1. Introduction to Comparative Politics
Political Science 2400
Call # 42941

2. Instructors
Dr. Sybil Rhodes
Ms. Jane Okwako
Ms. Stacey Pollard

3. Why do people starve to death in some countries and not in others?
Why have some countries experienced violent revolutions while others have not?
Why do wealthy democracies appear likely to suffer from violent nationalist terrorist movements?
Why does having a whole lot of oil seem to make countries more likely to have authoritarian rulers than democratic governments?
Why do some countries have more extensive welfare states than others?

4. Every country is unique.
History never repeats itself.
There are too many factors that affect politics to be able to simplify.

5. Idiographic Explanations
vs.
Nomothetic Explanations

6. Idiographic Emphasizes uniqueness of individual cases
Associated with humanities

7. Nomothetic
Emphasizes generalities
Associated with sciences

8. Comparative Politics Methods
Describe one case (country) (Small n)
Compare a few cases (countries) (Medium n)
Compare many cases (countries) (Large n)

9. Social revolution new actors gain control of the state institutions.
new actors seek to transform important facets of the society

10. International Politics Club
Will announce first meeting soon
If you are interested in playing a leadership role, see me or me: