Intro to Comparative Politics

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary objective of comparative politics, and how does it contribute to addressing societal challenges?

The primary objective is to identify similarities and differences between political systems globally to understand how societies address problems, thus providing a framework for political solutions.

In what ways does comparative politics differ from other disciplines in its methods, and what specific elements of political systems does it focus on?

While using the same comparative method, political science differs in language, vocabulary, and perspective. It focuses on elements like democracy, constitutions, political parties, and social movements.

How does comparative politics broaden the scope of study compared to comparative government, and what factors have contributed to this expansion?

Comparative politics encompasses all forms of political activities, including governmental and non-governmental aspects, unlike comparative government, which focuses solely on governmental activities. Globalization has expanded its scope.

Who is considered an early pioneer in comparative politics, and what were the key characteristics of comparative studies during the late 19th and early 20th centuries?

Aristotle is considered an early pioneer. Early characteristics included a Eurocentric focus on institutions, power distribution, and governmental relationships. Signup and view all the answers

What key events and ideological shifts after World War II influenced changes in comparative studies, and how did these changes broaden the scope of analysis?

The Bolshevik Revolution, decline of European dominance, and the emergence of the Cold War influenced changes. These broadened studies to include institutions and legal principles. Signup and view all the answers

How did the rise of behaviorism impact the approach and focus of comparative studies, and what new concepts were introduced as a result?

Behavioralism shifted studies from descriptive to analytical, focusing on the impact of behavior on political processes. This led to theories related to political systems. Signup and view all the answers

What were the main criticisms of development-ism in the 1970s, and how did these critiques challenge dominant perspectives on global development?

Criticisms included support for abstract models in Third World contexts, ignoring domestic class factors, and favoring Western interests. It was seen as a form of dominance. Signup and view all the answers

How did the focus of comparative politics shift in the 1980s, and what new concepts gained prominence during this period?

The 1980s saw a return of the state, with new theories like bureaucratic and authoritarian approaches. Concepts like transitions in democracy, privatization, and neoliberalism emerged. Signup and view all the answers

In what ways has globalization impacted comparative politics, and how have advancements in technology influenced data collection and analysis?

Globalization created interconnected conditions worldwide, making developments in one part of the world affect the entire global community. Advancements in technology made data collection easier and faster. Signup and view all the answers

What is the utility of comparative study of politics in understanding political reality, and how does it contribute to building and testing theories?

It enhances understanding of political reality by comparing multiple countries to draw conclusions about political systems. It focuses on building and testing theories. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of scientific rigor, what is the focus of comparative experiments and how does this approach contribute to the field?

The focus is on controlled, comparative experiments. This contributes by providing a more systematic and evidence-based approach to understanding political phenomena. Signup and view all the answers

How have the aims of comparative studies evolved over time, particularly regarding the examination of similarities and differences between countries?

Early studies compared similarities and differences. Newer studies classify and polarize political phenomena, focusing on differences and how these processes function. Signup and view all the answers

What fundamental questions does comparative politics aim to answer, and how does it contribute to improving existing arguments in the field?

It aims to answer fundamental questions about political systems and improve existing arguments by building and testing theories to identify the most valid or effective approaches. Signup and view all the answers

Explain the difference between comparative government and comparative politics. Provide an example of a topic that would fall under comparative politics but not comparative government.

Comparative government focuses solely on governmental activities and structures, while comparative politics encompasses all forms of political activities. An example is studying social movements. Signup and view all the answers

Describe how the exclusion of non-European countries from comparative studies during the late 19th and early 20th centuries influenced global politics. What impact did this have?

The exclusion led to a European dominance in world politics during that time, limiting the understanding and representation of diverse political systems. Signup and view all the answers

Discuss the role of non-state actors in comparative politics, especially in the context of globalization. How have these actors become more relevant in recent comparative studies?

Globalization has expanded the scope of comparative politics to include non-state actors. They have become more relevant due to their increasing influence on political processes. Signup and view all the answers

Explain how dependence theory challenged the assumptions of development-ism. What were the key arguments made by proponents of dependence theory?

Dependence theory criticized development-ism for ignoring domestic class factors and favoring Western interests, arguing it was a form of dominance by powerful countries. Signup and view all the answers

Outline the main interconnected conditions created by globalization and explain how these conditions affect the global community.

Globalization created interconnected scientific, technological, economic, and political conditions, meaning developments in one part of the world could affect the entire global community. Signup and view all the answers

Describe how advancements in information and communication technology have changed the methodologies used in comparative politics research.

Advancements in information and communication technology made data collection and analysis easier and faster, allowing for more comprehensive and timely research. Signup and view all the answers

Explain how comparative politics uses scientific rigor to improve understanding of political systems. What elements are included?

Comparative politics use scientific rigor by focusing on controlled, comparative experiments. These improve understanding of countries and their political systems. Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Goal of Comparative Politics

To identify similarities and differences in political systems across countries.

Comparative Politics

Systematically comparing countries to analyze their similarities and differences.