Comparative Politics (CP) and major questions in the field

CP Big questions in CP

Economic development Democratization Ethnic/nationalist conflict

1

This course’s approach to CP

3 questions—3 main parts of the course Challenging readings by leading scholars

Read to understand Argument Evidence

New York Times Think about the big questions and how they

apply to the real world One test for each topic

Scheduled for Weeks 5, 7, 10

2

This course’s approach to CP

Final paper (due March 20) Opportunity to explore one of the big

questions in greater depth Write to convey

Argument Evidence

3

My approach to course content

Homework Readings Exercises

Lecture Introduce some new material Build on the readings and exercises

Section Hone skills

Reading for argument and evidence Applying theories and concepts to real world

issues 4

Comparative Politics as a Social Science

Introduction to social science Look for convincing answers to important

questions Question 1: what explains why some

communities develop economically and others (or the same place at different point in time) do not?

5

Introducing key concepts

Theory Hypothesis Inductive approach Deductive approach

6

Inductive approach

Definition The process of moving from specific

observations to more general claims Example

Economic development in one village in Shaanxi Province, China, in 2011

7

Location of case study villageShaanxi Province, China

8

Field research on development in one village

9

Mountainous, former provincial-level poor county

10

Note infrastructure—roads, bridges

11

Main occupation: agricultureNote the new road, truck

12

Local farmers—heard about new opportunity to grow black mushrooms

13

Black mushrooms need wood (logs) to grow on

14

Growing black mushrooms on wood soaked in growth medium

15

Need wood as growth medium

16

New policy allocated forest lands from collective to farm households, like privatizing land rights

17

Income from black mushrooms increased household incomes in village

18

This many black mushrooms can bring in $1,000’s of $US in income

19

Income from black mushrooms increased household incomes in village

20

Inductively generate hypothesis to explain economic development in village

Inductive approach Start with specific case to generate

hypothesis Hypothesis

Specific statement that can tested against (additional) evidence.

21

Hypotheses and variables

Hypothesis deal with variables Tells a story about relationship between

variables Variable—something that can hold

different “scores”; it can vary Example: economic development

Different scores Higher lower

22

Hypotheses and evidence

Story about relationship between variables

Roads and household rights to land “causes” more income for households

Road (variable) (score) present/absent

Land rights (variable) (score) household control/collective

control

23

Testing hypotheses

Testing hypothesis Study multiple cases (examples) of the

same thing More villages

Ask the same questions Road? Household claim to land? Increases in household income?

24

Testing hypotheses

Testing hypothesis Study multiple cases Compare the answers

Example: new road but no household claim to land village still poor

Weaken hypothesis about road alone

Road + land = higher income

25

Theories v. hypotheses

Definition A theory is a general explanation

covering a full set of empirical phenomena.

Supported by extensive evidence (not just one example)

26

Theories v. hypotheses

Theory Based on variables that represent more

abstract, general concepts Road: transportation infrastructure

State invested/state did not invest Land = property rights

Private/collective

27

Theories v. hypotheses

This theory is about the relationship between infrastructure investment, property rights and economic development.

The greater the state investment in infrastructure and the more widespread private property rights, the greater the economic development.

28

Theories, hypotheses, and evidence

CP is about positive not normative theory Positive: follow the evidence Normative: think about what is socially

desirable

29

Other approaches to social science questions

Deductive approach Start with theory The process of moving from a general

theory to specific hypotheses and observations of empirical phenomena

30

Summary: Important concepts

Theory (general) positive v. normative

Hypothesis (specific) variable

Inductive approach (bottom up) Deductive approach (top down)

31

Introducing readings in general

Not textbook Articles by leading scholars

Challenging! Even short reading assignment will take

more time than you think

Working with reading summaries (template on website, left column)

32

Approaching the readings

Question(s) asked by the author Argument summary Hypothesis Evidence (type, examples)  Important terms/concepts to

note 2 or more critical questions for

discussion:

33

Introducing reading summaries

Important terms/concepts to note: Okay if you’re still need more

clarification, explanation write down terms and your understanding of them

34

Introducing the first reading

Prelude to big questions: States States as main unit of comparison in

Comparative Politics States—special kind of organization

35

Introducing the next reading: Tilly

Charles Tilly, “War-Making and State Making as Organized Crime” Style—metaphors—hiking Analogy between protection racket and

state Don’t let the style detract from distilling

the main argument.

36

Approaching the readings: Tilly

Question(s) asked by the author How does fighting wars affect the ways

states take shape and evolve?  Important terms/concepts to

note Tilly’s definition of “national state” Monopoly on violence Legitimacy

Model summary will be posted to you via e-mail

37

Introduction to Comparative Politics

Course website http://faculty.washington.edu/swhiting/pols204/

38