Issues and Methods in Comparative Politics

Todd Landman is Professor of Political Science and Pro Vice Chancellor of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Nottingham, UK. He has published Democracy and Human Rights (2013), Studying Human Rights (Routledge 2006), Protecting Human Rights (2005), co-authored Measuring Human Rights (Routledge 2009), and edited Human Rights (Volumes I-IV) (2009) and Sage Handbook of Comparative Politics (2009). Edzia Carvalho is Lecturer in Politics in the School of Social Sciences at the University of Dundee, UK. She is co-author of Measuring Human Rights (Routledge 2009).

Introduction

PART I: WHY, HOW, AND PROBLEMS OF COMPARISON

1. Why Compare Countries?



Reasons for comparison

The science in political science

Scientific terms and concepts

Summary

Further reading



2. How to Compare Countries



Methods of comparison

Comparing many countries

Comparing few countries

Single country studies as comparison

Choosing countries and problems of comparison

Summary

Further reading



3. Comparing Many Countries



Starting assumptions

Measuring concepts

Basic regression analysis

Extending the basic regression model

Limitations to global comparative analysis

Summary

Further reading



4. Comparing Few Countries



Assumptions

Case selection and research design

Combining quantitative and qualitative comparison

Limitations of few-country comparisons

Summary

Further reading



5. Single-Country Studies as Comparison



Functions of single-country studies

Raising observations in single-country studies

Limitations of single-study studies

Summary

Further reading



PART II: COMPARING COMPARISONS

6. Economic Development and Democracy



The research problem

Comparing many countries

Comparing few countries

Single-country studies

Summary

Further reading



7. Violent Political Dissent and Social Revolution



The research problem

Comparing many countries

Comparing few countries

Single-country studies

Summary

Further reading



8. Non-Violent Political Dissent and Social Movements



The research problem

Comparing many countries

Comparing few countries

Single-country studies

Summary

Further reading



9. Transitions to Democracy



The research problem

Comparing many countries

Comparing few countries

Single-country studies

Summary

Further reading



10. Institutional Design and Democratic Performance



The research problem

Comparing many countries

Comparing few countries

Single-country studies

Summary

Further reading



11. Human Rights



The research problem

Comparing many countries

Comparing few countries

Single-country studies

Summary

Further reading



12. International Relations and Comparative Politics



Research problems

Comparing many countries

Comparing few countries

Single-country studies

Summary

Further reading



PART III: COMPARATIVE METHODS AND NEW ISSUES

13. Common Themes and Different Comparisons



Methodological trade-offs

Building theory

Conclusion: drawing the lessons

Further reading



14. New Challenges For Comparative Politics

Full circle

New methods

Maintaining relevance

Summary

Further reading