Chapter 1 EU

Why We Compare

●To discover new knowledge and new ways of doing things

●“Without comparisons to make, the mind does not know how to proceed.” (Tocqueville)

●Methodological Core of Scientific Study

●Aristotle: economic and social comparisons of Greek city-states

●Contemporary Political Scientists:

●explain differences between processes and performances of political systems

●compare two-party/multi-party, presidential/parliamentary, poor/rich

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How We Compare

●Description: first stage in the study of politics

●Set of concepts to describe it:

●Conceptual framework: clearly defined and well understood

●Intersubjective: understood in same way by different subjects

●The easier this set of concepts is to understand and the more generally it can be applied, the more helpful it is to the study of politics.

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How We Explain and Predict

●Identifying Causal Relationships

●Theories: well supported statements about causal relationships

●Hypotheses: causal explanations not yet proven

●Political Data: useful in testing hypotheses

●Variables: differing features associated with cases

●Predictions: testing hypotheses against data

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Political Systems: \n Environment and Interdependence

●Political System: set of institutions concerned with formulating and implementing collective goals

●Governments are policymaking parts of political systems

●Political system exists in international and domestic environments

●International: exchanges among countries, interdependence and globalization

●Domestic: economic and social systems, political culture

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Political Systems: \n Structures and Functions

●Structure: parliaments, bureaucracies, administrative agencies, courts

●Perform functions which enable government to formulate, implement, enforce policies

●Six types of political structures: political parties, interest groups, legislatures, executives, bureaucracies, courts

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Political Systems: \n Structures and Functions

●Functions: activities necessary for policy to be made and implemented in any political system

●Functions of the System

●Interest Articulation: individuals/groups expressing needs/demands

●Interest Aggregation: combines different demands into policy proposals

●Policymaking: decides which policy proposals become authoritative rules

●Policy Implementation: enforces public policies

●Policy Adjudication: settles disputes about policy application

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Political Systems:

Structures and Functions

●System Functions: determine whether or not system will be maintained or changed.

●Types of System Functions

●Political Socialization: families, schools, media, churches, and political structures that develop, reinforce and transform the political culture

●Political Recruitment: selection of people for political activity and government offices

●Political Communication: flow of information through society and various structures that make up the political system

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The Policy Level: Performance, Outcome, and Evaluation

●Policy Level of the Political System:

●what do differences in structure and function do for interests, needs, aspirations of people?

●Policy Performance:

●outputs of a political system - extractions, distributions, regulations, symbolic acts

●Outcome of Public Policy:

●never wholly in the hands of the people and leaders:

●internal environment, external world, simple chance may frustrate most thoughtfully crafted programs and plans

●Evaluation:

●assessing performance and outcomes

●consider goods associated with the policy level: welfare, security, fairness, liberty

●assess performance and outcomes in each of these areas 

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