1. Comparative politics

2. Comparative….
Similar structures in different environments….

3. Different structures in similar environments

4. Similar behaviors in different environments

5. Different behaviors in similar environments

6. What is politics?
People making decisions about their government

7. Why focus on Governments?
Community & nation building
Security & order
Protecting rights
Promoting economy
Social justice

8. Community & nation building…

9. Security and order

10. Protecting rights

11. Promoting economic growth & stability

12. Social Justice

13. Who are the political actors?
States
Supranational organizations
Sub-national (regions, districts, provinces, counties, states)

14. Political Systems
Structures
Functions

15. Political system: structure
State Institutions
Executive branch
Courts
Legislature
Bureaucracy
Linkage Institutions (connect people to government)
Political parties
Interest groups
media

16. Political system: Structure

17. Impact on selection of executive….

18. Political systems: functions
Policies
Political socialization
Political recruitment
Political communication

20. Statements: Empirical vs Normative
Britain has a history of independence from continental Europe
Britain needs to integrate more fully with continental Europe.

21. Correlation vs causation