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Important NoteImportant Note
WARNING! These slides are formatted specifically for Mac computers. Due to formatting incompatibilities some slides may be unreadable on Windows-based PCs; other slides may
have minor formatting problems. Sorry for the inconvenience.
WARNING! These slides are formatted specifically for Mac computers. Due to formatting incompatibilities some slides may be unreadable on Windows-based PCs; other slides may
have minor formatting problems. Sorry for the inconvenience.
POLS 373 Foundations POLS 373 Foundations of Comparative of Comparative
PoliticsPolitics
POLS 373 Foundations POLS 373 Foundations of Comparative of Comparative
PoliticsPoliticsTopic: Introduction to Topic: Introduction to
Comparative Politics and Comparative Politics and Comparative AnalysisComparative Analysis
Lecture Date: January 7 and 9, 2008Lecture Date: January 7 and 9, 2008Professor Timothy LimProfessor Timothy Lim
California State University, Los AngelesCalifornia State University, Los Angeles
Topic: Introduction to Topic: Introduction to Comparative Politics and Comparative Politics and
Comparative AnalysisComparative Analysis
Lecture Date: January 7 and 9, 2008Lecture Date: January 7 and 9, 2008Professor Timothy LimProfessor Timothy Lim
California State University, Los AngelesCalifornia State University, Los Angeles
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Studying Comparative Politics
An IntroductionLet’s Begin with Some Questions … Why are there so many homicides in the United States? Why do so many peoples and countries around the world
remained mired in poverty and economic misery? Conversely, how have some peoples and countries been able
to become “rich” and prosperous in only a generation or two?
How do social movements, such as the Civil Rights Movements in the United States, emerge and why do some succeed, while others fail?
Let’s Begin with Some Questions … Why are there so many homicides in the United States? Why do so many peoples and countries around the world
remained mired in poverty and economic misery? Conversely, how have some peoples and countries been able
to become “rich” and prosperous in only a generation or two?
How do social movements, such as the Civil Rights Movements in the United States, emerge and why do some succeed, while others fail?
More questions on next slideMore questions on next slideMore questions on next slideMore questions on next slide
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More Questions …
Can the United States successfully impose democracy on Iraq or other countries? Or, are all such efforts doomed to failure?
What are the causes of “terrorism” and other forms of political violence? Is anyone capable of becoming a terrorist?
What are the reasons for the relatively poor math and science skills of American teenagers?
More Questions …
Can the United States successfully impose democracy on Iraq or other countries? Or, are all such efforts doomed to failure?
What are the causes of “terrorism” and other forms of political violence? Is anyone capable of becoming a terrorist?
What are the reasons for the relatively poor math and science skills of American teenagers?
So, what are So, what are youryour answers? answers?
(Refer to p. 3 in the book for the list of (Refer to p. 3 in the book for the list of the questions)the questions)
So, what are So, what are youryour answers? answers?
(Refer to p. 3 in the book for the list of (Refer to p. 3 in the book for the list of the questions)the questions)
Studying Comparative Politics
An Introduction
5
One More Point …
We all have “answers,” at least tentative ones, but this leads to another, more fundamental question …
One More Point …
We all have “answers,” at least tentative ones, but this leads to another, more fundamental question … How do you How do you
know if you’re know if you’re right?right?
DiscussDiscussDiscussDiscuss
Studying Comparative Politics
An Introduction
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How Do You Know If You’re Right?
Short answer: We have to be able to ______ the argument in some manner
In the natural sciences, this testing is often (though not always) done through ____________________ , that is, the creation of carefully controlled conditions in which certain variables can controlled for in order to isolate others. Experiments establish causality.
In the social sciences, “testing” is often done indirectly through comparative analysis or the comparative method
How Do You Know If You’re Right?
Short answer: We have to be able to ______ the argument in some manner
In the natural sciences, this testing is often (though not always) done through ____________________ , that is, the creation of carefully controlled conditions in which certain variables can controlled for in order to isolate others. Experiments establish causality.
In the social sciences, “testing” is often done indirectly through comparative analysis or the comparative method
moremore
Studying Comparative Politics
An Introduction
test
experimentation
Chemists and other natural scientists rely on
experimentation, also known as the scientific method.
Chemists and other natural scientists rely on
experimentation, also known as the scientific method.
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How Do You Know if You’re Right?
The experimental method and the comparative method are two different types of methods (there are others, including the statistical method)
In the sciences--social or natural--method (and the theory and evidence that underlies it) is crucial: without it, science isn’t science
How Do You Know if You’re Right?
The experimental method and the comparative method are two different types of methods (there are others, including the statistical method)
In the sciences--social or natural--method (and the theory and evidence that underlies it) is crucial: without it, science isn’t science
This figure illustrates the This figure illustrates the scientific method in the natural scientific method in the natural sciences; in the social sciences, sciences; in the social sciences, the procedure is similar, except the procedure is similar, except
that comparative analysis or that comparative analysis or another type of method is used in another type of method is used in
place of “experimentation” place of “experimentation”
Studying Comparative Politics
An Introduction
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How Do You Know if You’re Right?
To better understand the significance and utility of methodology, and the comparative method in particular, consider, again, the argumentadvanced by Michael Moore in Bowling for Columbine
Key point: Moore explicitlyand effectively used the comparative method (albeit,not perfectly)
Studying Comparative Politics
An Introduction
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Comparative Politics is More Than Method
The comparative method is an integral part of comparative politics, but comparative politics is not merely a method of study, it is also a subject of study
As a subject of study, comparative politics may be said to focus on the many different societies, types of institutions, political systems, and countries that make up the world
NOTE: Traditionally, the United States has been excluded from the field of comparative politics , but, in principle, there no good reason for doing so …
Why not?
Studying Comparative Politics
An Introduction
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Comparative Politics is More Than Method
Saying that comparative politics is both a subject of study and a method of study is STILL not enough to
As a field of study, comparative politics also focuses on the politics of a given country, state or society, which raises one very important question …
What is politics?What is politics?What is politics?What is politics?DiscussDiscussDiscussDiscuss
Studying Comparative Politics
An Introduction
11
What is Politics? Here’s a traditional or formal definition from the Merriam-Webster dictionary …
(1) Politics is the art or science of government; (2) it is the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy; or (3) it is the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government
What is Politics? Here’s a traditional or formal definition from the Merriam-Webster dictionary …
(1) Politics is the art or science of government; (2) it is the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy; or (3) it is the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government
In this (three-fold) definition, where is In this (three-fold) definition, where is politics “located”; that is, where does it politics “located”; that is, where does it occur? Who are the political “actors”? What occur? Who are the political “actors”? What
is the “objective” of politics?is the “objective” of politics?
In this (three-fold) definition, where is In this (three-fold) definition, where is politics “located”; that is, where does it politics “located”; that is, where does it occur? Who are the political “actors”? What occur? Who are the political “actors”? What
is the “objective” of politics?is the “objective” of politics?
Studying Comparative Politics
An IntroductionQUESTIONS
QUESTIONS
QUESTIONS
QUESTIONS
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What is Politics?
An alternative, process-oriented, definition of politics …
“Politics is about more than what governments chose to do or not do; it is about the uneven distribution of power in society, how the struggle over power is conducted, and its impact on the creation and distribution of resources, life chances and well-being”
What is Politics?
An alternative, process-oriented, definition of politics …
“Politics is about more than what governments chose to do or not do; it is about the uneven distribution of power in society, how the struggle over power is conducted, and its impact on the creation and distribution of resources, life chances and well-being”
~ Adrian Leftwich~ Adrian Leftwich
How does this definition differ from the How does this definition differ from the traditional definition? Is the difference traditional definition? Is the difference
significant? How so?significant? How so?
How does this definition differ from the How does this definition differ from the traditional definition? Is the difference traditional definition? Is the difference
significant? How so?significant? How so?
Studying Comparative Politics
An Introduction
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What is Significant about the Process-Oriented Definition of Politics?
First, it clearly takes politics out the governmental arena and puts it into almost all domains of life
These other domains include virtually all social and civil institutions and actors, such as churches, factories, corporations, trade unions, political parties, think tanks, ethnic groups and organizations, women’s groups, organized crime, etc.
Second, it tells us that politics is an ongoing process involving multiple actors, multiple forces, multiple struggles, and so on
Third, it tells us that politics--as a struggle for power over the creation and distribution of resources, life chances and well-being--cannot be confined to a single place or territory: politics transcends borders
What is Significant about the Process-Oriented Definition of Politics?
First, it clearly takes politics out the governmental arena and puts it into almost all domains of life
These other domains include virtually all social and civil institutions and actors, such as churches, factories, corporations, trade unions, political parties, think tanks, ethnic groups and organizations, women’s groups, organized crime, etc.
Second, it tells us that politics is an ongoing process involving multiple actors, multiple forces, multiple struggles, and so on
Third, it tells us that politics--as a struggle for power over the creation and distribution of resources, life chances and well-being--cannot be confined to a single place or territory: politics transcends borders
Process: a set or course of actions
and events that lead to a particular
outcome; a process is a movement
Process: a set or course of actions
and events that lead to a particular
outcome; a process is a movement
Studying Comparative Politics
An Introduction
14
Comparative Politics and a Process-Oriented Definition of Politics
In our course, the “politics” in comparative politics will be considered from processual perspective: in practice, this is how most (albeit not all) comparativists define politics
This leads to an amended definition of comparative politics …
Comparative Politics and a Process-Oriented Definition of Politics
In our course, the “politics” in comparative politics will be considered from processual perspective: in practice, this is how most (albeit not all) comparativists define politics
This leads to an amended definition of comparative politics …
Comparative politics, as a subject of study, examines the interplay of
domestic and external forces on the politics of a given country, nation-
state or society.
Comparative politics, as a subject of study, examines the interplay of
domestic and external forces on the politics of a given country, nation-
state or society.
Studying Comparative Politics
An Introduction