Theoretical Approaches to Comparative Politics
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What is the focus of the institutional approach in comparative politics?

  • The examination of international relations
  • The study of individual leaders
  • The analysis of power structures and institutions (correct)
  • The role of ideas in shaping political outcomes

    • What is the primary concern of the interest-based approach in comparative politics?

  • The interests and preferences of groups and individuals (correct)
  • The distribution of power among individuals
  • The role of institutions in shaping policy
  • The impact of international factors on domestic politics

    • What is the primary focus of the idea-based approach in comparative politics?

  • The impact of international factors on domestic politics
  • The distribution of power among individuals
  • The role of institutions in shaping policy
  • The ideas and beliefs that shape political outcomes (correct)

    • What is the primary focus of the individual-based approach in comparative politics?

    <p>The behavior and characteristics of individual leaders</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary concern of the international environment approach in comparative politics?

    <p>The impact of international factors on domestic politics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of comparative politics as a field of study?

    <p>The comparison of political systems and institutions across countries</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the definition of comparative political institutions?

    <p>The description and analysis of political institutions in different countries</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who defined politics as 'what makes a decision authoritative'?

    <p>Max Weber</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of comparative politics?

    <p>Describing and making inferences about the political world</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the objective of studying comparative politics?

    <p>To understand the differences between political institutions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a theoretical approach in comparative politics?

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

    What is the primary concern of political theory in comparative politics?

    <p>Providing normative conceptions of reality</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of the course Comparative Political Institutions?

    <p>Comparing political institutions across different countries</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main goal of the theoretical approaches in comparative political institutions?

    <p>To understand the differences and similarities between political institutions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the study of political institutions across different countries?

    <p>Comparative politics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main difference between qualitative and quantitative approaches in comparative political institutions?

    <p>Qualitative approaches focus on words, while quantitative approaches focus on numbers</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the concept of 'democrac(ies)' referring to in the context of comparative political institutions?

    <p>A system of government characterized by the participation of citizens</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the process of comparing political institutions across different countries?

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

    What is the term used to describe the study of political institutions across different countries?

    <p>Comparative Politics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which approach focuses on the distribution of power and resources in a society?

    <p>Interest-based Approach</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary concern of comparative politics as a field of study?

    <p>To compare political institutions across different countries</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which theoretical approach focuses on the role of influential individuals in shaping political outcomes?

    <p>Individual-based Approach</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary objective of studying comparative politics?

    <p>To compare political institutions across different countries</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which theoretical approach focuses on the international context in which political institutions operate?

    <p>International Environment Approach</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main objective of studying comparative politics?

    <p>To describe and make inferences about the political world</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is credited with the definition of politics as 'what makes a decision authoritative'?

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

    What is the primary focus of comparative politics as a field of study?

    <p>Comparing political institutions across different countries</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the definition of power, according to Max Weber?

    <p>The ability to impose one's will on others</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a characteristic of comparative politics?

    <p>A-normative</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the purpose of comparative politics in understanding political institutions?

    <p>To understand the similarities and differences between political institutions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is credited with the definition of politics as 'what makes a decision authoritative'?

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

    Which of the following scholars is associated with the concept of power in the context of comparative politics?

    <p>Max Weber</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary focus of political theory in comparative politics?

    <p>Descriptive and normative conceptions of reality</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following scholars is associated with the development of comparative politics as a field of study?

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

    What is the primary objective of studying comparative politics?

    <p>To describe and make inferences about the political world</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of comparative politics?

    <p>Focused on individual-level analysis</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which theoretical approach prioritizes the role of individual leaders and their personalities in shaping political outcomes?

    <p>Individual-based approach</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following theoretical approaches is most closely associated with the concept of power distribution and resource allocation?

    <p>Interest-based approach</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary distinction between the institutional approach and the idea-based approach in comparative politics?

    <p>One focuses on institutions, while the other focuses on ideas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary similarity between the institutional approach and the international environment approach in comparative politics?

    <p>Both focus on the external environment</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following theoretical approaches is most closely associated with the concept of behavioral revolution in comparative politics?

    <p>Interest-based approach</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which theoretical approach is most concerned with the study of political institutions and their impact on political outcomes?

    <p>Institutional approach</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the main idea behind Maurice Duverger's laws?

    <p>The simple-majority single-ballot system favours the two-party system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Who is credited with the idea that 'the newspapers are regarded by democrats as a panacea for their own defects'?

    <p>Walter Lippmann</p> Signup and view all the answers

    When was the École Libre des Sciences Politiques established in France?

    <p>1872</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the term used to describe the theory that every organization eventually ends up in an oligarchy?

    <p>The iron law of oligarchy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the survey that is similar to an experiment in Europe?

    <p>The European Social Survey</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the name of the period of change in the study of comparative politics that occurred in the mid-20th century?

    <p>The behavioural revolution</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Comparative Politics: Definition and Approaches

    Comparative politics is a subfield of political science that compares and analyzes political institutions, actors, and processes across different countries and contexts.

    It aims to understand what makes two institutions similar or different, how the relationship between states is structured, and provide a normative conception of reality.

    Theoretical Approaches to Comparative Politics

    • Institutional approach: focuses on the role of institutions in shaping political outcomes and behavior.
    • Interests approach: emphasizes the role of interests, such as groups, parties, and ideologies, in shaping political outcomes.
    • Ideas approach: highlights the role of ideas, beliefs, and values in shaping political outcomes.
    • Individuals approach: focuses on the role of individual leaders, politicians, and citizens in shaping political outcomes.
    • International environment approach: examines the impact of the international environment on domestic political outcomes.

    Comparative Politics: What For?

    • Describe cases: classification and typologies of institutions and actors.
    • Explain: formulate hypotheses, test them, and make statements about them.
    • Examples of research questions:
      • Why are radical-right parties successful in some countries but not in others?
      • Why is turnout higher in some countries than in others?
      • Why is the welfare state more generous in some countries than in others?
      • Why do some authoritarian regimes turn into democracies while others do not?

    Key Concepts and Theorists

    • Power: defined by Max Weber as the ability to impose one's will on others.
    • Authority: defined by Aristotle as the ability to make decisions that are accepted as legitimate.
    • Iron Law of Oligarchy: every organization eventually ends up in an oligarchy (Roberto Michels, 1876-1936).
    • Duverger's Laws: the simple-majority single-ballot system favors a two-party system, while the simple-majority system with second ballot and proportional representation favor multipartism (Maurice Duverger, 1917-2014).

    History of Comparative Politics

    • The first separate school of political science was established in 1872 in France as the École Libre des Sciences Politiques (now the Institut d'Études Politiques).
    • The behavioral revolution marked a significant shift in the field of comparative politics, emphasizing the use of scientific methods and empirical evidence to study political phenomena.

    Notable Scholars

    • Walter Lippmann (1899-1974): known for his work on public opinion and the role of media in shaping political outcomes.
    • Gramsci, Habermas, Schmitt, Sartori, Mair, Lijphart, Gilpin, Waltz, and Mershaimer: notable scholars in the field of comparative politics.

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    Description

    Explore the different theoretical approaches to understanding comparative politics, including institutional, interests, and ideas-based perspectives.

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