Comparative Politics Chapter 1

COMPARATIVE

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 AutocracyB.DemocracyC.People’s Republic D.RepublicE.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 ApproachGenerally 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.

CLICKERA democratic form of government is better than an

aristocratic form of government.A. EmpiricalB. NormativeC. Neither

CLICKERMexico is classified as a newly democratic nation

because of its recent reforms and its relatively short time practicing free and open elections.

A. EmpiricalB. NormativeC. 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• Infrastructure

Material-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

CLICKERWhich method is simply impractical for

studying politicsA. Experimental MethodB. Statistical MethodC. Case Study MethodD. Comparative MethodE. Any of them is practical and effective in

studying politics

CLICKERWhich method is involves a limited number of

sample studies from which we draw hypotheses?

A. Experimental MethodB. Statistical MethodC. Case Study MethodD. Comparative MethodE. Any of them is practical and effective in

studying politics

GROUPINGS, CATEGORIES AND TYPOLOGIESAristotle: in Ancient Greece• Monarchy – ruled by one• Oligarchy – ruled by a few• Democracy – ruled by many

GROUPINGS, CATEGORIES AND TYPOLOGIESMontesquieu: in Enlightenment

France• Republic• Monarchy• Despotism

GROUPINGS, CATEGORIES AND TYPOLOGIESMax Weber: late 19th and early

20th century German• Traditional Authority• Rational Legal Authority• Charismatic Authority

GROUPINGS, CATEGORIES AND TYPOLOGIESThree 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 distinctionC. No, while I believe I understand the

distinction it doesn’t seem usefulD. 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 distinctionC. No, while I believe I understand the

distinction it doesn’t seem usefulD. It’s too soon to tell

MEASURES OF POLITICAL VARIABLESOvertly Political MeasuresFreedom in the World Index: Freedom House Governance Indicators: World BankDemocracy Index: The EconomistCorruption Perception Index: Transparency

International

MEASURES OF POLITICAL VARIABLESEconomic Measures:Gross Domestic Product (GDP)GDP per CapitaPurchasing Power ParityGini coefficientEconomic Freedom Index: Fraser

Institute

MEASURES OF POLITICAL VARIABLESSocial Measures:Life expectancyInfant mortalityAdult literacyHuman development Index: United

Nations