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professor timothy c. limcalifornia state university, los

angelestclim@calstatela.edu

theory in comparative politics: an introduction

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theories about violent crime in the u.s.

to start off our discussion of theory, we will begin with an exercise …

consider the following 3 arguments about violent crime in the United

States

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argument no. 1A major source of violent crime lies in predictable human behavior. In places where the risks of getting caught are minimal where the potential rewards are high, individuals

are likely to commit more crimes in general.

This is especially true in poorer communities, where people may have limited access to jobs, education and

skills training. In general, though, violent crime is more likely (1) when the use of violence is a particularly

efficient and/or necessary “tool,” and (2) where the use of violence to achieve one’s ends entails relatively

limited risk compared to the alternatives

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argument no. 2Capitalism causes violence. Not directly, but through a

unrelenting process that divides societies into the “haves” and “have-nots” …. In this way, capitalism

alienates people from each other, their families, and their communities, thus setting the stage for anti-

social, increasingly violent behavior among ordinary people,

against ordinary people.

Violence is a response to the soulessness and hopelessness engendered by an

inherently exploitative economic system. continued on next slide

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argument no. 2 (con’t)Of course, violence is not unique to capitalism, nor

are all capitalist societies are equally violent. Where the most destructive, alienating, and

exploitative aspects of the capitalist process are mitigated, intra-societal violence is lessened.

But where the forces of capitalism are unleashed and where vast segments of

society are left unprotected, violence thrives.

This is why the United States is the most violent advanced capitalist society on earth.

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continued on next slide

argument no. 3

People and societies are responsible for their own actions and decisions, but they

do not exist or act in a social vacuum. Their behavior, in other words, is

profoundly influenced by the environment in which they live.

This environment, which we might call “culture,” may encourage certain practices and values that encourage violent behavior

among certain groups of people.

continued on next slide

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argument no. 3

More specifically, in some places, a “culture of violence” has been created. In this “culture of violence,” members of the

community learn to resolve or address problems and conflicts primarily through

the use violence.

Violence, in other words, becomes a dominant and largely accepted norm within

the community. Importantly, cultures of violence are not “born,” but created. Over time, however, violent cultural practices

become deeply embedded within a community, taking on a life of their own. When this

happens, the culture itself becomes an explanation for behavior.

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summary of arguments on gun violence

a major source of violent crime lies in predictable human behavior

capitalism causes violence

gun violence is a product of culture

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which argument do you find most persuasive?

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arguments about violent crime in the u.s.

key points:

each of the three arguments represent a meaningfully different way to explain gun violence

each argument is premised on different assumptions about the most important forces and factors shaping human

behavior

the difference can be classified in several ways, including

“levels of analysis”

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levels of analysis: brief introduction

micro/individual meso/societal macro/system

micro-levelmicro-level

meso-levelmeso-level

macro-levelmacro-level

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levels of analysis: brief introduction

micro-level/individual

looks for an explanation of behavior within or at the level

of the individual actor

example: A psychological explanation of charles manson’s violent, sociopathic personality

psychological explanations assume that the

answer to certain types of violence can only be found by looking inside the minds of

individuals: the cause of violence is rootedwithin individuals

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levels of analysis: brief introduction

meso-level/societal

looks beyond the individual to broader social, cultural, political and/or institutional

circumstances to explain behavior

meso-level explanations can focus on community norms or culture more generally; institutional

arrangements, historical experiences; state-level actions; and so on

The Amish: A culture of peace and non-violence?

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The Amish: A culture of peace and non-violence?

levels of analysis: brief introduction

meso-level/societalexample:

some cultures encourage, reward, and even compel

members of the culture to behave violently

others, such as the Amish community, teach their members to abhor all forms of violence

and to work together

consider this: only one Amish man has ever been convicted of murder

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levels of analysis: brief introductionmacro-level/system

looks at the “biggest” forces that shape not just individual behavior, but whole societies

assumes that all human action is both constrained and enabled by factors beyond our individual control

marxists, for example, believe that capitalism is an all-encompassing social system that necessarily,

unavoidably, and profoundly shapes our behavior

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classifying arguments

levels of analysis is one convenient and useful way to classify different types of arguments

another, perhaps, more useful way consider the basic principles embedded in different types of

arguments

these principles can be referred to as rationality,

culture and structure

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reprise: three arguments on gun violence

consider how each of the argument reflects the basic principles the rational choice, cultural or structural perspective …

a major source of violent crime lies in predictable human behavior

capitalism causes violence gun violence is a product of culture

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classifying arguments

which research tradition best reflects your current understanding of violent crime? In

other words, are you a rationalist, a structuralist, or a culturalist? which “hat”

do you already wear?

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back to some basics: more questions

what is theory?

what is meant by the word “theorizing”?

is it only academics who theorize?

it is important to understand what “theory”--at a general level--is.

we must must know what it means to theorize

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back to some basics: theory

when we theorize, we are …

making judgments about what is and is not relevant or important in terms of explaining some

economic, social or political phenomenon

identifying a specific level of analysis and making assumptions about power, structure, and

agency

connecting certain facts with specific outcomes

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back to some basics: theory

a basic definition of theory

A theory is a kind of simplifying device that allows you to decide which facts matter and which do not

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back to some basics: theory

theory as a simplifying device: an example

theory = (conceptual) filter

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another useful

metaphor: theory as

a photographic lens

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theory as a photographic lens

basic lesson: different “lenses” (a.k.a., theories) serve different purposes; this may help explain why, in the social sciences, there are multiple, often competing theories

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multiple theories

the existence of multiple theories raises some questions …

are all theories equally valid? are different theories—even personal ones—all equally good?

short answer:NO!There are good, bad, andjust plain ugly theories

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some problems in “bad theories”

many people theorize in an extremely superficial or arbitrary manner; they jump to conclusions; ignore or dismiss “facts” that don’t fit into

their understanding of the world; fail to acknowledge logical contradictions

they confuse “observation” or correlation with causation; never (ever) think about the

assumptions upon which their views are based; or regard their theories or theorizing about the

world as self-evidently true

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some problems in “bad theories”the basic problem can be summed up simply: many people operate on a modified version

of descartes’ famous dictum (“I think therefore I am”), by asserting …

I think, therefore I’m right

I think, therefore I’m right

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an amended definition of theory

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theory is a simplified representation of reality and a framework within which facts are

not only selected, but also interpreted, organized, and fit together so that they create a

coherent whole

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key points theory necessarily simplifies reality, but is

not separate from reality

theory helps us to determine what facts are important, meaningful, relevant

theory guides our interpretation of the “facts” (What do the facts “mean”?)

theory tells us how to organize the facts--how do different facts relate to one another? Which are

primary?

theory allows us to develop “whole” arguments

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