Final Questions Essay Example

1) What is the difference between a normative and an empirical approach to Comparative Politics?
With the normative approach, one studies norms and philosophies behind these politics; for example, normative approaches would study the question of defining justice, or determining the moral and ethical justifications for welfare. With the empirical approach, politics and governments are focused on empirical, information-based data. Observed and measured facts are the basis for this study; instead of determine what should be, empirical approach studies what is true. Instead of figuring out whether or not education is good or needs to be free, empiricists would figure out if people in a society all access education.
2) Why is the Nation-State the core organizing unit of comparison in Comparative Politics?
The Nation-State is the chief unit of comparison for Comparative Politics because it is the unifying factor that determines a government that governs a nation of people. A nation is a singular people with an 'identity', and a state is comprised of the governmental laws and institutions that govern them. The Nation-State has defined boundaries, a definite citizenry, is self-governed and has its own civil institutions, making it a discrete unit to be compared.
3) What is the Westphalia System?
The Westphalia System is effectively shorthand for the interrelated yet sovereign number of states that currently comprise the world's governments. In effect, the Westphalia system is the idea that countries have their own say in their own affairs; external agents cannot interfere in the running of domestic structures in this concept. This system places the onus and responsibility of caring for nation-states on the nation-states themselves, and they are allowed to forge their own path.
4) What ultimately distinguishes strong and successful states from weak and unsuccessful states is the performance of governments in providing those goods that are generally regarded as the "natural rights" of the citizens of a state. What are those goods?
The goods that are afforded to citizens of a strong and successful state follow along with what are normally thought to be their "natural rights." These goods include the infrastructure needed for communities to flourish, including utilities, roads, electricity and the like. Government assistance is often provided to those who need it, in the form of welfare and other types of aid. Governments also provide social rights to marry, to live independently with little interference and the ability to pursue one's own goals without discrimination or steep obstacles.
5) What are Arend Lijphart's four different approaches (methods) to political research? Explain them.
Lijphart's four approaches are the case study method, the statistical method, the comparative method, and the experimental approach. With the case study method, an individual subject is studied in detail, either at the micro-level (individuals) or macro-level (organizations). The statistical method measures and observes facts and figures. The comparative method compares two or more subjects to find similarities and differences. Finally, the experimental approach manipulates variables in comparison to a control variable to see if certain hypotheses are supported.
6) Why it is the comparativists use a typology, i.e. a system of classification, which divides states into groups with common features?
In order to make sure that they have an inclusive view of the states in question. By solidifying common features of the state itself, it is much easier to more accurately make assumptions about the vast number of people in a state. Therefore, case studies would be much more applicable and sensible to use, as they can act as representative of the state as a whole.
7) What is the Three Worlds system?
The Three Worlds typology was the Cold War-era typology that divided all countries into three distinct groups. The First World included the wealthy and industrialized states, which included much of the West. The Second World, then, included those communist regimes, the ones opposing the West in the Cold War. Finally, the Third World included impoverished, unindustrialized countries that did not benefit from wealth and democracy. It is one of the most common typologies still used (for better or worse), with first and third world countries, in particular, being identified today.
8) The understanding of the differences and similarities among states demands a study of the links between politics, economics and society. What are the political, economic and social variables most used in comparative politics?
The political variables in comparative politics include the Freedom in the World Index, which indexes countries based on their political rights records, as well as the Democracy Index and the Corruption Perception Index. Economic variables include gross domestic product (GDP), purchasing power parity (PPP), per capita GDP, and the Economic Freedom Index. Social variables include the ability to meet basic needs and the quality of life of a state's citizens.
9) The use of the three sets of variables - political, economic, and social - produces a typology based on six different overlapping arenas. What are those arenas, and which countries could be said to integrate each one of those arenas?
The six political arenas are as follows: Liberal Democracies (The United States, Britain), Communist and Postcommunist States (North Korea, Cuba), New Democracies (Mexico, Brazil, Taiwan), Islamic States (Iran, Saudi Arabia), Less Developed States (Ecuador, Tanzania), and Marginal States (Haiti, Somalia). Many other nations overlap and fit into two or more of those political arenas (e.g. Afghanistan being both an Islamic and a Marginal State).
10) Comparative Exercise - US and India