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POLS 373 Foundations of Comparative Politics Topic: Introduction to Comparative Politics and Comparative Analysis Lecture Date: January 14, 2008 Professor Timothy Lim California State University, Los Angeles Topic: Introduction to Comparative Politics and Comparative Analysis Lecture Date: January 14, 2008 Professor Timothy Lim California State University, Los Angeles

3 Returning to method and a basic question … Is comparing important? Returning to method and a basic question … Is comparing important?

4 “Thinking without comparison is unthinkable. And, in the absence of comparison, so is all scientific thought and scientific research.” “Thinking without comparison is unthinkable. And, in the absence of comparison, so is all scientific thought and scientific research.” This quote tells us that we cannot escape the process of comparing. It’s part and parcel of thinking in general, and it’s integral to the scientific enterprise. Studying Comparative Politics Basics of Comparing: First Lesson

5 IF we all compare, if all science is based on comparison, then what separates comparative politics from other fields of study? IF we all compare, if all science is based on comparison, then what separates comparative politics from other fields of study? In principle, comparative politics (CP) is no different from other fields; in practice, however, one thing that sets CP apart from other fields is the explicit and direct focus on the comparative method, a systematic and logical framework of comparative analysis Studying Comparative Politics Basics of Comparing: First Lesson

6 More Questions What is the purpose or goal of comparing? In the book … More Questions What is the purpose or goal of comparing? In the book … 3 general purposes of comparing are discussed 1.Comparing to _______________ 2.Comparing to _______________ 3.Comparing to _______________ control understand explain Studying Comparative Politics Basics of Comparing: Goals

7 Consider these arguments or claims:  “Ineffective and corrupt governments are the main obstacle to economic growth”  “Authoritarian political systems are more conducive to high levels of economic growth than democracies”  “Islamic culture is fundamentally incompatible with democracy”  “The relatively poor math and science skills of American students are due to overcrowded and poorly-funded schools” Consider these arguments or claims:  “Ineffective and corrupt governments are the main obstacle to economic growth”  “Authoritarian political systems are more conducive to high levels of economic growth than democracies”  “Islamic culture is fundamentally incompatible with democracy”  “The relatively poor math and science skills of American students are due to overcrowded and poorly-funded schools” How do we know or how can we know if any of these claims is right, wrong, or something else? DISCUSS Studying Comparative Politics Goals of Comparing: Control

8 Consider Arguments about Gun Violence Possible causes … Violent video games and entertainment Anti-social rock music and/or Marilyn Manson Too many guns Too much poverty Too much ethnic/racial diversity A History of violence in the United States Consider Arguments about Gun Violence Possible causes … Violent video games and entertainment Anti-social rock music and/or Marilyn Manson Too many guns Too much poverty Too much ethnic/racial diversity A History of violence in the United States Studying Comparative Politics Goals Comparing: Control

9 Comparing to Control Through comparative checking, many possible causes of gun violence can be easily eliminated  Violent video games and entertainment: Plenty of violent games and entertainment in Japan, Germany, Canada, and so on. All have low rates of gun violence  Anti-social rock music and/or Marilyn Manson: Germany is home to “Goth Rock,” yet has low rate of gun violence  Too many guns: Several countries have very high rates of gun ownership (e.g., Norway, Canada), but low rates of gun violence Comparing to Control Through comparative checking, many possible causes of gun violence can be easily eliminated  Violent video games and entertainment: Plenty of violent games and entertainment in Japan, Germany, Canada, and so on. All have low rates of gun violence  Anti-social rock music and/or Marilyn Manson: Germany is home to “Goth Rock,” yet has low rate of gun violence  Too many guns: Several countries have very high rates of gun ownership (e.g., Norway, Canada), but low rates of gun violence XX XX XX Studying Comparative Politics Goals of Comparing: Control

10 Comparing to Control Eliminating possible causes through comparative checking (continued)  Too much poverty: Plenty of poor countries that have much less gun violence than US  Too much ethnic/racial diversity: Plenty of ethnically diverse countries with low rates of gun violence  History of violence: Many societies have far more violent pasts than the U.S. Comparing to Control Eliminating possible causes through comparative checking (continued)  Too much poverty: Plenty of poor countries that have much less gun violence than US  Too much ethnic/racial diversity: Plenty of ethnically diverse countries with low rates of gun violence  History of violence: Many societies have far more violent pasts than the U.S. XX XX XX Studying Comparative Politics Goals of Comparing: Control

11 Comparing to Understand Focus on a specific place and time; idiographic (definition: “of or relating to the study or discovery of particular scientific facts and processes, as distinct from general law”): researchers interested in understanding, use comparisons to better understand a single caseidiographic Comparing to Explain Focus on theory or general principles; nomothetic (definition: “ of or relating to the study or discovery of general scientific laws”): researchers interested in explanation, use comparisons to build general explanations or theories that apply across a range of specific casesnomothetic Comparing to Understand Focus on a specific place and time; idiographic (definition: “of or relating to the study or discovery of particular scientific facts and processes, as distinct from general law”): researchers interested in understanding, use comparisons to better understand a single case Comparing to Explain Focus on theory or general principles; nomothetic (definition: “ of or relating to the study or discovery of general scientific laws”): researchers interested in explanation, use comparisons to build general explanations or theories that apply across a range of specific cases Studying Comparative Politics Goals of Comparing: Other

12 Goals of Comparing: Summary of the Three Purposes Comparing to Control Comparing to Understand Comparing to Explain