POLSC106 Midterm Reviewer PDF

POLSC106 3 - APL DELA CRUZ | PROF. KERWIN | SEM 1 2024 political institutions and processes operate by examining their INTRO TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS...

POLSC106 3 - APL DELA CRUZ | PROF. KERWIN | SEM 1 2024 political institutions and processes operate by examining their INTRO TO COMPARATIVE POLITICS workings across a range of countries. WHAT IS COMPARATIVE POLITICS? Constitutions, executive branches, Making comparisons is a natural foreign policies, legislative bodies human activity. and procedures, judicial systems, To compare is to be human. political parties and processes, To “compare & contrast” is one of administrative structures, the most common human mental economic and social functions. exercises. It looks for trends, for changes in Citizens in all countries around the patterns; and it tries to develop world continue to compare their general propositions or hypotheses position in society to that of others that describe and explain these across many different dimensions: trends. 1. Their regional, ethnic, Comparative government is more linguistic, religious, familial, appropriate as a study of states, & cultural allegiances & their institutions and functions, with identities; perhaps also the immediate 2. Their material possession, supplementary groupings economic, social, & political concerned with state activity – positions; parties and pressure groups. 3. Their relative location in Comparative politics is indicative of systems of power & a wider focus, one that would authority. include comparative government Comparative politics is a subfield and, as required, the study of within the academic discipline of non-state politics: tribes, political science as well as a communities, private associations, method or approach to the study of etc. politics. Comparative analysis is an Comparative politics is a important part of any scientific sub-discipline of political science activity and is the center of political which seeks to examine key explanation, explicitly or implicitly. similarities and differences across Comparative methods is usually a countries to explain political synonym for comparative analysis, outcomes of interest. but it is sometimes used as a term Comparative politics is concerned indicating a contrast to the case with significant regularities, study method. It is a scientific similarities, and differences in the method or approach to political working of political institutions and phenomena. in political behavior. Strategies and methods for Comparativist is a political scientist comparing many countries, few who studies the similarities and countries, and how single-country differences in the domestic politics studies serve important of various countries. comparative functions. Comparative politics is the It is a problem to identify the systematic study of government concepts which are to be the units and politics in different countries, of such comparison of similarities designed to better understand and differences. them by drawing out their contrasts No comparative science of politics and similarities. is plausible – on a global scale – The core goal of comparative unless we can draw on extensive politics is to understand how information which is sufficiently 1 POLSC106 3 - APL DELA CRUZ | PROF. KERWIN | SEM 1 2024 precise to be meaningfully world becomes more compared. interdependent, as events from overseas have a more direct REASONS FOR COMPARISON impact on our lives. Comparison has so many Understanding politics in other purposes, including the simple systems not only helps us interpret description of political systems and the news, but also helps with institutions, helping us understand practical relationships. the broader context within their work, helping us develop theories CONTEXTUAL DESCRIPTION and rules of politics, and showing Contextual description allows how similar problems are political scientists to know what approached by different societies. other countries are like. It is the process of describing the OBJECTIVES FOR COMPARISON political phenomena and events of a particular country or group of ★ Broadening Understanding countries. ★ Contextual Description In old comparative politics, through ★ Classification and highly detailed description, Typologizing scholars sought to escape their ★ Hypothesis testing & Theory own ethnocentrism by studying Building those countries and cultures that ★ Prediction were foreign to them. The comparison to the BROADENING UNDERSTANDING researcher’s own country was The first strength of a comparative either implicit or explicit in old approach is straightforward: it comparative politics. The goal of improves our understanding of contextual description was either government and politics. more knowledge about the country Through comparison, we can pin studied, more knowledge about the down the key features of political scholar’s own political system, or institutions, processes and action, both. and better appreciate the dynamics New comparative politics has and character of a political system. analytical aspirations that move When we talk of understanding, it beyond mere description. is not only the need to comprehend Today, comparativists are defined other political systems, but also to by what they do: compare understand our own. similarities and differences across We can follow domestic politics different samples of countries and closely and think we have a good time periods in order to explain and grasp on how it works, but we understand important political cannot fully understand it without phenomena. comparing it with other systems. The debate about what constitutes International comparison increases old and new comparison often tenfold the possibility of explaining misses the important point that all political phenomena. systematic research begins with Comparison has the practical good description. benefit of allowing us to learn Description serves as an important about places with which we are component to the research unfamiliar. process and ought to precede the The ability to interpret overseas other three objectives of events grows in importance as the comparison. 2 POLSC106 3 - APL DELA CRUZ | PROF. KERWIN | SEM 1 2024 Purely descriptive studies can Politics, in which he established six serve as the “raw data” for those types of rule. comparative studies that aspire to Based on the combination of the higher levels of explanation of form of rule (good or corrupt) and observed phenomena. the number of those who rule (one, few, or many), Aristotle derived the CLASSIFICATION following 6 types of political Classification makes the world of systems: politics less complex, effectively ○ Monarchy (kingship) providing the researchers with ○ Aristocracy “data containers” into which the ○ Polity empirical evidence is organized. ○ Tyranny Comparativists establish different ○ Oligarchy conceptual classification in order to ○ Democracy group vast numbers of countries, Description and classification are political systems, and events into the building blocks of comparative distinct categories with identifiable politics. and shared characteristics and Classification simplifies attributes. descriptions of the important Classification can be a simple objects of comparative inquiry. dichotomy (i.e. two categories) Good classification should have such as that between well defined categories into which authoritarianism and democracy, empirical evidence can be which draws on a set of organized. theoretically derived criteria that Categories that make up a help determine where particular classification scheme can be countries would fall in the derived inductively from careful classification. consideration of available evidence Like contextual description, or through a process of deduction classification is a necessary in which “ideal” types are component of systematic generated. comparison. It represents a higher level of comparison since it groups HYPOTHESIS TESTING a large number of separate Hypothesis is a proposed descriptive entities into simpler explanation for a phenomenon that categories. can be confirmed or falsified Classification reduces the through observation or complexity of the world by seeking experimentation. out those qualities that countries Hypothesis-testing function of share and those that they do not comparison allows the elimination share. of rival explanations about Classification schemes capture particular events, actors, cross-natural variation in political structures, etc. in an effort to help phenomena, such as that between build more general theories. democratic and authoritarian Once things have been described countries, developed and and classified, the comparativist under-developed countries, core can then move on to search for and periphery countries, military those factors that may help explain and civilian regimes, among many and understand what has been other classic distinctions found in described and classified. the comparative political analyses. Hypothesis testing allows scholars The most effort at classification is to identify important variables, arguably found in Aristotle’s posit relationships to exist between 3 POLSC106 3 - APL DELA CRUZ | PROF. KERWIN | SEM 1 2024 them, and illustrate these ★ Levels of analysis and relationships comparatively. Ecological and Individualistic Arend Lijphart claims that Fallacies; comparison allows “testing ★ Quantitative and Qualitative hypothesized empirical methods. relationships among variables.” Peter Katzenstein argues that “comparative research is a focus of TERMS & CONCEPTS IN analytical relationships among COMPARATIVE POLITICS variables validated by social Terms and concepts used and how science. they are needed for a science of politics, including: PREDICTION Theory and Method; Comparison permits Ontology, Epistemology, generalizations which have some and Methodology; potential for prediction. Cases, Units of analysis, In politics, the potential for Variables, and prediction provides a starting point Observations; for drawing lessons across Levels of analysis and countries. Ecological and Is formulated about the likely Individualistic Fallacies; outcomes in a set of countries that Quantitative and Qualitative have not been included in the methods. original comparison or about outcomes in the future given the THEORY & METHOD presence of antecedent factors There are two basic types of theory and conditions that have been in political science: normative and deemed significant through careful empirical. comparative analysis. ○ Normative theory Is a logical extension of hypothesis specifies how things in testing. society ought to be, given a Is based on the generalizations desired set of outcomes from the initial comparison or to and philosophical position. make claims about future political Normative outcomes. perspective uses Are about changes, outcomes, or judgements or effects based on the presence, prescriptions to ask absence, or combinations of what should have different factors. happened or what TERMS & CONCEPTS IN ought to happen COMPARATIVE POLITICS (evaluative). ○ Empirical theory seeks to Terms and concepts used and how they establish relationships are needed for a science of politics, between two or more including: concepts in an effort to ★ Theory and Method; explain the occurrence of ★ Ontology, Epistemology, and observed political Methodology; phenomena. ★ Cases, Units of analysis, Empirical Variables, and Observations; perspective uses facts to ask what 4 POLSC106 3 - APL DELA CRUZ | PROF. KERWIN | SEM 1 2024 happened and why Epistemology is the study of the (descriptive). nature of knowledge, or how Deductive theory arrives at its scholars come to know the world, conclusion by applying reason to a both through a priori means and given set of premises. - Inductive through a posteriori means of theory arrives at its conclusion observation, sense impression, through observation of known and experience. facts. Epistemology concerns what Method is the means by which a knowledge of the political world is theory is derived and tested, possible and what rules of inquiry including the collection of scholars ought to follow in knowing evidence, formulation and testing the political world. of hypothesis, and the arrival at Methodology concerns the ways substantive conclusions. in which knowledge of the political The method can take different world is actually acquired. forms according to the number of Methodology is the study of cases being studied. different methods or systems of Evidence can be collected, for methods in a given field of inquiry. example, through the examination Methodology is the systematic of historical records, the collation analysis of methods used in a and analysis of open ended given field of inquiry. It is also used interviews of political activists, the to describe the body of methods systematic reporting of the used in a discipline, or the means participant observation of social used to reach a particular set of movement activities, or the conclusions. construction and analysis of mass The three comparative methods surveys of a sample of the (many-, few-, and single-country population. studies) depend on ontology that The combination of theory, establishes what is knowable, method, and empirical analysis epistemology that establishes how then allows for substantive it is knowable, and methodology conclusions to be drawn from the that establishes how it is acquired theories and the evidence. systematically. The comparative method chosen is ONTOLOGY, EPISTEMOLOGY, & a function of the research question, METHODOLOGY the theory, the type of reasoning, Ontology is the study of being, or and the nature of the knowledge the metaphysical concern with the claim that is being advanced. essence of things, including the nature, constitution, and structure CASES, UNITS OF ANALYSIS, of the objects of comparative VARIABLES, & OBSERVATIONS inquiry. Cases are those countries that Ontology concerns what can be feature in the comparative studied, what can be compared, analysis. and what can be considered Units of analysis are the objects political. on which the scholar collects data, For comparative politics, such as individual people, ontology concerns the countries, countries, electoral systems, social events, actors, institutions, movements, etc. processes, language, and stories Unit of analysis is the object of among other things that are study in comparative politics. observable, comparable, and in Variable is a changeable feature, need of explanation. factor, quantity, or element. 5 POLSC106 3 - APL DELA CRUZ | PROF. KERWIN | SEM 1 2024 Variables are those concepts actions of structureless agents, whose values change over a given while macro-analysts believe that set of units, such as income, the world is shaped by the political party identification, unstoppable processes of propensity to join a protest agentless structures. movement, etc. POSSIBLE LEVELS OF ANALYSIS IN Observations are the values of the variable for each unit, can be COMPARATIVE POLITICS numeric, verbal or even visual. Variables can either be dependent 1. Individuals or independent. 2. Localities ○ Dependent variables 3. Regions (alternatively preferred to 4. Groups as outcome variable, 5. The State endogenous variables, or 6. Region of States the explanandum) are 7. The International System those political outcomes that the research is trying to QUANTITATIVE & QUALITATIVE explain. METHODS ○ Independent variable Quantitative methods seek to show explains the dependent the differences in number between variable (and is certain objects of analysis and alternatively labeled as qualitative methods seek to show causal variable, an differences in kind. explanatory variable, an Quantitative data can be official exogenous variable, or the aggregate data published by explicandum). governments. Quantitative data can also be LEVELS OF ANALYSIS individual, such as that found in Level of analysis is the level of research surveys and public study in comparative politics, opinion polls. ranging from the political system Relationships of data can be level to the individual level. established between numeric Comparisons can be useful for variables using simple and political analysis at different levels advanced statistical methods. of a country. Qualitative methods seek to Levels of analysis in political identify and understand the science are divided between the attributes, characteristics, and micro or individual level and the traits of the objects of inquiry, and macro or system level. the nature of the method Micro-political analysis examines necessarily requires a focus on a the political activity of individuals, small number of countries. such as respondents in a mass In comparative politics, there are 3 survey, elite members of a political broad types of qualitative party or government, or activists in methods: a protest movement. 1. Macro-historical Macro-political analysis focuses on comparison; groups of individuals, structures of 2. In-depth interviews and power, social classes, economic participant observation; processes, and the interaction of 3. Interpretivism, nation-states. hermeneutics, and thick Micro-analysts believe that the description. world of politics is shaped by the 6 POLSC106 3 - APL DELA CRUZ | PROF. KERWIN | SEM 1 2024 Macro-historical comparison The external element highlights the allows contrast of contexts or impact on a state’s domestic parallel demonstration of history. political institutions and processes In-depth interviews and of its relative success or failure in participant observation strive to competing economically and uncover a deeper level of politically with other states. information in order to capture The more advantages a state meaning, process, and context, possesses, as measured by its where explanation involves level of economic development, describing and understanding military power, and resource base, people as conscious and social the more global influence it will human beings. likely have and the more it will Interpretivism, hermeneutics, benefit from globalization. and thick description are The second component of the concerned with interpretation, world-of states theme recognizes understanding, and the deeper the fact that individual states are structures of meanings associated still the building block in world with the objects of inquiry. politics. It analyzes the importance of THEMES FOR COMPARATIVE regime variations among states, POLITICS the overall mix of their political These themes help explain institutions that distinguishes, for continuities and contrasts among example, democratic from countries. authoritarian regimes. They help understand what It is important to understand patterns apply to a group of similarities and contrast in state countries and why, and what formation and institutional design patterns are specific to a particular across countries. country. Critical junctures in state formation Each theme highlights a particular are identified such as the state’s puzzle in comparative politics. economic management strategies and capacities, relationship of the state with other groups, and THEME 1: A WORLD OF STATES diverse patterns of political States have been the primary institutions. actors on the world stage. Are states losing their ability to International organizations and control policy-making and secure private actors like transnational the political outcomes they desire? corporations – and ordinary citizens, who vote and participate THEME 2: GOVERNING THE in political parties and social ECONOMY movements – play a crucial role in politics. The success of states is affected This theme emphasizes the by their ability to ensure that an interaction between domestic adequate volume of goods and politics and international forces. services is produced to satisfy the There are two important needs of their populations. components of this theme. Effective economic performance is ○ One focuses on a state’s near the top of every state’s relationship to the political agenda, and how a state international arena. governs the economy. ○ While the other focuses on Political economy refers to how the state’s development. governments affect economic performance and how economic 7 POLSC106 3 - APL DELA CRUZ | PROF. KERWIN | SEM 1 2024 performance in turn affects a country’s political processes. RESEARCH METHODS There is no consensus on the Researchers have choices to make economic policies that states that include the unit of analysis, the should adapt. level of analysis, and the variables What is the relationship between to be studied. democracy and successful national The 3 main research methods economic performance? Is there a are: clear relation why some states are ○ Case study. more successful than others? ○ Qualitative approach to a small selection of cases. THEME 3: THE DEMOCRATIC IDEA ○ Quantitative approach to a What determines the growth, large number of cases. stagnation, or even decline of Comparative research will have democracy? different approaches and results There is no one path to democracy according to whether it is empirical and that democratic transitions can or normative in approach, or be slow, uncertain, and reversible. quantitative and qualitative. Democracy permits political opposition and allows political CASE STUDY competition. Case study usually involves an Is there a relationship between in-depth study of a single example democracy and political stability? or case, which might be a person, Do democratic institutions a country, an event, a policy, or a contribute to political stability or political institution or process, and political disorder? an effort is made to use the case to illustrate a wider point applying to THEME 4: THE POLITICS OF other cases. COLLECTIVE IDENTITY Single cases are not widely used, Social class and religion had but they have the advantage of become the most important source depth, and researchers can use of collective identity. two or more single country studies The politics of collective political to explore broader similarities and identity involves struggles of differences. participants in the political Single cases can usefully be movement on issues of inclusion, compared with an ideal type or political recognition, typology. representation, resource allocation, By their nature, case studies are and shaping of public policies. multimethod, using a wide range of Political disputes happen and techniques, including the following: political bargaining is performed to reading the academic literature; obtain material benefits and examining primary and secondary political benefits for their members. sources; conducting interviews How does collective identity affect with participants and other a country’s distributional politics, observers in the unit; and which is the process of deciding experiencing and visiting the unit. who gets what and how resources Representative case study is the are distributed? most common. Often researchers will use their own country as a representative example. Detailed COMPARING GOVERNMENT & study will result in a broader POLITICS 8 POLSC106 3 - APL DELA CRUZ | PROF. KERWIN | SEM 1 2024 understanding or wider approach phenomena are studied within their of the political phenomenon. natural setting. Prototypical case study focuses on a pioneer that can help us QUANTITATIVE METHOD understand a phenomenon which It involves more cases (that is, is growing in significance large-N studies), and is also better elsewhere. It aims to reveal how suited to statistical analysis. similar cases may evolve. It will take more time and Exemplary case studies the resources, is more likely to suffer archetypes that are considered to from the variable quality and have generated the category of availability of data from multiple which they are taken as cases, and the results will offer representative. An influential more breadth than depth. example is studied which illustrates It takes a narrower approach the essential features of a based on a large number of cases, phenomenon. more variables, and statistical Deviant case study’s purpose is to analysis. seek out the exceptional and the It tries to quantify data and to untypical, rather than the norm: the generalize the results to a larger few countries which remain population and generates communist, or which are still information through experiments governed by the military, or which and survey research. seem to be immune from democratizing trends. COMPARING QUALITATIVE & Deviant cases always attract QUANTITATIVE APPROACHES interest and, by providing a contrast with the norm, enhance our understanding of representative examples. QUALITATIVE METHOD It is usually associated with the comparative method, and involves comparing anything from two to a dozen or more cases (otherwise known as small-N, for the number of cases). Cases are usually selected to introduce variation into the dependent variable, with an emphasis on values, opinions, behavior, and context. The qualitative approach has the following features: a limited number of cases are studied in depth; it is descriptive rather than prescriptive; an effort is made to understand the interaction of multiple variables; meaning is allowed to emerge from the objects HISTORICAL METHOD of study; observation is the main A research method based on means of data collection; and studying cases from the past, often 9 POLSC106 3 - APL DELA CRUZ | PROF. KERWIN | SEM 1 2024 with a focus on their development well as the epistemological position through time. he or she adopts. Process tracing reconnects political science with history by COMPARING MANY COUNTRIES identifying and describing the Advantages include extensive historical sequence linking a cause coverage of countries over time to an effect. How does defeat in and space; ability to make strong war lead to a change of regime? inferences that hold for more Critical juncture is a turning point cases; and ability to identify which established interests, so-called deviant countries or structures, or institutions persisting outliers through quantitative through time. Examples are analysis. Deviant countries appear revolutions and constitutional to be the exception to an empirical conventions. generalization. Disadvantages include the limited SUMMARY OF RESEARCH METHODS availability of data for many countries and many time periods; the validity of measures; and the mathematical and computing skills needed to analyze increasingly complicated data. Comparing many countries is the best method for drawing inferences that have more global applicability. COMPARING FEW COUNTRIES It involves the intentional selection of a few countries for comparison. This selection may involve anywhere from 2 or more than 20 countries. Distinction between the comparison of few countries and RESEARCH STRATEGIES many countries remains blurred. There are 3 main strategies of The defining feature is the comparative research in political intentional selection of countries science: from the universe of all possible 1. comparing many counties cases. 2. comparing few countries To have a good comparative 3. single-country studies analysis of a few countries is done All these strategies of research with reflection and care. subsumed under the broader Comparable cases strategy or umbrella of comparative politics focused comparison encompass which seeks to examine key more of the nuances specific to similarities and differences across each country. countries to explain political This type of comparison is outcomes of interest. case-oriented. The country is often The distinction among the different the unit of analysis and the focus comparative methods should be tends to be on the similarities and seen as the function of the differences among countries. particular research question, the There are 2 main types of time and resources of the research design that are included researcher, the method with which under this method of comparison. the researcher is comfortable, as 10 POLSC106 3 - APL DELA CRUZ | PROF. KERWIN | SEM 1 2024 The selection of cases is important beyond the original country used in and there are two core strategies the study. involved. A case study is an intensive study ○ Some studies compare or examination of a single unit for different outcomes across the purpose of understanding a similar countries which is larger class of similar units. the most similar systems design (MSS). SINGLE-COUNTRY STUDIES SERVE ○ Other studies compare similar outcomes across THE FF. FUNCTIONS FOR different countries which is RESEARCH the most different systems design (MDS). ★ Provide contextual description. ★ Develop new classifications. MOST SIMILAR SYSTEM (MSS) ★ Generate hypotheses. DESIGN ★ Confirm and infirm theories. ★ Explain the presence of deviant Involves selecting those cases countries identified through which are similar as possible cross-national comparison. except regarding the object of the study (dependent variable). The more similar the units being CHALLENGES OF COMPARISON compared, the more possible it Comparison pays dividends: it should be to isolate the factors broadens our understanding of the responsible for their differences. political world, leads to improved MOST DIFFERENT SYSTEM (MDS) classifications, and gives potential DESIGN for explanation and even Based on using cases that are prediction. different as possible, in effect controlling for the differences and TOO FEW CASES, TWO MANY isolating the cases of similarities. VARIABLES The problem of having more The comparison of the similarities explanatory factors for a given and differences is meant to outcome than there are cases uncover what is common to each available to study. country that accounts for the observed political outcome. SELECTION BIAS Comparing few countries can lead The cases selected for study are to inferences that are better often an unrepresentative sample, informed by the contextual limiting the significance of the specificities of the countries under findings. scrutiny. The selection may be influenced in particular by survivorship, value, or SINGLE-COUNTRY STUDIES AS confirmation bias. COMPARISON A single-country study is UNDERSTANDING MEANING considered comparative if it uses The “same” phenomenon can concepts that are applicable to mean different things in different other countries; develops concepts countries, creating difficulties in that are applicable to other comparing like with like. countries; and seeks to make larger inferences that stretch GLOBALIZATION 11 POLSC106 3 - APL DELA CRUZ | PROF. KERWIN | SEM 1 2024 States cannot be regarded as ★ Statistical control entirely independent of each other, ★ Limited selection bias thus reducing the effective number ★ Extensive scope of cases available for testing ★ Strong inferences and good for theories. theory building ★ Identify deviant countries CHOOSING COUNTRIES & PROBLEMS OF COMPARISON WEAKNESSES Comparative politics is not possible Invalid measures without a set of rigorous concepts Data availability (what is to be compared) which Too abstract / high level of depend on a comprehensive and generality empirically distinctive definition of Time consuming “politics” or “the political.” Mathematical and computer Scholars compare countries to training provide context, make classifications, test hypotheses, and make predictions. STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES OF Countries are chosen because COMPARING FEW COUNTRIES they exhibit the political outcome the comparativist seeks to explain STRENGTHS such as a social revolution, a ★ Control by selecting: military coup, a transition to ○ Most similar systems democracy, the failure of design (MSSD) deterrence, high economic growth ○ Most different systems rates, etc. design (MDSD) Identifying which countries ★ Good for theory building represent the instances of the ★ Intensive, less variable oriented phenomenon under investigation. ★ Avoid conceptual stretching It is a problem to identify the ★ Thick description concepts which are to be the units ★ Areas studies of such comparison of similarities ★ Configurative analysis and differences. ★ Macro-history No comparative science of politics is plausible – on a global scale – WEAKNESSES unless we can draw on extensive Less secure inferences information which is sufficiently Selection bias: precise to be meaningfully ○ Choice of countries compared. ○ Choice of historical Accurate comparison demands account concepts which are clearly or Language training precisely defined. Field research Comparative analysis must focus on key variables and must avoid the danger of being overwhelmed by a large number of variables. STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES OF STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES OF COMPARING MANY COUNTRIES SINGLE-COUNTRY CASE STUDY STRENGTHS STRENGTHS 12 POLSC106 3 - APL DELA CRUZ | PROF. KERWIN | SEM 1 2024 ★ Intensive, ideographic, path dependent, and configurative INSTITUTIONAL APPROACH analysis. Institutionalism is an approach to ★ Atheoretical case studies are the the study of politics and traditional single-country or government that focuses on the single-case analyses. They are structure and dynamics of entirely descriptive and can lead governing institutions. to fruitful theory-building or It is a process by which generalization. organizations build stability and ★ Interpretive case studies are permanence. selected for analysis because of Institutions, in the political sense, an interest in the case. They are formal organizations or make explicit use of established practices with a political purpose or theoretical propositions. effect, marked by durability and ★ Hypothesis-generating case internal complexity. studies attempt to formulate The core institutions are usually definite hypotheses to be tested mandated by the constitution. using a larger number of Institution, in politics, traditionally variables to gain a great refers to the major organizations of theoretical value national governments, particularly ★ Theory-conforming and those specified in the constitution theory-infirming case studies are such as the legislature, the analyses of single cases that judiciary, the executive, and strengthen and weaken the sometimes, political parties. propositions or generalizations. Institutions provide the rules of the ★ Deviant case analyses are game within which individuals studies of single cases that are pursue their objectives. known to deviate from established generalizations. FORMAL ROLES & EXAMPLE INSTITUTI PURPOSE S WEAKNESSES Insecure inferences ONS OF Selection bias: GOVERNM ○ Choice of countries ENT ○ Choice of historical account Representi Parliaments Language training Legislatur ng the , Field research e interests, congresses citizens; , national making assemblies, THEORETICAL APPROACHES IN laws; diets COMPARATIVE POLITICS forming government Theoretical approaches are ways s of studying politics, and help in identifying the right questions to Executive Governing, Presidents, ask and how to go about making prime answering them. policy, ministers, A theoretical approach is a providing ministers simplifying device or a conceptual leadership and filter that helps us decide what is and cabinets important in terms of explaining direction political phenomena. 13 POLSC106 3 - APL DELA CRUZ | PROF. KERWIN | SEM 1 2024 Behavioralism is an approach to Judiciary Upholding Supreme the study of politics that and courts, emphasizes people over interpreting constitution institutions, studying the attitudes the al courts and behavior of individuals in constitution search of scientific generalizations. Bureaucra Implementi Department The central tenet is that people cy ng policy s, matter. It studies what people ministries, actually do, rather than studying divisions, constitutions, institutions, and agencies organizational charts. This approach studies the elites Political Offering Conservativ and ordinary people – their voting parties policy es, liberals, behavior, political participation, alternatives socialists, public opinion, etc. , fielding greens, candidates, nationalists STRUCTURAL APPROACH forming Structuralism is an approach to government political analysis that emphasizes s and the relationships among groups oppositions and networks within larger Definition - Formal organizations systems. with a political purpose, typically The interests and positions of possessing legal identity, and these groups shape the overall acquiring privileges and duties configuration of power and provide under law. the dynamic of political change. Origin - May be deliberately Configurations of political and created for a specific purposes, or social relations shape, constrain, may emerge and evolve over time and empower actors. in response to a need, Structuralists emphasize objective independently of the conscious relationships and conflicts among intentions of the people involved groups and nations. Political Purpose - To provide the framework within which decisions RATIONAL CHOICE APPROACH are made, issues are shaped, and Rational choice is an approach to problems are resolved, but may the study of politics based on the come to serve narrow interests, idea that political behavior reflects such as those of the wealthy and the choices made by individuals powerful. working to maximize their benefits Effects - Generate norms which and minimize their costs shape behavior and expectations, Like behavioralism, the rational promote stability and predictability, choice approach is focused on and enable long term people. commitments. The central tent of this approach is Character - May be formal, with that objectives matter. rules and hierarchies and Rational choice approach argues employees, or may be informal that politics consists of strategic reflections of the need for social interaction between individuals, order (e.g. religion or marriage) with all players seeking to maximize the achievement of their BEHAVIORAL APPROACH own particular goals. 14 POLSC106 3 - APL DELA CRUZ | PROF. KERWIN | SEM 1 2024 The assumption is that people are rational in the sense that, given goals and alternative strategies from which to choose, they will select the alternatives that maximize their chances of achieving their goals. Rational choice approach also focuses on the individual aspirations, status, and goals that emerge from interaction with others. In understanding variation across countries, different national settings determine the choice available to individuals and within which they pursue their strategies. INTERPRETATIVE APPROACH Interpretive approach is an approach to the study of politics based on the argument that politics is formed by the ideas we have about it. The focus of this approach is on the interpretations within which politics operates, including assumptions, codes, constructions, identities, meanings, norms, narratives, and values. This approach takes us towards a concern with the ideas of individuals and groups, and how their constructs define and shape political activity. Politics consists of the ideas participants hold about it. Ideas matter and there is nothing but ideas. People act because of how they view the world; if their perspectives differ, so would their actions. 15