Comparative Politics & Core Research Concepts

Case Study (Definition)

In-depth qualitative research examining a single unit or small number of units in context.

Case Study (Example Question)

Why South Korea democratized in 1987 while North Korea remained authoritarian.

Case Study (Why Useful)

Allows tracing complex historical processes and contextual nuances over time.

Theory (Definition)

An overarching, high-level explanation of how or why a phenomenon occurs.

Hypothesis (Definition)

A specific, testable, and falsifiable prediction derived from a theory.

Independent Variable (IV)

The presumed cause or explanatory factor that changes or is manipulated.

Dependent Variable (DV)

The outcome or effect that a researcher is trying to explain.

Control Variable

A factor held constant to prevent confounding the IV-DV relationship.

Operational Indicator

The concrete empirical tool used to quantify or evaluate a variable.

Sources for Qualitative Evidence

Semi-structured interviews, archival documents, field observations, and focus group transcripts.

Representative Democracy

Citizens elect officials to make policy decisions and pass laws on their behalf.

Direct Democracy

Citizens vote directly on laws, policies, or referendums themselves.

Deliberative Democracy

Focuses on open, reasoned argument and consensus-building prior to decision-making.

South Korea's 1987 Executive Selection

Roh Tae-woo won due to a vote split between two opposition leaders.

Shock Therapy (Russia, 1990s)

Rapid transition to free-market capitalism by lifting price controls and privatizing.

Democratic Transition

The initial move from authoritarianism toward democracy, marked by competitive elections.

Democratic Consolidation

Long-term process where democratic rules become deeply embedded and universally accepted.

EIU Democracy Index (Scope)

Measures 167 entities across five categories including elections, participation, and liberties.

EIU Democracy Index (Conceptual Approach)

Substantive (thick) approach evaluating how rights and participation operate in practice.

South Korean Democratization (Modernization Theory)

Rapid economic growth created an educated middle class demanding political rights.

South Korean Democratization (Elite Bargaining)

Mass protests forced ruling military elites to strategically concede to direct elections.

Impersonality of the Modern State

Authority is tied to institutional offices and legal rules, not individual leaders.

Impersonality in Bureaucracy

Officials apply codified rules uniformly to all citizens without favoritism.

Pew Report: Global Democratic Support

Representative democracy remains widely popular in principle across the globe.

Pew Report: Autocratic Support Predictors

Higher in developing/unstable nations and among individuals with lower education.

Fragile State (Characteristics)

Lacks sovereign capacity, violent monopoly, stability, and public service provision.

Weber's Legal-Rational Legitimacy

Authority grounded in belief in the legality of formally enacted rules and offices.