Concepts and methods used to compare political systems, institutions, and processes across countries.
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- What is comparative politics?
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The study of political systems, institutions, and processes across different countries to identify similarities, differences, and patterns.- What is the comparative method?
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A research approach that uses systematic comparison of cases to identify causal relationships and generalizable insights about political phenomena.- Define Mill's method of difference.
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A comparative technique examining two cases that differ in their outcome but are similar in most other respects to identify the key causal variable.- Define Mill's method of agreement.
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A comparative technique examining multiple cases with the same outcome despite differences in other respects to identify common causal factors.- What is a case study approach in comparative politics?
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An in-depth examination of one or a small number of cases to understand complex political phenomena through detailed contextual analysis.- Define most similar systems design (MSSD).
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A research strategy selecting cases that are very similar in most respects but differ in the outcome of interest, to isolate causal variables.- Define most different systems design (MDSD).
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A research strategy selecting cases that are very different in most respects but share the same outcome, to identify common causal factors across diverse contexts.- What is democracy?
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A system of government where power rests with the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives.- What is authoritarianism?
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A system of government where power rests with one person or a small group, with limited political freedoms and minimal accountability to the public.- What is totalitarianism?
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An extreme form of authoritarianism where the state seeks to control all aspects of public and private life, including ideology and economics.- What is an oligarchy?
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A system of government where power rests with a small group, distinguished by wealth, family ties, education, corporate control, or military power.- Define legitimacy in political science.
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The belief among citizens that a government has the right to govern and that its authority should be obeyed.- What is authority?
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The recognized right or power to make and enforce decisions, based on law, tradition, or consent rather than coercion.- What is sovereignty?
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The power of a state to make and enforce decisions within its territory and conduct relations with other states without external interference.- What is a presidential system?
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A system of government where the president serves as both head of state and head of government, with executive power separate from the legislature.
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