Introduction to Comparative Politics and the Systematic Study of Government

Systematic Analysis of Political Systems

Politics is approached in a very systematic way to derive meaning from national and international structures. Even elements of politics that do not initially appear to make sense are examined carefully through this systematic lens. The study of politics in this course focuses on three primary goals:

Understanding the domestic politics of individual nations.
Comparing political systems between different nations.
Understanding the political interactions that occur among nations.

While the general public may engage with politics to find or establish better forms of government, scholars utilize systematic study to determine what is truly effective in governance. This involves identifying the specific reasons why countries are similar or different. For example, a scholar might conclude that the United States is similar to the United Kingdom or Nigeria in certain aspects of their political systems, or that the United States is vastly different from Brazil. These conclusions are reached by identifying specific variables—referred to as XYZ factors—that explain these similarities and differences.

Comparative Politics as Geographical and Area Studies

Comparative politics functions as a geographical exploration of the world. It requires examining various continents and regions to understand the specific political systems situated in those locations. This exploration includes:

Africa: Looking at the diverse politics of countries such as Nigeria and Guinea.
Latin America: Exploring systems in nations like Brazil and Peru.
Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Comparative politics shares characteristics with Area Studies because it focuses on making sense of political systems within specific geographical areas. This study goes beyond surface-level observations to look at the underlying structures of societies, though it does not extend to cultural elements like social dances.

The Three Branches of the United States Government

In the study of American politics, the focus is squarely on the United States and its specific governmental structure, which is divided into three distinct branches:

The Legislative Branch: Responsible for the creation and passing of laws.
The Executive Branch: Comprised of the President and all executive departments. Their role is the implementation of laws.
The Judiciary Branch: Described as the court system, it functions as a referee in the political system. It includes the lower courts, the court of appeals, and the Supreme Court.

Constitutionality and the Judiciary

The primary role of the judiciary, especially within a presidential system, is to determine constitutionality. Constitutionality refers to the determination of whether laws passed by the legislative branch abide by the established constitution. The courts ensure that all levels of government follow the rules laid out in the foundational document.

Executive Action: Implementation vs. Enforcement

There is a critical distinction between the concepts of enforcement and implementation within the executive branch:

Enforcement: Characterized by a policing role where the focus is strictly on ensuring rules are followed.
Implementation: This involves giving meaning to the laws that have been passed. The executive branch follows what it considers to be the true ways to put a law into practice.

Administrative Law is the specific field of law dedicated to ensuring that the executive branch follows the laws as they were passed and implements them correctly according to their intended meaning.

Subfields and Theoretical Frameworks in Political Science

Political science is a broad field with many specialized subfields and theories that provide overarching ways of thinking to guide political knowledge. Some of these theories date back to Aristotle. Key subfields and theories include:

Political Theory: The study of the fundamental ideas and philosophies guiding politics.
Constructivism: A theory that examines how international relations are shaped by ideas and social identities.
Socialism and Communism: Ideological frameworks for organizing society and government.
Realism: A major theory regarding how nation-states interact.

The Theory of Realism and National Self-Interest

Realism is a core theory in political science that presupposes nation-states will always act in their own best interest.

Self-Reliance: Under the framework of realism, a nation should not expect another nation to do for it what it can do for itself.
Maximizing Interest: Nations objective is to project power to maximize their own self-interest.
Comparison to Personal Responsibility: Just as John F. Kennedy suggested that citizens should not ask what their country can do for them, the theory of realism suggests that nations should not ask what other countries can do for them, as those other countries are also prioritizing their own interests.
The Lack of "Kumbaya": Realism operates on the understanding that nations are not in a state of constant, harmonious agreement but are instead driven by individual strategic goals.

International Cooperation and the United Nations

While nations are driven by self-interest (realism), they also participate in international cooperation. This is another major area of study within political science.

The United Nations (UN): A primary example of nations coming together in a collective body.
Collective Maximization: In international cooperation, nations work together to maximize their individual interests within a collective framework.

Methodology of Inquiry and Counter-Theory

The study of comparative politics is an exercise in inquiring into how things work. While it can be likened to the way a publication like the National Enquirer gathers "gossip" about stars, comparative politics gathers the "major gossip" of nations and their politics. However, unlike a tabloid, academic readings in this field are based on systematic understanding.

Every theory and explanation in political science is subject to counter-arguments and counter-theories. The goal of the course (running through November and December) is to look at these issues systematically and engage with conflicting explanations for political phenomena.

Questions & Discussion

Question: What kinds of results do people get when they follow this systematic understanding?
Answer: The people themselves may find a better form of government, but scholars specifically look for results that indicate what is effective and understand the similarities and differences between nations.
Question: Why does rebellion happen?
Answer: While one opinion is that people rebel because they do not like their government, the business of scholarship and this class is not rebellion, but the systematic study of why systems function as they do.
Question: Can you define the judiciary?
Answer: It is the court system that determines constitutionality—whether or not laws abide by the constitution.
Question: What is the difference between implementation and enforcement?
Answer: Enforcement is like a police action to ensure rules are followed, while implementation is the process of giving meaning to a law and following the correct path to put it into practice.
Question: What is the core definition of Realism?
Answer: Realism is the idea that every state and every country operates in its own best interest.