Lecture 5

Approaches to
Comparative Politics

Dr. Muhammad Ashraf Wani

 Approaches to Comparative Politics

Methods
and
Approaches?
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

METHOD

•Method is a more general term which denotes a particular way of

doing something.

•In a systematic study, method may be defined as the procedure of

inquiry by which reliable knowledge could be obtained and reliable
conclusions could be drawn. (scientific method, inductive method,
deductive method, comparative method, etc)

•Also described as a way of organising a theory for application to data.

•According to Salvadori, method refers to the technical devices used

for gathering data and the points of view of the specialists.
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

APPROACH

Approach is a wider term which comprehends not only the method (i.e.
how to inquire) but also the focus of our study (i.e. what to inquire) in
order to understand the given phenomenon.

It may be observed that an approach is usually wedded to a particular

method while a method is not always wedded to a particular approach.
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

APPROACH

Wider term, comprehends not only the method (i.e. how to inquire) but
also the focus of our study (i.e. what to inquire) in order to understand
the given phenomenon.

An approach is usually wedded to a particular method while a method

is not always wedded to a particular approach.

An approach is a way of looking at and then explaining a given

phenomenon which includes everything related to the collection and
selection of evidence necessary for investigation and analysis of
hypotheses (Dr J C Johari).

According to Van Dyke, “approaches consist of criteria for selecting

problems and relevant data whereas methods are procedures for getting
and utilizing data.”
Approaches to Comparative Politics
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

CLASSIFICATION OF APPROACHES

Traditional
Modern
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

•TRADITIONAL APPROACH

•Value based; emphasis on the inclusion of values to the study of

political phenomena.

• Since facts and values are closely related to each other so the
study of political science should not be based on facts alone.

•Plato and Aristotle “the great issues of politics‟ have revolved

around normative orientations.

•Traditional approaches include legal approach, philosophical

approach, historical approach, institutional approach etc.
•
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

Period
Time Period –From Aristotole –till 1945.

However it got focused in late 19, early 20 century).

 Approaches to Comparative Politics

Proponents
Woodrow Wilson: 14 points (Paris conference) (how should our
state/state be)… traditional system ideal system.. we follow that
ideal to make it practical in our society.

Frank Goodnow: APSA Speech (1904).. Study of State as

Institution
 Approaches to Comparative Politics
Characteristics

Descriptive: The approach was heavily descriptive rather than

problem-solving, explanatory or analytical.

Normative: Traditional approaches are mostly normative and

focus on what should be rather than what is. For
example, what should be an ideal form of
government?

Focus on Institutions: Prominence is on the study of different

political structure. For Example Legislature,
Judiciary and Executive
 Approaches to Comparative Politics
Characteristics

Theoretical: Its source of study is library. Field research is not

given importance. Opinions, views of scholars are
studied and used for comparing political
institutions…If we want to understand about Greek
City States, we will have to understand views of
Plato and Aristotle.

Non-Analytical: It focuses on just describing rather than

analyzing (If we know compare legislature
of different countries through traditional
approach, we will find similarities and
disimilarities of these legislatures. We will
not find why these are different).
 Approaches to Comparative Politics
Characteristics

Value Laden Study: Emphasis on study of values.

Non-emphasis on Scientific Study: Traditional approaches

consider that since facts and values are
closely interlinked, so studies in political
science can never be scientific.

Limited Scope: No attempt is made to study the

socio-economic environment in which the
political institutions operate

Limited Countries: Focus on the study of American and

Western European countries,
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

TRADITIONAL APPROACHES

•Philosophic Approach
•Historical Approach
•Institutional Approach
•Legal Approach
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

Philosophical Approach

The study of political science could be traced in the writings of ancient

philosophers like Plato and Aristotle.

Leo Strauss who was one of the ardent supporters of this approach
believed that “the philosophy is the quest for wisdom and political
philosophy is the attempt truly to know about the nature of political
things and the right or good political order.”

This approach lays stress on ethical and normative study of politics

and is idealistic in nature.

It deals with the problems of nature and function of state, issues of

citizenship, rights and duties etc.
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

Philosophical Approach

There is problem>we try to find and >and try solve it

We do not know whether we would solve it.

Or even if we are giving solution in a way that we say ideal

solution is this.

May be if practically implemented solution what other problems

would occur (exemple driving in video game).
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

Philosophical Approach

•Based on the principles of political theory-> Normative

approach (Example Plato’s philosopher King).

•Ideal state and society…normative, ethical, values,

prescriptive, speculative …ideal political community.
•
•Plato…Analyze, allegory of the cave (compared cave
situation with government)…OR philosopher king
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

Historical Approach
Political phenomena could be understood better with the help of
historical factors like age, place, situations etc.

Politics and history are intricately related and the study of politics
always should have a historical perspective (Machiavelli, Sabine and
Dunning).

Political Science should include all those subjects which have been
discussed in the writings of different political thinkers from the time of
Plato. Every past is linked with the present and thus the historical
analysis provides a chronological order of every political phenomenon
(Sabine).
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

Institutional Approach

Lays stress on the study of political institutions and structures like

executive, legislature, judiciary, political parties, interests groups etc.

Among the ancient thinkers Aristotle is an important contributor to this

approach while the modern thinkers include James Bryce, Bentley,
Walter Bagehot, Harold Laski, etc.

Legal approach regards state as the creator and enforcer of law and
deals with legal institutions, and processes.

Its advocates include Cicero, Jean Bodin, Thomas Hobbes, Jeremy

Bentham, John Austin, Dicey and Sir Henry Maine.
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

Legal Approach
• This approach treats the state primarily as an organization for the
creation and enforcement of law.

• The study of politics is integrally bound up with the legal

processes of the country and the existence of a harmonious state of
liberty and equality is earn marked by the glorious name of the rule
of law.
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

MODERN APPROACHES

•After world war –II)

•It is fact based and lays emphasis on the factual study of

political phenomenon to arrive at scientific and definite
conclusions.

•Include sociological approach, economic approach,

psychological approach, quantitative approach, simulation
approach, system approach, behavioural approach, Marxian
approach etc.
 Approaches to Comparative Politics
Traditional Vs Modern Approaches

•Normative methods generally refer to the traditional

methods of inquiry to the phenomena of politics and are not
merely concerned with „what is‟ but „what aught to be‟
issues in politics.

•Modern approaches emphasis shifted from the study “what

aught to” to “what is”.

•Today political scientists are more interested in analysing

how people behave in matters related to the state and
government.
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

MODERN APPROACHES

•New movement by a group of dissatified political scientists in

America with the traditional approach to the analysis of government
and state.

•They felt that tremendous exploration had occurred in other social

sciences like sociology, psychology anthropology etc. which when
applied to the political issues could render new insights.

•Statistical information coupled with the actual behaviours of men,

individually and collectively, may help the political scientists in
arriving at definite conclusions and predicting things correctly in
political matters.
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

MODERN APPROACHES

• Behavioural Approach
• System Approach
• Structrual Functional Approach
• Political Development approach
• Political MOderinazaion Approach
• Political Culture Approach
• Political Economy Approahc
• Political Sociology Approach
• Neo Instutionalizm
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

BEHAVIOURAL APPROACH

•Until the middle of the 20th century, political science was primarily
concerned with qualitative questions which had a philosophical,
legalistic and descriptive orientation.

•The discipline was in fact transformed by the behavioural

revolution in the 1950‟s which laid stress on scientific and
empirical approach to the understanding of political phenomena.

•The revolution got an impetus with the establishment of the journal

Experimental Study of Politics in 1970‟s.
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

BEHAVIOURAL APPROACH

The central focus of behavioralism is its emphasis on the study of

political behaviour which refers to acts, attitudes, preferences and
expectations of man in political context .

In the words of Barrow, “behavoiralism‟s main methodological

claim was that uniformities in political behaviour could be
discovered and expressed as generalizations but such
generalizations must be testable by reference to observable political
behaviours such as voting, public opinion or decision making”.
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

BEHAVIOURALIMS (Main Characteristics)

•Rejects political institutions as the basic unit for research

•Identifies the behaviour of individuals in political situations as the
basic unit of analysis.

•Identifies social sciences as behavioural sciences and emphasises

the unity of political science with the other social sciences

•Advocates the utilization and development of more precise

techniques of observing, classifying and measuring data and urges
the use of statistical or quantitative formulation wherever possible

•Defines the construction of systematic, empirical theory as the goal

of political sciences.
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

BEHAVIOURALIMS (Main Characteristics)

Behaviouralism is not to be looked as a complete

dissociation with the traditional thinking. In fact it is a
protest against and an extension and enrichment of the
traditionalist stance in political science.

The goals of behavioural research have been set as

understanding, describing, analysing and if possible
predicting political phenomena.
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

Major exponents

Charles E Merrium, the Founder o fChicago School,

Harold D. Lasswell, George Catlin, David Easton etc.

They believed that the traditional approaches neglected

the political phenomenoa.

Therefore they developed a new approach to the careful

study of political phenomena i.e. behavioural approach.
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

Intellectual Foundations of Behaviouralism

Characteristics given by David Easton:

(1) Value free;

(2) Verification:
(3) Techniques;
(4) Regularities;
(5) Quantification:
(6) Systematisation,
(7) Integration
(8) Pure Science.
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

1. Value-free
The behavioural approach is devoid of value. Facts are
distinguished from values. The research should be
value-free, so that the researcher is not tempted to
evaluate a political topic via the lens of his own
subjective valuational judgement. Moral and ethical
concerns should be set aside in order to provide a
scientific explanation.
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

2. Verification
Behaviouralists also think that for knowledge to be
genuine, it must consist of propositions that have been
empirically tested, and that all evidence must be based
on observation.
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

3. Techniques
Behaviouralists place a high value on using proper data
acquisition and interpretation methodologies, as well as
using research tools or methods that yield accurate,
trustworthy, and comparable data.
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

4. Regularities
Political behaviour, according to behavioralists, has
discernible uniformities that can be articulated in
generalisations or theories capable of understanding and
forecasting political happenings.
.
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

5. Quantification
Data collection isn’t enough. They must be quantified
and measured. Accuracy must be assured. This is
accomplished through rigorous measurement and data
manipulation processes. Only quantifiable evidence can
be used to validate research findings.
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

6. Systematisation
The behaviourists insist that political science research
should be systematic, which means that it should be
‘theory-oriented and theory-directed,’ that theory and
research should be ‘closely inter-related parts of a
coherent and orderly body of knowledge,’ and
that’research untutored by theory may prove trivial, and
theory unsupported by data, futile.’

Analysis, explanation, and prediction are the

foundations of systematisation.
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

7. Integration
Because behaviouralists believe in an inter-disciplinary
approach, they do not regard political science as a
discrete discipline. It should be combined with other
social sciences such as psychology, sociology,
economics, anthropology, and so on. Because
knowledge is indivisible, it must be unified.
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

8. Pure Science
Behaviouralists argue that research should be pure or
completely verifiable by evidence, regardless of whether
or not it applies to a specific societal situation. The
ultimate goal should be to make social sciences as
important as natural sciences.
 Approaches to Comparative Politics

Q&A

Thanks
Approaches to Comparative Politics