Comparative Politics Overview
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Comparative Politics Overview

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Questions and Answers

What does predictive argumentation primarily focus on?

  • Forecasting future events (correct)
  • Explaining cause-and-effect relationships
  • Identifying values and norms
  • Summarizing existing reality

    • Which theoretical perspective examines how global pressures influence domestic politics?

  • Institutionalism
  • Interests
  • International environment (correct)
  • Individuals

    • Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of a good hypothesis?

  • It is logically derived from theory
  • It must be widely accepted (correct)
  • It is testable with different observations
  • It is precise and falsifiable

    • What does rigorous methodology in research aim to ensure?

    <p>Validity of results driven by claimed variables</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which perspective emphasizes the role of formal and informal institutions in shaping outcomes?

    <p>Institutionalism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What do good research designs provide alongside internally valid conclusions?

    <p>External validity</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which theoretical perspective focuses primarily on individual strategic calculations?

    <p>Interests</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which aspect of a hypothesis ensures that it can be empirically tested?

    <p>It is precise and falsifiable</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following must be included in the research design for the course?

    <p>A short write-up of 2-3 pages</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which statement is NOT true about political science as presented in the course?

    <p>Science proves things definitively.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a feature of good political science?

    <p>Clear theory</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect of a theory specifies when or where it should apply?

    <p>Scope conditions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of assessments are the quizzes described as in the course?

    <p>Unannounced, closed-book</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which feature is essential for a hypothesis in political science?

    <p>Testability</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of methodology is emphasized for good political science research?

    <p>Rigorous methodology</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is Schumpeter's perspective on democracy?

    <p>Democracy as an institutional arrangement based on elite competition</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Dahl, which of the following is a key feature of democracy?

    <p>Political equality among citizens</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What defines Przeworski's understanding of democracy?

    <p>A mechanism in which parties can lose elections</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What aspect differentiates polyarchy as described by Dahl?

    <p>High levels of inclusiveness and competitiveness in governance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does Schumpeter's view of voters differ from a normative perspective on democracy?

    <p>Voters play a role in competitive struggles rather than direct governance</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a defining characteristic of authoritarian regimes with respect to elections?

    <p>They often lack free and fair elections with multiple competing parties.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which form of authoritarianism involves a single-party system?

    <p>Single-party authoritarianism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Selectorate theory emphasizes certain groups within a regime. What does 'S' represent in this context?

    <p>The size of the selectorate</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key limitation in existing definitions of authoritarianism?

    <p>Excessive focus on elections and state-level authoritarianism</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which aspect of authoritarian regimes does the selectorate theory focus on?

    <p>The formal and informal institutions shaping behavior</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one key ingredient of Weber's concept of the state?

    <p>Nonvoluntary nature</p> Signup and view all the answers

    According to Hobbes, what is required for individuals to escape the state of nature?

    <p>Establishment of a sovereign authority</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the concept of territoriality in states refer to?

    <p>Fixed geographic boundaries and sovereignty</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How does the state contribute to political behavior and identities?

    <p>By facilitating trust in government</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the nature of the social contract in Hobbes' theory?

    <p>Transferring rights to a sovereign for absolute power</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What challenge does the state address in the state of nature according to Hobbes?

    <p>Resolving coordination problems</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is suggested by the idea of the state's monopoly on legitimate violence?

    <p>No state ever achieves complete monopoly over violence</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does the state play in boosting development?

    <p>Promoting healthcare and education</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    The Approach and Methods of Comparative Politics

    • Science is not about proving things definitively, but about making testable propositions, using rigorous methodology.
    • Good political science features a clear theory, testable hypothesis, transparent methods, and ethical implications.

    Theoretical Clarity

    • A theory explains a phenomenon, has generalizability and is independently testable through observations.
    • Theories can be normative, descriptive, predictive, or casual.
    • Comparative political science often focuses on casual, predictive, and descriptive arguments.

    Theoretical perspectives in political science

    • Institutionalism focuses on how institutions affect behavior.
    • Interests approach focus on individuals' self-interested behavior.
    • Ideas approach focuses on how ideas and culture shape behavior.
    • Individuals approach focuses on how specific people, especially leaders, shape outcomes.
    • International environment approach focuses on how global pressures shape domestic politics.

    Testable Hypothesis

    • A hypothesis is a specific testable prediction based on a theory.
    • Good hypotheses are logically derived from a theory, precise, falsifiable, and non-trivial.

    Rigorous Methodology

    • A research design is a strategy for answering a research question empirically.
    • Good research designs provide internally valid conclusions, uncertainty estimates, and some level of external validity.

    The State

    • Weber's concept of the state:
      • Territoriality
      • Continuity
      • Administrative Staff
      • Monopoly of Legitimate Violence
      • Nonvoluntary nature

    The Role of States in Politics

    • Political outputs:
      • Fixed geographic boundaries and territorial sovereignty
      • Revenue raising
      • Mobilization of populations for warfare
      • Reshaping individual social life
      • Boosting development
    • Political Behaviors and Identities:
      • New legitimation of authority and power
      • Displacement of kinship, ethnic, and religious sources of authority
      • National identity
      • Hegemony in politics and culture
      • Trust in government
      • Political conflicts organized within the state

    Emergence and Development of States

    • Hobbesian theory:

      • The state of nature is characterized by chaos.
      • The sovereign, through a social contract, establishes order and enforces rules.
      • This results in an absolute exercise of power by the sovereign.

    • Coordination problems:

      • Individuals are better off if everyone abstains from violence, but it’s not in their individual interest.
      • The state acts as a coordination device to escape the state of nature.

    • Sovereignty in Hobbes:

      • Individuals transfer their natural rights to the sovereign.

    Authoritarianism

    • Authoritarian regimes do not have a turnover of power in the executive.
    • They lack free and fair elections and key freedoms like freedom of expression and association.
    • Violence is the ultimate arbiter of conflicts in these regimes.

    Classifying Authoritarianism

    • Totalitarian vs. non-totalitarian regimes
    • Regime types: Personalist, single-party, military, or monarchical
    • Closed vs. electoral authoritarian regimes (hybrid or competitive)
    • More vs. less competitive authoritarian regimes

    Selectorate Theory

    • It explains how authoritarian regimes survive and perform based on the size of the selectorate (S), winning coalition (W), and W/S ratio.
    • The theory predicts that regimes with smaller W/S ratios are more likely to provide public goods and are less corrupt.

    Democracy

    • The procedural tradition emphasizes:

      • Elite competition (Schumpeter)
      • High inclusiveness and competitiveness (Dahl)
      • Uncertainty and acceptance of losing elections (Przeworski)

    • Substantial definitions focus on rights, accountability, and citizen agency.

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    Related Documents

    Comparative Politics Class Notes PDF

    Description

    Explore the core theories and methodologies within comparative politics. This quiz delves into theoretical clarity, the significance of institutions, individual behaviors, and the influence of global pressures. Test your understanding of the foundational concepts that shape political science.

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