POLS 373 Foundations of Comparative Politics Comparative Strategies Lecture October 12, 2006 Comparative Strategies Lecture October 12, 2006

Strategies of Comparative Analysis Introduction The MSS and MDS designs reflect the basic logic of comparative analysis, but the comparativist also needs to know something about concrete strategies, that is, the “nuts and bolts” of comparing.

Strategies of Comparative Analysis Introduction For our purposes, we will examine three basic strategies: The case study in comparative perspective Binary and multi-unit analysis A mixed design Two related strategies are the within- case comparison and analytical induction For our purposes, we will examine three basic strategies: The case study in comparative perspective Binary and multi-unit analysis A mixed design Two related strategies are the within- case comparison and analytical induction

Strategies of Comparative Analysis The Case Study The case study is probably the most common type of study in comparative politics. It’s critical to understand, however, that not all case studies are actually or comparative. Some, in fact, are not comparative at all. The case study is probably the most common type of study in comparative politics. It’s critical to understand, however, that not all case studies are actually or comparative. Some, in fact, are not comparative at all.

Strategies of Comparative Analysis The Case Study Before going further, though, it is necessary to address a very basic question … What is a case?What is a case? Before going further, though, it is necessary to address a very basic question … What is a case?What is a case?

Strategies of Comparative Analysis The Case Study In the most simple terms, we can say that a case is based on: 1.a specific issue or concern (e.g., terrorism, industrialization, revolution, a social movement); 2.a delimited geographic space (Japan, France, California, Moscow), and 3.a certain period of time Examples: Far-left terrorism in post-war Italy; Japanese industrialization between 1945 and 1975; the impact of a presidential system on democratic consolidation in Latin America In the most simple terms, we can say that a case is based on: 1.a specific issue or concern (e.g., terrorism, industrialization, revolution, a social movement); 2.a delimited geographic space (Japan, France, California, Moscow), and 3.a certain period of time Examples: Far-left terrorism in post-war Italy; Japanese industrialization between 1945 and 1975; the impact of a presidential system on democratic consolidation in Latin America

Strategies of Comparative Analysis The Case Study Next Question Next Question: Can a case study be comparative? Answer: “Yes, but …” Next Question Next Question: Can a case study be comparative? Answer: “Yes, but …”

Strategies of Comparative Analysis The Case Study For a case study to be comparative, a few basic steps must be followed. These include: 1.Seeing your case in relation to others. This requires you to be familiar both with similar and dissimilar cases. 2.Aiming at generalization. This means self- consciously fitting your case into the bigger theoretical picture. Warning: Neither of these steps is easy to do! For a case study to be comparative, a few basic steps must be followed. These include: 1.Seeing your case in relation to others. This requires you to be familiar both with similar and dissimilar cases. 2.Aiming at generalization. This means self- consciously fitting your case into the bigger theoretical picture. Warning: Neither of these steps is easy to do!

Strategies of Comparative Analysis The Case Study All this leads to a simple maxim of doing case studies in comparative perspective: Think comparatively, but deeply and systematically All this leads to a simple maxim of doing case studies in comparative perspective: Think comparatively, but deeply and systematically

Strategies of Comparative Analysis The Case Study Repeat: Doing a case study in comparative perspective may seem relatively simple, but in fact, is quite difficult.

Strategies of Comparative Analysis The Case Study: Limitations A single case study, while it may aim at generalization, can never hit the bull ’ s- eye. Q: What do I mean by this? A single case study, while it may aim at generalization, can never hit the bull ’ s- eye. Q: What do I mean by this?

Strategies of Comparative Analysis The Case Study: Limitations Despite its limitations, case studies can still serve an indispensable social scientific role … … in the messy real-world of political, social and economic phenomena, a case study can serve as an empirical/theoretical stepping stone Despite its limitations, case studies can still serve an indispensable social scientific role … … in the messy real-world of political, social and economic phenomena, a case study can serve as an empirical/theoretical stepping stone

Strategies of Comparative Analysis The Case Study: Limitations Analytical Induction Induction: The process of deriving general principles from particular facts or instances Analytical induction, therefore, goes uses evidence and conclusions drawn from individual cases as a way to assess/evaluate broader theories about political, social or economic phenomena Analytical Induction Induction: The process of deriving general principles from particular facts or instances Analytical induction, therefore, goes uses evidence and conclusions drawn from individual cases as a way to assess/evaluate broader theories about political, social or economic phenomena

Strategies of Comparative Analysis Binary or Two-Unit Comparisons Simple Lesson about Binary or Two-Unit Comparisons … … all you need to know (for now): binary or two-unit comparisons follow the logic of either the MSS or MDS design. Simple Lesson about Binary or Two-Unit Comparisons … … all you need to know (for now): binary or two-unit comparisons follow the logic of either the MSS or MDS design.

Strategies of Comparative Analysis Binary or Two-Unit Comparisons A Caveat In a two-unit comparison, case selection is very important. If the researcher isn ’ t careful or, worse still, is intellectually dishonest, then two-unit comparisons may be seriously, even fatally biased. A Caveat In a two-unit comparison, case selection is very important. If the researcher isn ’ t careful or, worse still, is intellectually dishonest, then two-unit comparisons may be seriously, even fatally biased.

Strategies of Comparative Analysis Binary or Two-Unit Comparisons A Caveat In general, the basic problem is overdetermination or selection bias. Q: What does this mean? A Caveat In general, the basic problem is overdetermination or selection bias. Q: What does this mean?

Strategies of Comparative Analysis Binary or Two-Unit Comparisons Overdetermination, Selection Bias A fancy way of saying that if we use an MSS or MDS design with only two cases, we ’ re likely to select only those cases that support our argument (i.e., we have more or less pre-determined the outcome of our research) This can happen even to well-intentioned researchers. Indeed, in any “ small-N ” research, the problem of selection bias is unavoidable. Overdetermination, Selection Bias A fancy way of saying that if we use an MSS or MDS design with only two cases, we ’ re likely to select only those cases that support our argument (i.e., we have more or less pre-determined the outcome of our research) This can happen even to well-intentioned researchers. Indeed, in any “ small-N ” research, the problem of selection bias is unavoidable.

Strategies of Comparative Analysis Binary or Two-Unit Comparisons So, what should the careful researcher, the “ good comparativist, ” do to avoid this problem? Quick Answer: Be humble. Never assume that any two-unit comparison “ proves ” an argument. So, what should the careful researcher, the “ good comparativist, ” do to avoid this problem? Quick Answer: Be humble. Never assume that any two-unit comparison “ proves ” an argument.

Strategies of Comparative Analysis The Small-N Problem The case study and binary analysis: the “ small-N ” problem Although there is no way to overcome the limitations of “ small-N ’ s, ” there are a couple of ways to mitigate the problem of selection bias. One of these is the … … within-case comparison The case study and binary analysis: the “ small-N ” problem Although there is no way to overcome the limitations of “ small-N ’ s, ” there are a couple of ways to mitigate the problem of selection bias. One of these is the … … within-case comparison

Strategies of Comparative Analysis Within-Case Comparison What is a within-case comparison? Put simply, a within-case comparison is a comparison of the same unit, but with the added variable of “ time ” What is a within-case comparison? Put simply, a within-case comparison is a comparison of the same unit, but with the added variable of “ time ”

Strategies of Comparative Analysis Within-Case Comparison Example of a within-case comparison: South Korea, and

Strategies of Comparative Analysis Multi-unit Comparisons (3+ units) The next step beyond a two-unit comparison is a comparison of three or more units Again, the same logic that applies to a case study and binary comparisons applies equally here In principle, though, we can say that 3+ unit comparisons are superior to 1 or 2 unit comparisons, because bigger “ N ’ s ” ostensibly give us more control over the variables we want to study and also help to mitigate the effects of selection bias. This means we can be more confident in our conclusions. But … The next step beyond a two-unit comparison is a comparison of three or more units Again, the same logic that applies to a case study and binary comparisons applies equally here In principle, though, we can say that 3+ unit comparisons are superior to 1 or 2 unit comparisons, because bigger “ N ’ s ” ostensibly give us more control over the variables we want to study and also help to mitigate the effects of selection bias. This means we can be more confident in our conclusions. But …

Strategies of Comparative Analysis Multi-unit Comparisons (3+ units) … there ’ s a tradeoff, which is what? Bigger N ’ s requires a sacrifice in depth Taken too far, countries become mere “ data points ” This is one reason why many (but not all) comparativists are uncomfortable with doing comparisons that rely on comparing a huge number of cases … there ’ s a tradeoff, which is what? Bigger N ’ s requires a sacrifice in depth Taken too far, countries become mere “ data points ” This is one reason why many (but not all) comparativists are uncomfortable with doing comparisons that rely on comparing a huge number of cases