introduction to comparative government chapter 1

Introduction to Comparative Government

Chapter 1

United Kingdom

Russian Federation

Islamic Republic of Iran

United Mexican States

Federal Republic of Nigeria

Peoples Republic of China

Global Challenge of Comparative Politics

A. Worldwide movement toward democracy since 1989 - Berlin WallB. Political developments of last 20 years: - 9/11 - 2008 recession - 2001: Arab Spring; Response of Dictators and leaders in Libya, Syria, etc. - Tsunami in Japan - Killing of Osama bin Laden

C. Primary Themes of Comparative Gov: - World of States - Governing the Economy - The Democratic Idea - Politics of the Collective Identity

What—and How—Comparative Politics Compares

A. Comparativists compare countries and distinct institutions w/in individual countries using comparative method

B. Essential to differentiate b/w the nation and the state C. Establish casual theories- limited be/c we are

studying people with independent free will and inability to use experimental techniques

D. Variety of approaches in study of political phenomena and behavior- political culture and rational choice theories

• How events (critical junctures) shape and are shaped by world order created by events like those in 1989, 2008, etc.

Students = Comparativists

• Can’t make reliable statements about most political institutions by looking at one case

Level of Analysis

• Countries v. State?????

Legitimacy

Country Case Studies

1. Begin with historical analysis- state formation a. Nation-state: boundaries and national identity coincide i.e. Kurds in Iraq, Turkey, and Syria; Tibet in China

Comparative Theory

1. Causal Theories: a. “if X happens, then Y will be the result” b.. X = independent variable Y = dependent variable i.e. Commonly argued that if a country’s economic pie shrinks, conflict among groups will intensify

2. Rational Choice Theory a. how individuals act rationally in an attempt to achieve goals that maximize their interests. b. dismisses importance of historical experience, political culture, etc. i.e. voting for a candidate, rebelling against government

3. Middle-level theory: a. Focuses on specific features of political world- institutions, policies, classes of similar events, such as elections, revolutions, etc.

`

Systems Theory: 1. 5 key concepts: a. inputs: ways that avg. citizens and the groups they form engage in political life 1. supports and demands b. decision-making c. outputs = public policy d. feedback e. environment

The Number of Cases

1. 2 categories: a. “large N” (quantitative studies) 1. N refers to number of cases; allows for statistical analysis 2. strong external validity b. “small n” (qualitative) 1. case studies 2. strong internal validity but weak external

3. Comparative method = combo of best aspects of case study and large studies a. small # of cases 3-10 b. most-similar approach c. most-different approach

Classifying Political Systems

• Typology: 1. Consolidated Democracies 2. Transitional Democracies 3. Authoritarian Regimes a. Distinction b/w long established and newly established democracies