August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, 2015Introduction to Political Science1 August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, 2015 1 Comparative Method Frank

April 19, 2023April 19, 2023 Introduction to Political ScienceIntroduction to Political Science 11April 19, 2023April 19, 2023 11

Comparative Comparative MethodMethod

Frank H. BrooksFrank H. Brooks


Problems of Problems of ComparisonComparison Too many variables, too few countriesToo many variables, too few countries Many countries, one systemMany countries, one system Same phenomenon, different meaningSame phenomenon, different meaning BiasBias Political Agendas of ComparativistsPolitical Agendas of Comparativists Is a scientific method of comparing Is a scientific method of comparing

politics thus even possible?politics thus even possible?


Conceptual Conceptual Frameworks, Frameworks, Approaches, ModelsApproaches, Models What is the focus of analysis? (scope)What is the focus of analysis? (scope)

– What is central to understanding politics?What is central to understanding politics?– State-centered approach v. society-centered State-centered approach v. society-centered

approachapproach What is the proper methodology?What is the proper methodology?

– Large “n” v. small “n”Large “n” v. small “n”– Falsifiable hypotheses v. descriptionFalsifiable hypotheses v. description

History of comparative politics History of comparative politics characterized by shifts in scope and characterized by shifts in scope and methodsmethods– Intellectual developmentsIntellectual developments– Impact of political eventsImpact of political events


AristotleAristotle

Compares “regimes” (constitutions)Compares “regimes” (constitutions)– Who’s a citizen? Who’s entitled to rule?Who’s a citizen? Who’s entitled to rule?– How many rule?How many rule?– Large n; functionalist; comparative Large n; functionalist; comparative

anatomyanatomy Also looks at “society”Also looks at “society”

– What kinds of government are most likely What kinds of government are most likely in particular societies?in particular societies?

– Society is the foundation for the stateSociety is the foundation for the state Also considers normative questionsAlso considers normative questions

- Which are good governments?Which are good governments?- Considering “purpose” is relevant (even Considering “purpose” is relevant (even

necessary) to effective analysisnecessary) to effective analysis


PositivismPositivism

Focus on describing structures of governance Focus on describing structures of governance – ““positive” because focused on “what is” not positive” because focused on “what is” not

“what should be”“what should be”– E.g. Auguste Comte in 19E.g. Auguste Comte in 19thth century century

Compare political constitutionsCompare political constitutions– The most significant differences are legal The most significant differences are legal

and structural onesand structural ones– state-centered approachstate-centered approach– E.g. composition of legislature, executive-E.g. composition of legislature, executive-

legislative relationshipslegislative relationships Criticized by mid-20Criticized by mid-20thth century political century political

scientists as formalistic, superficial, scientists as formalistic, superficial, conservativeconservative


Political SociologyPolitical Sociology

Society-centered approachSociety-centered approach– Politics determined by social processes and structuresPolitics determined by social processes and structures– Focus on power relations “below” and outside the stateFocus on power relations “below” and outside the state– State structures are “tools” of societyState structures are “tools” of society

Karl MarxKarl Marx– State is a “superstructure”State is a “superstructure”– Politics determined by class relations and class strugglePolitics determined by class relations and class struggle

Max WeberMax Weber– State is a “human community” characterized by its techniquesState is a “human community” characterized by its techniques– Focused on religion in society, social bases of “authority”Focused on religion in society, social bases of “authority”

Robert MichelsRobert Michels– Elite theory focusing on social and organizational effects on Elite theory focusing on social and organizational effects on

partiesparties– American political scientists focused on “pressure groups”American political scientists focused on “pressure groups”


Postwar Hegemony of Postwar Hegemony of Society-Centered Society-Centered ApproachApproach Roy Macridis’ critique of “traditional approach”Roy Macridis’ critique of “traditional approach”

– Scope too limitedScope too limited Western representative democraciesWestern representative democracies Looked at “isolated aspects of governmental process”Looked at “isolated aspects of governmental process”

– Methodology unsystematicMethodology unsystematic Descriptive rather than problem-solving, explanatory or Descriptive rather than problem-solving, explanatory or

analyticanalytic Prevented elaboration of hypotheses and broader Prevented elaboration of hypotheses and broader

theorytheory Political and Intellectual AspectsPolitical and Intellectual Aspects

– Rise of states outside Europe challenged state-centered Rise of states outside Europe challenged state-centered approachesapproaches

– ““Behavioral revolution”Behavioral revolution”– Modernization theoryModernization theory


““Bringing the State back Bringing the State back in”in” Critique of behavioralismCritique of behavioralism

– Tended to be biased against political change (new Tended to be biased against political change (new generation of political scientists influenced by political generation of political scientists influenced by political events of 1960s)events of 1960s)

– Emphasized methodology over knowledge, technical Emphasized methodology over knowledge, technical jargon over clarityjargon over clarity

Revival of “state-centered” approachRevival of “state-centered” approach– Argued that the state is not merely set of institutions and Argued that the state is not merely set of institutions and

processesprocesses– But, not simply a return to positivismBut, not simply a return to positivism– ““Relative autonomy” in Marxist theoryRelative autonomy” in Marxist theory– Alfed Stepan’s studies of militaries and authoritarian Alfed Stepan’s studies of militaries and authoritarian

governmentsgovernments– Studies of bureaucracies and bureaucratsStudies of bureaucracies and bureaucrats

The state is an “actor” that shapes societyThe state is an “actor” that shapes society– It stands “at intersection of domestic sociopolitical orders It stands “at intersection of domestic sociopolitical orders

and … transnational orders” (Skocpol)and … transnational orders” (Skocpol)– Focus on state “autonomy”Focus on state “autonomy”


Policy-Centered Policy-Centered ApproachApproach The policies implemented by the state The policies implemented by the state

affect the state itself and societyaffect the state itself and society Compare performance and efficacyCompare performance and efficacy

– Particular focus on economic performanceParticular focus on economic performance– Relevant to older debates on Relevant to older debates on

modernization and to modern examination modernization and to modern examination of democratizationof democratization

Brings “politics” back in: who gets Brings “politics” back in: who gets what, when and howwhat, when and how

April 19, 2023April 19, 2023 Introduction to Political ScienceIntroduction to Political Science 1010

Contemporary Contemporary Approaches (Lichbach & Approaches (Lichbach & Zuckerman)Zuckerman) Rational ChoiceRational Choice

– Focus on deliberate choices and interestsFocus on deliberate choices and interests– Abstract logic and mathematical reasoningAbstract logic and mathematical reasoning– Game theory (e.g. analysis of Cuban missile crisis)Game theory (e.g. analysis of Cuban missile crisis)

Culturalist approachesCulturalist approaches– ““thick description” – emphasis on particular and contextthick description” – emphasis on particular and context– ““identity” gives meaning to and poses constraints on identity” gives meaning to and poses constraints on

actions actions Structuralist approachesStructuralist approaches

– Focus on political and social institutions (state, class, Focus on political and social institutions (state, class, etc.)etc.)

– ““rules” imposed by structured relationshipsrules” imposed by structured relationships All three grapple with characteristic, unique themes of All three grapple with characteristic, unique themes of

social theory: social theory: “reason, rules and relations” “reason, rules and relations” (p. 5)(p. 5)


Modeling (Lave & Modeling (Lave & March) March) ““Practical guide to speculation”Practical guide to speculation”

– ““developing, elaborating, contemplating, developing, elaborating, contemplating, testing, and revising models of human testing, and revising models of human behavior” (p. 7)behavior” (p. 7)

– Improve quality of speculationImprove quality of speculation Necessary skillsNecessary skills

– AbstractionAbstraction from reality to a model from reality to a model– DerivationDerivation of (additional) implications of (additional) implications– EvaluationEvaluation to determine if model to determine if model

inappropriate (inaccurate, immoral)inappropriate (inaccurate, immoral)– FamiliarityFamiliarity with common models (building with common models (building

on or reacting to previous theory)on or reacting to previous theory)


Rules of ThumbRules of Thumb

Think “process”Think “process”– Not just assumptions about a state of beingNot just assumptions about a state of being– Statements of causality where Y may or may Statements of causality where Y may or may

not happen depending on presence of A, B, or not happen depending on presence of A, B, or CC

Develop interesting implicationsDevelop interesting implications– Look for “natural” variations in explanatory Look for “natural” variations in explanatory

factorfactor– Sharpens explanationSharpens explanation

Look for generalityLook for generality– Typically, more abstractTypically, more abstract– Applies to more situations (large “n”)Applies to more situations (large “n”)

Documents

August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, 2015Introduction to Political Science1 August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, 2015 1 Comparative Method Frank