Comparative Politics Study Notes

Getting Into Comparative Politics

Overview of Comparative Politics

  • Scholars in comparative politics seek to answer questions related to political, social, and economic changes primarily at the domestic or national level.

  • Key examples of large-scale change include:

    • Social Revolutions: E.g., French Revolution (1789), Russian Revolution (1917), Chinese Revolution (1949).

    • Nation-Building

    • Economic Transformation and Development: Transition from rural economies to capitalist-industrial economies.

    • Political Development: Particularly the process of democratization.

Fundamental Questions in Comparative Politics

  • Why do social revolutions occur, and why are some successful while others fail?

  • Why did some countries industrialize earlier than others?

  • Why have some countries democratized while others remain nondemocratic?

  • Additional thought-provoking questions include:

    • Why does the U.S. have a high number of gun homicides?

    • Why are there still many impoverished countries?

    • Why do some protests succeed while others fail?

    • Why do U.S. students perform poorly in international math and science tests?

The Importance of Questions in Comparative Politics

  • The field values inquiry, as the quality of questions is crucial to understanding complex phenomena.

Answers in Comparative Politics

  • Finding answers encompasses a significant part of the discipline. Answers can range from persuasive to unconvincing.

  • Example: Gun Violence in the U.S.

    • Director Michael Moore attributes high gun violence to a "culture of fear," arguing it creates a cycle of violence.

    • This argument raises questions about validity and alternative explanations.

Objective of the Field

  • Comparative politics provides conceptual and analytical tools for examining various social issues, including gun violence.

  • It is applicable to a broad range of problems, from healthcare systems to social inequality and drug legalization.

What Is Comparative Politics?

  • Definition:

    • "Comparative politics is the study of politics in foreign countries." [Zahariadis 1997, p. 2]

  • Encompasses both methods (comparison/comparative analysis) and subjects (political phenomena within states).

  • Separation from International Relations (IR):

    • Comparative politics focuses on domestic dynamics; IR emphasizes external relations among states.

  • The definition does not exclude the U.S. from comparative politics, as it is also a state.

Key Terms

  • State: A legal entity with permanent population and defined territory, capable of government control.

  • Nation: A group of people with a shared identity, not necessarily tied to a state.

  • Nation-State: A state where most of the population shares a common identity, though true examples are debated.

The Complexity of Definitions

  • Definitions shape what is included in the field of study.

  • Questions arise about the relevance of economic, cultural, and social phenomena to politics.

  • Understanding the interplay of domestic and external forces in politics is crucial.

Approaches and Challenges in Comparative Politics

  • Can politics be studied in isolation from external influences?

  • Importance of defining boundaries and preceding questions regarding politics and economics, etc.

  • Need for cohesive frameworks to study comparative politics effectively.

Historical Development of Comparative Politics

  • Early studies defined politics narrowly, focusing on formal institutions. Expansion in the 1950s led to broader definitions, accounting for informal and brute forces.

Methodology of Comparative Politics

  • The comparative method highlights the need to define important variables and relationships among them.

  • Importance of historical context in comparative analysis:

    • Politics is a part of historical, cultural, economic, and societal processes.

  • The role of political context in shaping behaviors and outcomes.

Examples of Comparative Politics

  • Analyzing gun homicide rates in the U.S. compared to Canada, where both share attributes but differ significantly in gun laws and resulting violence rates.

Methodological Approaches

  • Most Similar Systems Design (MSS): Compare similar social systems while varying key factors.

  • Most Different Systems Design (MDS): Compare different systems that share similar outcomes, looking for common causes.

  • Method of Agreement (MoA): Focus on common factors in cases sharing an outcome to identify causation.

Critical Thinking in Comparative Politics

  • Importance of approaching analysis with open-mindedness.

  • Recognizing and overcoming biases is essential for effective comparative analysis.

  • Comparative analysis aids in critical thinking by forcing reflection on assumptions and interpretations.

Learning Through Comparison

  • Comparative practices encourage the development of analytical and evaluative skills.

Summary of Steps in Comparative Analysis

  • Choose relevant cases based on clearly defined criteria.

  • Consider both similarities and differences in units of analysis.

  • Utilize each case's unique context for deeper understanding of broader systematic phenomena.

  • Address the complexity of causation and the role of historical factors in political outcomes.