subdue or form alliances with organizations

“breaking up” state

pyramid where it goes commanding heights (executive), agency’s central offices (head of intelligence), field offices (environmental protection), trenches (local court)

What is a model in political science?

abstract representations of political institutions and choices in order to focus attention on key logics and causal mechanisms in a political process