COMPARAT
IVE
POLIT
ICS
CHAPTER 1
WEB PAGE QUIZ, CLICKER – 2PTSWhich of the following is frequently used
by a communist nation to describe their government ?
A.Communist Autocracy
B.Democracy
C.People’s Republic
D.Republic
E.Tyranny
Comparative politics: The systematic study of politics and government in different societies.
What do we gain by comparative study?
• Comparison:•helps us describe political systems.•gives us context.•gives us points of reference.•helps us draw up rules about politics.•helps us understand ourselves.
What do we gain by comparative study?• Comparison • helps us understand others• allows us to be less ethnocentric
Ethnocentrism: Looking at others from the perspective of the group or culture of the observer, rather than looking at others on their own terms.
What do we gain by comparative study?• Comparison
• broadens our options.
• helps us make sense of a confusing global system.
The Comparative Approach
Generally empirical rather than normative.
Empirical: Drawing conclusions on the basis of facts, experience, or observation.
Normative: Implying or prescribing norms and values, in contrast to stating facts --Value judgments.
CLICKER
A democratic form of government is better than an aristocratic form of government.
A. Empirical
B. Normative
C. Neither
CLICKER
Mexico is classified as a newly democratic nation because of its recent reforms and its relatively short time practicing free and open elections.
A. Empirical
B. Normative
C. Neither
WHAT DO WE COMPARE?
Level of analysis: The unit we focus on for studyIndividualPrimary GroupLocal CommunitySub-national Polity (US States, Canadian Province, etc.)
The StateThe international system
The State: A legal and political entity based on the administration of a territory. Interchangeably known as a country, although the latter usually refers only to the territory of a state.
Characteristics of The State:
Territory: Fixed, marked territory with borders controlled by “the state”
Sovereignty: Supreme control over the territory, its resources and people, including sole authority to impose laws and taxes
Independence: Operates without answering to a higher authority
Legitimacy: Recognition by residents and other states as having legal jurisdiction over their territory
WHAT DO WE COMPARE?Government: The institutions and offices through which
societies are governed; the form of system of rule; the nature and direction of the administration of a community.
Politics: The process by which people compete for power, influence, and resources.
Power: The ability to act, or to exert authority and control over others.
WHAT IS THE GOAL OF GOVERNMENT?WHAT DO WE COMPARE?• National and personal security
• Political freedom
• Political participation
• Economic freedom
• InfrastructureMaterial-physical infrastructureSocial infrastructureEconomic systems
FOUR APPROACHES TO POLITICAL RESEARCH:1. The experimental method: Uses experimental
and control groups to isolate the effects of different stimuli.
2. The statistical method: Uses empirically observed data to tease out relationships among variables.
3. The case study method: Focuses on individual cases rather than large samples.
FOUR APPROACHES TO POLITICAL RESEARCH:4. The comparative method: Focuses on
drawing conclusions from the study of a small number of samples.
Different cases are compared to better understand their qualities, and to develop hypotheses, theories, and concepts
CLICKER
Which method is simply impractical for studying politics
A. Experimental Method
B. Statistical Method
C. Case Study Method
D. Comparative Method
E. Any of them is practical and effective in studying politics
CLICKER
Which method is involves a limited number of sample studies from which we draw hypotheses?
A. Experimental Method
B. Statistical Method
C. Case Study Method
D. Comparative Method
E. Any of them is practical and effective in studying politics
GROUPINGS, CATEGORIES AND TYPOLOGIES
Aristotle: in Ancient Greece• Monarchy – ruled by one• Oligarchy – ruled by a few• Democracy – ruled by many
GROUPINGS, CATEGORIES AND TYPOLOGIES
Montesquieu: in Enlightenment France
• Republic• Monarchy• Despotism
GROUPINGS, CATEGORIES AND TYPOLOGIES
Max Weber: late 19th and early 20th century German
• Traditional Authority• Rational Legal Authority• Charismatic Authority
GROUPINGS, CATEGORIES AND TYPOLOGIES
Three Worlds: 1945--- 2000 +???• First World: Capitalist
Democracies• Second World: Communist States• Third World: Poor, less
developed, les democratic and non-aligned countries
GROUPINGS, CATEGORIES AND TYPOLOGIESMcCormick Text: Six Arenas1. Liberal Democracies2. Communist & Post Communist States3. New Democracies4. Islamic States5. Less Developed States6. Marginal States
Table 1.3 Summary Features of the Six Arenas
THE SIX ARENAS
CLICKERThe McCormick text identifies one
“Typology” of modern states as the dominant, if somewhat outdated model most commonly used still. Which is it?
A.Aristotle’s Monarchy, Oligarchy, Democracy
B.Max Weber’s: Traditional, Rational Legal, and Charismatic
C.Montesquieu’s: Monarchy, Republic, Despotism
D.Three Worlds: First World, Second World, Third World
E.None of these
CLICKERIn McCormick’s Six Arena’s typology, he
identifies a special category for Islamic states. Does that seem useful to you?
A. Yes, it seems meaningful and useful to me
B. No, I don’t understand the distinction
C. No, while I believe I understand the distinction it doesn’t seem useful
D. It’s too soon to tell
CLICKERIn McCormick’s Six Arena’s typology, is
the distinction between Less Developed States and Marginal States a useful distinction?
A. Yes, it seems meaningful and useful to me
B. No, I don’t understand the distinction
C. No, while I believe I understand the distinction it doesn’t seem useful
D. It’s too soon to tell
MEASURES OF POLITICAL VARIABLES
Overtly Political Measures
Freedom in the World Index: Freedom House
Governance Indicators: World Bank
Democracy Index: The Economist
Corruption Perception Index: Transparency International
MEASURES OF POLITICAL VARIABLES
Economic Measures:
Gross Domestic Product (GDP)
GDP per Capita
Purchasing Power Parity
Gini coefficient
Economic Freedom Index: Fraser Institute
MEASURES OF POLITICAL VARIABLES
Social Measures:
Life expectancy
Infant mortality
Adult literacy
Human development Index: United Nations
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