introduction to the course september 24, 2008 seminar comparative politics professor timothy c. lim...

introduction to the courseSeptember 24, 2008

seminar comparative politics

professor timothy c. lim / cal state los [email protected]

a brief introduction to the study of comparative politics

let’s begin with some questions …

Why are there so many homicides in the United States?

Why do so many peoples and countries around the world remained mired in poverty and economic misery?

Conversely, how have some peoples and countries been able to become “rich” and prosperous in only a generation or two?

How do social movements, such as the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, emerge and why do

some succeed, while others fail?

introduction to courseprinciples of comparative politics

more questions … Is the Arab-Islamic world uniquely resistant to

democracy?

What are the causes of “terrorism” and other forms of political violence? Is anyone capable of

becoming a terrorist?

What are the reasons for the relatively poor math and science skills of American

teenagers?

what are your answers? discuss.


one more point …

we all have “answers,” at least tentative ones, to the

types of questions just posed but this leads to another, more fundamental,

question

how do you know if you’re right?



short answer: We have to be able to ______ the argument in some manner

In the natural sciences, this testing is often (though not always) done through ____________________, that is, the creation of carefully controlled conditions within which certain variables can controlled for in order to isolate others.

experiments establish causality.

test

experimentation

Chemists and other natural scientists rely on

experimentation, also known as the scientific method.

Chemists and other natural scientists rely on

experimentation, also known as the scientific method.

introduction to course principles of comparative politics


In the social sciences, “testing” is often done indirectly through comparative analysis

or the comparative method



the experimental method and the comparative method are two different types of methods (there are others, including the statistical method)

in the sciences--social or natural--method (and the theory and evidence that underlies it) is crucial: without it, science isn’t science

this figure illustrates the scientific method in the natural sciences; in the social sciences, the procedure is similar, except

that comparative analysis or another type of method is used in

place of “experimentation”

introduction to course principles of comparative politics


food for thought

“Thinking without comparison is unthinkable. And, in the absence of comparison, so is all scientific thought and scientific research.”

food for thought

“Thinking without comparison is unthinkable. And, in the absence of comparison, so is all scientific thought and scientific research.”


basics of the comparative method

the comparative method is based on a clear logic (actually, there are several logics)

the comparative method involves several different, but often inter-related strategies or designs

the comparative method has different objectiveswe will discuss each

aspect of the comparative method

shortly, but first a brief aside …

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are needed to see this picture.


important principles in social science arguments generally speaking, all social science arguments require

the independent and dependent variables to be explicitly identified

in a social science argument, both variables need to be defined or operationalized as precisely as possible

social science arguments must explain the relationship between the independent and dependent variables with precision, clarity, and depth (vagueness is not a virtue)




important principles in social science arguments

as you develop your research projects, it is imperative that youpay careful attention to the identification and definitions of your independent and dependent variables, and that you specify the relationship between or among your variables with as much clarity, precision, and depth as possible

failure to do so will result in a bad argument and a bad research paper!


basics of the comparative method: logic

there are several “logics” or principles of comparative analysis, but perhaps the two simplest are these …

most similar systems (mss)

most different systems (mds)

the mss design

the mss design is based on comparing two or more very similar social systems …

more importantly, it’s based on matching up and them comparing two more systems that share a whole range of similarities, but also differ in at least a couple of important respects

differences are key! Albino twins. Two most similar systems?


the mds design

the mds design is based on comparing two or more very different social systems …

more importantly, it’s based on finding two systems that differ in almost all respects, except with regard to the presumed independent and dependent variables. (the many differences are eliminated aspotential explanatory variables)

similarites are key!


apples and oranges. are they comparable?






basics of the comparative method: strategies

there are a number of specific comparative strategies, including …

case study (in comparative perspective)

> within-case comparison > analytical induction

binary or two-unit comparison

multi-unit (three or more) comparison

cross-national, statistical comparison

mixed design




basics of the comparative method: objectives

not all comparative strategies have the same objective, but what a researcher intends to accomplish with a comparison is critical. here are three basic objectives …

compare to control

compare to understand

compare to explain

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general purpose

comparing to control

comparing to understand

comparing to explain

basic strategy or purpose

comparative checking

interpretation analytical Induction

logic or approach to comparative analysis

researcher uses a range of cases as a way to “test” (verify or falsify) a specific claim, hypothesis, or theory.

researcher is primarily interested in a single case and uses different cases or general theories as a way to learn more about the case he/she is studying.

researcher uses cases as a way to build a stronger theoretical explanation. cases are used in a “step-by-step” manner, with each case contributing to the development of a general theory.

remember!

comparing to control

comparing to understand

comparing to explain


goals of comparing: summary of the three purposes

comparative politics is more than method

The comparative method is an integral part of comparative politics, but comparative politics is not merely a method

of study, it is also a subject of study

As a subject of study, comparative politics may be said to focus on the many different

societies, types of institutions, political systems, and countries that make

up the world

introduction to course principles of comparative politicsintroduction to course principles of comparative politics

comparative politics is more than method

saying that comparative politics is both a subject of study and a method of study is still not enough to

as a field of study, comparative politics also focuses on the

politics of a given country, state or society, which raises one very important question …

what is politics?


what is politics?

a process-oriented, definition of politics …

“politics is about more than what governments chose to do or not do; it is about the uneven distribution of power in

society, how the struggle over power is conducted, and its impact on the creation and distribution of resources, life

chances and well-being”

adrian leftwich


what is politics? the process-oriented definition

three basic points

a process-oriented definition clearly takes politics out the governmental arena and puts it into almost all domains of life

these other domains include virtually all social and civil institutions, such as churches, factories, corporations, trade unions, political parties, social movements, ethnic groups and organizations, women’s groups, organized crime, etc.

of course, government is still part of the equation


1.

what is politics? the process-oriented definition

three basic points

a process-oriented definition tells us that politics is an ongoing process involving multiple actors, multiple forces, multiple struggles, and so on

a process-oriented definition tells us that politics--as a struggle for power over the creation and distribution of resources, life chances and well-being--cannot be confined to a single place or territory: politics transcends borders


2.

3.

theory in comparative politics

some questions

what is theory?

is theory necessary?

how should we use theory?

introduction to courseprinciples of comparative politicsintroduction to courseprinciples of comparative politics

theory in comparative politics: key points

when we theorize, we are …

making judgments about what it and is not relevant or important in terms of explaining some

significant economic, social or political phenomenon

identifying a specific level or levels of analysis and making assumptions about power, structure, and agency

connecting certain facts with specific outcomes

introduction to courseprinciples of comparative politicsintroduction to courseprinciples of comparative politics


basic definition of theory

a theory is a kind of simplifying device that allows you to decide which facts matter and which do not



an amended definition of theory

theory is a simplified representation of reality and a framework within which facts are not only selected, but also interpreted, organized, and fit together so that they create a coherent whole


a couple of important points.

there are many theories in comparative politics

but, just as all social science arguments require specification of variables, so too do all social

science arguments require theory


simple division?

despite the large number of individual theories, there are several useful ways to divide or categorize theoretical approaches …

one method is to consider the level of analysis


micro-levelmicro-level

meso-levelmeso-level

macro-levelmacro-level


simple division?

we can also divide theories on the basis of three dominant research traditions …





which hat do you wear?



a practical exercise. let’s return to a question posed at the outset …


the arab-islamic world seems uniquely resistant to democratic change? why?