1L Comparative Methods
Todd Landman, University of Essex
9 - 20 July (two week course / 35 hrs)
Detailed Course Outline [PDF]
Course Content
The object of this course is to give students a comprehensive understanding of comparative methods, illustrated through the extant literature from comparative politics. Students learn the logic of comparative inquiry and comparative research methods, including quantitative variable-oriented comparisons, quantitative and qualitative case-oriented comparisons, and ideographic single case-studies, the discussion of which focuses on larger questions of explanation and understanding in social and political science. This methodological framework is then applied to classic topics in comparative politics and international relations, including economic development and democracy, political violence and revolution, social movements, institutional design and democratic performance, human rights, and the overlap between comparative politics and international relations.
Course Objectives
Students will have the opportunity to gain knowledge of the evidence-inference methodological core of social science and how comparative methods play a part in drawing inferences about the social and political world. This is a good course for first year and mid-career PhD students interested in research design and rules of inquiry relating to cross-national comparison.
Course Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites.
Representative Background Reading
Burkhart, R.E. and Lewis-Beck, M. (1994) ‘Comparative Democracy, the Economic Development Thesis’, American Political Science Review, 88(4):903–910.
Helliwell, J.F. (1994) ‘Empirical Linkages between Democracy and Economic Growth’, British Journal of Political Science, 24:225–248.
Kitschelt, H. (1986) ‘Political Opportunity Structures and Political Protest: Anti-nuclear Movements in Four Democracies’, British Journal of Political Science, 16 (January): 57–85.
Landman, T. (2002) ‘Comparative Politics and Human Rights', Human Rights Quarterly, 43(4): 890–923.
Lijphart, A. (1971) ‘Comparative Politics and Comparative Method’, The American Political Science Review, 65(3): 682–693.
Mahoney, J. and Goertz (2004) ‘The Possibility Principle: Choosing Negative Cases in Comparative Research,’ American Political Science Review, 98 (4): 653-669.
Required Reading
Landman, T. (2008) Issues and Methods in Comparattive Politics, 3rd Edition, Routledge.