POLS 373 Foundations of Comparative Politics Topic: Introduction to Comparative Politics and Comparative Analysis Lecture Date: January 16, 2008 Professor Timothy Lim California State University, Los Angeles Topic: Introduction to Comparative Politics and Comparative Analysis Lecture Date: January 16, 2008 Professor Timothy Lim California State University, Los Angeles

2 The Basics of Comparing: More Questions What is Comparable? What Can We Compare?

3 The Basics of Comparing: More Questions Can we compare apples and oranges? Discuss … Can we compare apples and oranges? Discuss …

4 What is Comparable? What Can We Compare?  If apples and oranges can be compared, can Haiti and the United also be compared?  Is such a comparison never reasonable? Always? What is Comparable? What Can We Compare?  If apples and oranges can be compared, can Haiti and the United also be compared?  Is such a comparison never reasonable? Always? Studying Comparative Politics Basics of Comparing: What’s Comparable?

5 What is Comparable? What Can We Compare?  Key point: The question--“What is comparable?”--does not have a fixed answer The answer always ____________ the purposes of the researcher and the research question What is Comparable? What Can We Compare?  Key point: The question--“What is comparable?”--does not have a fixed answer The answer always ____________ the purposes of the researcher and the research question Studying Comparative Politics Basics of Comparing: What’s Comparable? depends on

6 What is Comparable? Another Answer We can compare “entities whose attributes are in part shared (similar) and in part non-shared” What is Comparable? Another Answer We can compare “entities whose attributes are in part shared (similar) and in part non-shared” Studying Comparative Politics Basics of Comparing: What’s Comparable? What does this quote tell us?

7 What’s Comparable? One Last Point Comparisons are not limited to countries:  Events (such as wars or revolutions) are comparable  Political or social institutions are comparable (e.g. the executive branch, the military, economic agencies)  Policies are comparable (e.g. health care, aid to the poor, official development assistance) ` What’s Comparable? One Last Point Comparisons are not limited to countries:  Events (such as wars or revolutions) are comparable  Political or social institutions are comparable (e.g. the executive branch, the military, economic agencies)  Policies are comparable (e.g. health care, aid to the poor, official development assistance) ` Studying Comparative Politics Basics of Comparing: What’s Comparable? We call these examples “cases”

8 The Logic of Comparative Analysis To do comparative analysis properly, one absolutely, positively must have a grasp of the general logic of comparing The Logic of Comparative Analysis To do comparative analysis properly, one absolutely, positively must have a grasp of the general logic of comparing Studying Comparative Politics The Logic of Comparative Analysis

9 The Logic of Comparative Analysis In the dictionary, here are a few ways in which logic is defined: The Logic of Comparative Analysis In the dictionary, here are a few ways in which logic is defined: Studying Comparative Politics The Logic of Comparative Analysis 1. 1.The study of the principles of reasoning, especially of the structure of propositions as distinguished from their content and of method and validity in deductive reasoning 2. 2.The relationship between elements and between an element and the whole in a set of objects, individuals, principles, or events: 1. 1.The study of the principles of reasoning, especially of the structure of propositions as distinguished from their content and of method and validity in deductive reasoning 2. 2.The relationship between elements and between an element and the whole in a set of objects, individuals, principles, or events:

10 The Logic of Comparative Analysis Both definitions are useful for our purposes: Good comparative analysis requires researchers to be guided by basic principles These principles are meant to ensure sound reasoning and valid conclusions based on appropriate comparisons The Logic of Comparative Analysis Both definitions are useful for our purposes: Good comparative analysis requires researchers to be guided by basic principles These principles are meant to ensure sound reasoning and valid conclusions based on appropriate comparisons Studying Comparative Politics Basics of Comparing: What’s Comparable? So, what are these principles?

11 Two Basic “Logics”  The first is the _________________________.  The second is the reverse of the first, and is referred to as __________________________. Two Basic “Logics”  The first is the _________________________.  The second is the reverse of the first, and is referred to as __________________________. Studying Comparative Politics The Logic of Comparative Analysis most similar systems most different systems NOTE: There are other “logics” in comparative analysis, but the MSS and MDS are the two most basic

12 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 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 Studying Comparative Politics The Logic of Comparative Analysis Albino twins. Two most similar systems?

13 The MSS Design In the MSS design, differences are key! The MSS Design In the MSS design, differences are key! Studying Comparative Politics The Logic of Comparative Analysis Why?

14 The MSS Design If differences are key, what needs to differ? A: _____________________ B: _____________________ The MSS Design If differences are key, what needs to differ? A: _____________________ B: _____________________ Independent Variable Dependent Variable Studying Comparative Politics The Logic of Comparative Analysis A comparison between twins makes no sense if there are absolutely no differences. However, if one twin is “smarter” than the other (the level of intelligence is the dependent variable), then a comparison might be useful. A researcher assumes that the difference is due to another variable-- perhaps one drank more milk than the other. This other difference is (potentially) the independent variable.

15 An Aside: Important Principles in Social Science Arguments  All social science arguments require independent and dependent variables  In a social science argument, both variables need to be defined (operationalized) as precisely as possible  Social science arguments must specify the relationship between the independent and dependent variables An Aside: Important Principles in Social Science Arguments  All social science arguments require independent and dependent variables  In a social science argument, both variables need to be defined (operationalized) as precisely as possible  Social science arguments must specify the relationship between the independent and dependent variables Studying Comparative Politics The Logic of Comparative Analysis Graphs, such as the one depicted on the background image, show a simple relationship between two variables

16 The “Rubber Ducky” Example The task when comparing two very similar systems is to find the key differences differences in a sea of similarities. Each plain rubber ducky represents a similarity similarity between two systems, A and B. Studying Comparative Politics The Logic of Comparative Analysis

17 The “Rubber Ducky” Example If there is variance on the dependent variable between the two systems, the similarities can be eliminated as potential causes of the variance. Any differences may be the independent variable or cause Studying Comparative Politics The Logic of Comparative Analysis Variance on D.V. Independent variable?

18 A Flawed MSS Design This (hypothetical) design is based on the argument that both Taiwan and Korea have a “developmental state” (independent variable, x), and both cases experienced a “very high rate of economic growth” (dependent variable, y). Therefore, x is the cause of y But, how do we know that x is the key independent variable, or even a significant independent variable? What about: Culture-----> y or Skilled workforce -----> y? Studying Comparative Politics The Logic of Comparative Analysis

19 Most Different Systems Design MSS: In a vast sea of similarities, find the key differences between two very similar systems MDS: In a vast sea of differences, find key similarities between very dissimilar systems Most Different Systems Design MSS: In a vast sea of similarities, find the key differences between two very similar systems MDS: In a vast sea of differences, find key similarities between very dissimilar systems Studying Comparative Politics The Logic of Comparative Analysis

20 Implications of MDS logic  Unlike the MSS design, you don’t need, nor do you want variance on the dependent variable  In other words, the dependent variable should be the same for all the units in an MDS design, and so should the independent variable Implications of MDS logic  Unlike the MSS design, you don’t need, nor do you want variance on the dependent variable  In other words, the dependent variable should be the same for all the units in an MDS design, and so should the independent variable Studying Comparative Politics The Logic of Comparative Analysis

21 In Theda Skocpol’s research, she used three “most different systems” (Russia, France, and China) to find the cause of social revolution The logic is based on finding key similarities among all three units Differences can be eliminated as potential causes of social revolution Studying Comparative Politics The Logic of Comparative Analysis