1、Issues in Comparative PoliticsConcepts and ThemesIntroduction One goal of a course in comparative politics is to expose students to a variety of political systems while identifying the similarities of these systems. In other wordshow is politics the same within diverse settings?Themes in Comparative
2、 Politics Sources of Public Authority and Political Power Relationships between States and Societies Relationships between Citizens and States Political Institutions and Frameworks Political Change The Comparative MethodPublic Authority and Power What are the different constitutional, ideological, a
3、nd social bases of political legitimacy? Great Britain China Nigeria How have the governments of these nations secured legitimacy in the eyes of their citizens? What role does political culture play?Relationship between State and Society Societies divide into social and economic classes, ethnic and
4、religious groups and linguistic communities. How do these divisions affect politics? India Nigeria RussiaRelationships between Citizens and States What are the variety of roles played by citizens in different types of states? How do institutions mediate between state and society? Some are autonomous
5、 organizations (USA, Great Britain) In corporatist systems these institutions could be more closely aligned with the state. Voting, protest, litigation, campaign activities?Political Institutions and Frameworks What are the functions of governmental institutions in different countries? Do the politi
6、cal functions of armies vary from country to country? What does it mean that Britain does not have a system of separation of powers? Ex: Judicial Review versus parliamentary sovereignty Political parties in different countries roles?; how do they vary?; what is the impact on any given political syst
7、em?; two party versus multiparty systems? How do voting systems vary across political systems and why is it important? E.g. election rulesPolitical Change Social, economic, political forces have a direct impact on political change What are the sources, scope and consequences of political change in d
8、ifferent countries? What are the causes of social revolution? French, Mexican, Russian, Chinese Revolutions? Impact of Marxist ideology on Chinese and Russian revolutionary politics? What were the causes and results of the collapse of communist party rule in the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europ
9、e? Political and economic integration or disintegration among and within countries?How do we study Politics? Normative approach “what should be” Empirical approach “what is” Experimental method Case study method Statistical method Comparative methodExperimental Method Involves manipulation of variab
10、les Manipulation of one variable to observe its effect on another variable Difficult to do in political research Questions tend to be too broad, ability to control the environment too limited Eg: cant have two sets of presidential elections going on simultaneouslyCase Study Intensive study of indivi
11、dual cases Micro level focus on individuals Macro level focus on groups Investigator selects a single case: nation, voter, election, political structure and studies it. Case study method allows the development of expertise in what one studies limitedStatistical Method More sophisticated forms of mea
12、surement and observation Public opinion polls, survey research The quantitative approach to measurement makes understanding what “is” more accuratehelps with prediction if we have enough information to determine patternsComparative Method Two or more case studies put together Focus on a particular s
13、tructure or behavior and put it in comparative context Look for similarities and differences in different settings Compare in one setting but across time Eg: legislature in 1945 versus legislature in 2002Comparative Method Classification of regimes Logic and propriety of comparative study Problems of cross-cultural and translinguistic analysis. Comparisons of political experiences, cultures and institutions in different countries Distinguish between cultural stereotypes and claims of uniqueness and move toward developing generalizable claims about specific political relationships.
