1. LG302 / LG302A 2013 Comparative European Politics
Cristina Bucur School of Law and Government,
DCU

2. What is comparative politics?
The three subfields of political science:
Political Science
Political Theory
Comparative
Politics
International
Relations
deals with empirical questions and interactions within countries
deals with normative and theoretical questions
deals with interactions between countries

3. Role of science in comparative politics
Explain and predict
Why certain events occur
When
Where they do
State the conditions under which certain events always/usually occur (sufficient condition)
State the conditions in whose absence certain events are not likely to occur (necessary condition)
Use the best method to build/test a theory and make generalisations on the best available evidence

4. How many countries to compare?

5. Methods of comparing few countries
Most different system design
Compare countries that have different features but share a common political phenomenon
What factors explain the common phenomenon?
Application
Studies of war, revolutions, civil wars, coups, transitions to democracy, economic miracles
Countries where such events occur

6. Methods of comparing few countries
Most similar system design
Compare countries that share many common features except for the political phenomenon under analysis
The presence/absence of which factors accounts for this phenomenon?
Application
Area studies

7. What explains the occurrence of democracy?
Research question
What explains the occurrence of democracy?

8. Most different systems design
Strategy
Compare countries that “agree” in regard to the outcome to be explained (democracies) but have different political characteristics.
Case selection
Democratic countries

9. Most different systems design I
Country
Democracy
Common identity
Multiparty system
Parliamentary system UK
Yes No
Belgium

10. Most different systems design I
Country
Democracy
Common identity
Multiparty system
Parliamentary system UK
Yes No
Belgium

11. Most different systems design II
Country
Democracy
Wealth
Common identity
Multiparty system
Parliamentary system UK
Yes No
Belgium

12. Most different systems design II
Country
Democracy
Wealth
Common identity
Multiparty system
Parliamentary system UK
Yes No
Belgium
What is the ONE factor that explains the common outcome?

13. Most different systems design III
Country
Democracy
Wealth
Common identity
Multiparty system
Parliamentary system UK
Yes No
Belgium US

14. Most different systems design III
Country
Democracy
Wealth
Common identity
Multiparty system
Parliamentary system UK
Yes No
Belgium US

15. Most different systems design III
Country
Democracy
Wealth
Common identity
Multiparty system
Parliamentary system UK
Yes No
Belgium US

16. Most different systems design III
Country
Democracy
Wealth
Common identity
Multiparty system
Parliamentary system UK
Yes No
Belgium US

17. Most different systems design III
Country
Democracy
Wealth
Common identity
Multiparty system
Parliamentary system UK
Yes No
Belgium US

18. Most similar systems design
Strategy
Compare countries that “disagree” in regard to the outcome to be explained (democracies) but have common political characteristics.
Case selection
Democratic & non-democratic countries

19. Most similar systems design
Country
Democracy
Wealth
Common identity
Multiparty system
Parliamentary system US
Yes No
Mexico (< 1990)

20. Most similar systems design
Country
Democracy
Wealth
Common identity
Multiparty system
Parliamentary system US
Yes No
Mexico (<1990)

21. Combining MSSD & MDSD Country Democracy Wealth Common identity
Multiparty system
Parliamentary system UK
Yes No
Belgium US
Mexico (< 1990)

22. Combining MSSD & MDSD Country Democracy Wealth Common identity
Multiparty system
Parliamentary system UK
Yes No
Belgium US
Mexico (<1990)

23. Combining MSSD & MDSD Country Democracy Wealth Common identity
Multiparty system
Parliamentary system UK
Yes No
Belgium US
Mexico (<1990)

24. Combining MSSD & MDSD Country Democracy Wealth Common identity
Multiparty system
Parliamentary system UK
Yes No
Belgium US
Mexico (<1990)

25. Combining MSSD & MDSD Country Democracy Wealth Common identity
Multiparty system
Parliamentary system UK
Yes No
Belgium US
Mexico (<1990)

26. Combining MSSD & MDSD Common identity
Our four countries of comparison allow us to rule out only common identity as a cause for democracy.
Common identity is neither necessary (Belgium), nor sufficient (Mexico)
Multipartism & parliamentarism
Based on these 4 countries we cannot determine whether multipartism or parliamentary system are sufficient conditions for democracy
Wealth
It is difficult to know if wealth as an apparent necessity for democracy is meaningful because we have not observed any cases in which wealth was absent.

27. MDSD & MSSD Advantages Weaknesses Intensive Good for theory generation
Multiple explanatory factors that depend on the careful comparison of national contexts.
Selection bias – the countries you select will affect your conclusions
Confusion of shared characteristics between countries
Choice of historical account