Comparative Politics (CP) and major questions in the field CP Big questions in CP Economic development Democratization Ethnic/nationalist conflict 1
Dec 25, 2015
Comparative Politics (CP) and major questions in the field
CP Big questions in CP
Economic development Democratization Ethnic/nationalist conflict
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This course’s approach to CP
3 questions—3 main parts of the course Challenging readings by leading scholars
Read to understand Argument Evidence
New York Times Think about the big questions and how they
apply to the real world One test for each topic
Scheduled for Weeks 5, 7, 10
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This course’s approach to CP
Final paper (due March 20) Opportunity to explore one of the big
questions in greater depth Write to convey
Argument Evidence
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My approach to course content
Homework Readings Exercises
Lecture Introduce some new material Build on the readings and exercises
Section Hone skills
Reading for argument and evidence Applying theories and concepts to real world
issues 4
Comparative Politics as a Social Science
Introduction to social science Look for convincing answers to important
questions Question 1: what explains why some
communities develop economically and others (or the same place at different point in time) do not?
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Introducing key concepts
Theory Hypothesis Inductive approach Deductive approach
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Inductive approach
Definition The process of moving from specific
observations to more general claims Example
Economic development in one village in Shaanxi Province, China, in 2011
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Location of case study villageShaanxi Province, China
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Field research on development in one village
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Mountainous, former provincial-level poor county
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Note infrastructure—roads, bridges
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Main occupation: agricultureNote the new road, truck
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Local farmers—heard about new opportunity to grow black mushrooms
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Black mushrooms need wood (logs) to grow on
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Growing black mushrooms on wood soaked in growth medium
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Need wood as growth medium
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New policy allocated forest lands from collective to farm households, like privatizing land rights
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Income from black mushrooms increased household incomes in village
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This many black mushrooms can bring in $1,000’s of $US in income
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Income from black mushrooms increased household incomes in village
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Inductively generate hypothesis to explain economic development in village
Inductive approach Start with specific case to generate
hypothesis Hypothesis
Specific statement that can tested against (additional) evidence.
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Hypotheses and variables
Hypothesis deal with variables Tells a story about relationship between
variables Variable—something that can hold
different “scores”; it can vary Example: economic development
Different scores Higher lower
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Hypotheses and evidence
Story about relationship between variables
Roads and household rights to land “causes” more income for households
Road (variable) (score) present/absent
Land rights (variable) (score) household control/collective
control
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Testing hypotheses
Testing hypothesis Study multiple cases (examples) of the
same thing More villages
Ask the same questions Road? Household claim to land? Increases in household income?
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Testing hypotheses
Testing hypothesis Study multiple cases Compare the answers
Example: new road but no household claim to land village still poor
Weaken hypothesis about road alone
Road + land = higher income
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Theories v. hypotheses
Definition A theory is a general explanation
covering a full set of empirical phenomena.
Supported by extensive evidence (not just one example)
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Theories v. hypotheses
Theory Based on variables that represent more
abstract, general concepts Road: transportation infrastructure
State invested/state did not invest Land = property rights
Private/collective
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Theories v. hypotheses
This theory is about the relationship between infrastructure investment, property rights and economic development.
The greater the state investment in infrastructure and the more widespread private property rights, the greater the economic development.
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Theories, hypotheses, and evidence
CP is about positive not normative theory Positive: follow the evidence Normative: think about what is socially
desirable
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Other approaches to social science questions
Deductive approach Start with theory The process of moving from a general
theory to specific hypotheses and observations of empirical phenomena
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Summary: Important concepts
Theory (general) positive v. normative
Hypothesis (specific) variable
Inductive approach (bottom up) Deductive approach (top down)
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Introducing readings in general
Not textbook Articles by leading scholars
Challenging! Even short reading assignment will take
more time than you think
Working with reading summaries (template on website, left column)
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Approaching the readings
Question(s) asked by the author Argument summary Hypothesis Evidence (type, examples) Important terms/concepts to
note 2 or more critical questions for
discussion:
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Introducing reading summaries
Important terms/concepts to note: Okay if you’re still need more
clarification, explanation write down terms and your understanding of them
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Introducing the first reading
Prelude to big questions: States States as main unit of comparison in
Comparative Politics States—special kind of organization
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Introducing the next reading: Tilly
Charles Tilly, “War-Making and State Making as Organized Crime” Style—metaphors—hiking Analogy between protection racket and
state Don’t let the style detract from distilling
the main argument.
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Approaching the readings: Tilly
Question(s) asked by the author How does fighting wars affect the ways
states take shape and evolve? Important terms/concepts to
note Tilly’s definition of “national state” Monopoly on violence Legitimacy
Model summary will be posted to you via e-mail
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Introduction to Comparative Politics
Course website http://faculty.washington.edu/swhiting/pols204/
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