August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, 2015Introduction to Political Science1 August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, Comparative Method Frank H. Brooks

August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, 2015Introduction to Political Science2 August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, Problems of Comparison Too many variables, too few countries Too many variables, too few countries Many countries, one system Many countries, one system Same phenomenon, different meaning Same phenomenon, different meaning Bias Bias Political Agendas of Comparativists Political Agendas of Comparativists Is a scientific method of comparing politics thus even possible? Is a scientific method of comparing politics thus even possible?

August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, 2015Introduction to Political Science3 August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, Conceptual Frameworks, Approaches, Models What is the focus of analysis? (scope) What is the focus of analysis? (scope) –What is central to understanding politics? –State-centered approach v. society-centered approach What is the proper methodology? What is the proper methodology? –Large “n” v. small “n” –Falsifiable hypotheses v. description History of comparative politics characterized by shifts in scope and methods History of comparative politics characterized by shifts in scope and methods –Intellectual developments –Impact of political events

August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, 2015Introduction to Political Science4 August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, Aristotle Compares “regimes” (constitutions) Compares “regimes” (constitutions) –Who’s a citizen? Who’s entitled to rule? –How many rule? –Large n; functionalist; comparative anatomy Also looks at “society” Also looks at “society” –What kinds of government are most likely in particular societies? –Society is the foundation for the state Also considers normative questions Also considers normative questions -Which are good governments? -Considering “purpose” is relevant (even necessary) to effective analysis

August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, 2015Introduction to Political Science5 August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, Positivism Focus on describing structures of governance Focus on describing structures of governance –“positive” because focused on “what is” not “what should be” –E.g. Auguste Comte in 19 th century Compare political constitutions Compare political constitutions –The most significant differences are legal and structural ones –state-centered approach –E.g. composition of legislature, executive- legislative relationships Criticized by mid-20 th century political scientists as formalistic, superficial, conservative Criticized by mid-20 th century political scientists as formalistic, superficial, conservative

August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, 2015Introduction to Political Science6 August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, Political Sociology Society-centered approach Society-centered approach –Politics determined by social processes and structures –Focus on power relations “below” and outside the state –State structures are “tools” of society Karl Marx Karl Marx –State is a “superstructure” –Politics determined by class relations and class struggle Max Weber Max Weber –State is a “human community” characterized by its techniques –Focused on religion in society, social bases of “authority” Robert Michels Robert Michels –Elite theory focusing on social and organizational effects on parties –American political scientists focused on “pressure groups”

August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, 2015Introduction to Political Science7 August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, Postwar Hegemony of Society-Centered Approach Roy Macridis’ critique of “traditional approach” Roy Macridis’ critique of “traditional approach” –Scope too limited Western representative democracies Western representative democracies Looked at “isolated aspects of governmental process” Looked at “isolated aspects of governmental process” –Methodology unsystematic Descriptive rather than problem-solving, explanatory or analytic Descriptive rather than problem-solving, explanatory or analytic Prevented elaboration of hypotheses and broader theory Prevented elaboration of hypotheses and broader theory Political and Intellectual Aspects Political and Intellectual Aspects –Rise of states outside Europe challenged state-centered approaches –“Behavioral revolution” –Modernization theory

August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, 2015Introduction to Political Science8 August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, “Bringing the State back in” Critique of behavioralism Critique of behavioralism –Tended to be biased against political change (new generation of political scientists influenced by political events of 1960s) –Emphasized methodology over knowledge, technical jargon over clarity Revival of “state-centered” approach Revival of “state-centered” approach –Argued that the state is not merely set of institutions and processes –But, not simply a return to positivism –“Relative autonomy” in Marxist theory –Alfed Stepan’s studies of militaries and authoritarian governments –Studies of bureaucracies and bureaucrats The state is an “actor” that shapes society The state is an “actor” that shapes society –It stands “at intersection of domestic sociopolitical orders and … transnational orders” (Skocpol) –Focus on state “autonomy”

August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, 2015Introduction to Political Science9 August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, Policy-Centered Approach The policies implemented by the state affect the state itself and society The policies implemented by the state affect the state itself and society Compare performance and efficacy Compare performance and efficacy –Particular focus on economic performance –Relevant to older debates on modernization and to modern examination of democratization Brings “politics” back in: who gets what, when and how Brings “politics” back in: who gets what, when and how

August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, 2015Introduction to Political Science10 Contemporary Approaches (Lichbach & Zuckerman) Rational Choice Rational Choice –Focus on deliberate choices and interests –Abstract logic and mathematical reasoning –Game theory (e.g. analysis of Cuban missile crisis) Culturalist approaches Culturalist approaches –“thick description” – emphasis on particular and context –“identity” gives meaning to and poses constraints on actions Structuralist approaches Structuralist approaches –Focus on political and social institutions (state, class, etc.) –“rules” imposed by structured relationships All three grapple with characteristic, unique themes of social theory: “reason, rules and relations” (p. 5) All three grapple with characteristic, unique themes of social theory: “reason, rules and relations” (p. 5)

August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, 2015Introduction to Political Science11 Modeling (Lave & March) Modeling (Lave & March) “Practical guide to speculation” “Practical guide to speculation” –“developing, elaborating, contemplating, testing, and revising models of human behavior” (p. 7) –Improve quality of speculation Necessary skills Necessary skills –Abstraction from reality to a model –Derivation of (additional) implications –Evaluation to determine if model inappropriate (inaccurate, immoral) –Familiarity with common models (building on or reacting to previous theory)

August 30, 2015August 30, 2015August 30, 2015Introduction to Political Science12 Rules of Thumb Think “process” Think “process” –Not just assumptions about a state of being –Statements of causality where Y may or may not happen depending on presence of A, B, or C Develop interesting implications Develop interesting implications –Look for “natural” variations in explanatory factor –Sharpens explanation Look for generality Look for generality –Typically, more abstract –Applies to more situations (large “n”)