Book sectie 1 L1 Flashcards
(22 cards)
Why is comparative politics relevant today?
It helps us understand how different political systems solve collective problems like corruption, inequality, and violence.
What kind of problems does comparative politics address?
Corruption, public goods provision, civil conflict, inequality, weak institutions, and governance failures.
What does Rothstein argue is the central problem in many democracies?
Not just a lack of democratic institutions, but a lack of effective and impartial institutions that deliver outcomes fairly.
What is the relationship between democracy and legitimacy?
For legitimacy, it’s not enough to hold elections—governments must also deliver justice, efficiency, and fairness.
Why can democracies still fail to produce legitimate outcomes?
Because elections alone don’t ensure competent, impartial, or honest governance.
How can poor institutional quality lead to populism or authoritarianism?
If institutions consistently fail citizens, people may turn to populist or authoritarian leaders who promise quick fixes.
What are the main approaches in comparative politics?
Institutionalism, cultural, rational choice, structural, and interpretive approaches.
What does the institutional approach focus on?
How formal and informal rules shape political behavior and outcomes.
What does the cultural approach emphasize?
The role of political values, norms, identities, and historical traditions in shaping political outcomes.
How does rational choice theory view politics?
As individuals pursuing their self-interest in strategic, cost-benefit terms.
What does the structural approach prioritize?
The influence of socioeconomic systems, class relations, and historical conditions.
What is the interpretive approach in comparative politics?
A qualitative method focused on meanings, beliefs, and narratives held by political actors.
Why is theoretical pluralism important in comparative politics?
Because no single approach explains all phenomena—using multiple lenses gives a fuller picture.
What are trade-offs between different approaches?
Some emphasize depth (interpretive), others breadth (rational/structural), and each may miss key dimensions the others catch.
What are the core goals of comparative political research?
Explanation, generalization, theory testing, and understanding variation across political systems.
What is the difference between most similar and most different systems design?
Most Similar Systems: compare similar countries with different outcomes. Most Different Systems: compare very different countries with similar outcomes.
What are the main types of comparison in comparative politics?
Case studies, small-N comparison, large-N statistical analysis.
What are the benefits of case studies?
In-depth understanding, theory development, and context sensitivity.
What are the strengths of large-N studies?
Allow for generalization and hypothesis testing across many cases.
Why is variable selection important in comparative research?
Choosing the right independent and dependent variables is critical for drawing valid conclusions.
What is selection bias and why is it a problem?
When cases are chosen based on the outcome, leading to flawed conclusions.
How do comparative researchers handle complexity?
Through careful case selection, clear theory, and a balance between depth and generality.
