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    Comparative politics involves comparing political systems and processes across countries. It studies both formal institutions like governments as well as informal structures. Comparative politics takes a broader, more empirical approach than comparative government by examining a wider range of factors including economic, social, and cultural influences. It aims to make scientific conclusions about political phenomena through observation and analysis of different countries' political systems.

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    Comparative politics involves comparing political systems and processes across countries. It studies both formal institutions like governments as well as informal structures. Comparative politics takes a broader, more empirical approach than comparative government by examining a wider range of factors including economic, social, and cultural influences. It aims to make scientific conclusions about political phenomena through observation and analysis of different countries' political systems.

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    5K views11 pages

    Comparative Politics Nature, Scope

    Uploaded by

    Abhinav Kumar
    Comparative politics involves comparing political systems and processes across countries. It studies both formal institutions like governments as well as informal structures. Comparative politics takes a broader, more empirical approach than comparative government by examining a wider range of factors including economic, social, and cultural influences. It aims to make scientific conclusions about political phenomena through observation and analysis of different countries' political systems.

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    of 11

    Comparative politics

    Semester –III(Political Science Hons. )

    Comparative Politics :Meaning,


    Nature and Significance
    Meaning : Comparative Politics
    • The Comparative politics Consist of two terms “Comparative” and “Politics”
    where “Comparative” is the method of study (where basis of comparison is
    similarities and differences ) and “Politics” is the Subject of Study . However it is
    not so easy to define Comparative Politics because meaning of Politics is Dynamic
    i.e continuous , timeless , ever-changing and universal activity .
    • “Politics is authoritative allocation of the values in society”--- David Easton
    • “A special case in exercise of power”-- Harold Laswell and Robert Dahl
    • Jean Blondel lays emphasis on the point of “decision making”.
    • However , in the field of Comparative Politics , the term “politics” has three
    connotations:-
    1. Political Activity : It consist of efforts by which conditions of conflict are
    created and resolved in a way pertaining to the interest of people , as far as
    possible, who play their part in the struggle for power .
    2. Political Process: The process of the formulation and administration of public
    policy usually by interaction between social groups and political institutions or
    between political leadership and public opinion .

    3. Political power:- The ability to control and modify the conduct of individual or
    group of individual .
    Despite the fact , Comparative Politics does not have a universal definition due to
    dynamic nature of politics , however we can define as “CP is the study of the
    forms of political organizations , their properties , correlations , variations and
    modes of change” – MG Smith
    The meaning of Comparative Politics also include difference between Comparative
    Politics and Comparative Government.
    1. “Comparative Government usually • “Comparative Politics in Contrast ,
    refers to the study of institutions and Studies broader range of political
    functions of countries or nation-states activities including the govt. and
    in Europe with attention to the their institutions as well as other
    executive , Legislatures and judiciaries forms of organizations not directly
    as well as supplementary organizations related to national govt. for example
    as political parties” . tribes, communities , associations
    :Chlicote and Unions” .
    2.Comparative Govt. follows traditional :Chlicote
    definition of Politics which was 2.Compartive Politics follows modern
    institutional meaning and unscientific definition of politics which is
    meaning of politics , limited to the study of behavioural and functional meaning
    State, organs and political Parties . of politics which studies State ,
    Organs , political Parties as well as
    political activity , behaviour , Political
    process and political power .
    3. The scope of CG is limited because it is 3. The scope of CP is wider because it is
    only concern with the formal structure also concerned with non-formal
    of political system like legislature, structures , which do not have any legal
    executive and judiciary . sanction behind, but they are capable
    enough in influencing the formal
    structure of a political system . Such as
    Interest Groups , Unions etc.

    4. CG emphasizes more on the study of 4. CP emphasizes more on the study of


    European countries , i.e the Study of Third World Countries , which are mostly
    Comparative Government was developing and underdeveloped
    influenced by the theory of countries in Asia , Africa and Latin
    Eurocentrism, which believe in the America .Hence , we can say that it is
    supremacy of Europe and accepts that influenced by the theory of “going
    each and everything must be analysed beyond Eurocentrism” given by Samir
    on the basis of European history, culture, Amin .
    norms and tradition.
    5. The CG is dominated by the normative 5. CP is dominated by the empirical
    approach which talk about ‘what ought approach based on observation through
    to be or which should be’ , it seek to sense experience (i.e sight , sound , smell ,
    determine and prescribe values .which is taste and touch ). Thus , makes CP a
    unscientific in nature i.e. without scientific and realistic in nature.
    observation and experience .

    6. The CG dominated the world before 6.CP is dominating the world ager Second
    Second- World War , as this era was World War because of many factors such as
    dominated by the traditional meaning of modern or behavioural meaning of
    politics and normative approach politics .

    7. CP take help of other factors such as


    7.CG is not interdisciplinary economic factors , cultural factors and
    social factors for better examining the
    political institutions. Thus, it follows inter-
    disciplinary approach .
    Nature of CP
    • Two views : Vertical View and Horizontal View
    1. Vertical view : Comparative analysis with the same political system among the
    various level of Government .
    Not very fruitful , as it is like comparing gold and soil with each other ,
    comparison is done between two things which has some similarity with respect to
    power .
    Not applicable in unitary country .
    2 . Horizontal View :
    a. Comparison between different Time Periods
    b. Across the National boundaries in the contemporary Political world

    c. Ancient India VS Modern India or British India VS Independent India


    However such analysis is not useful for the student of Political Science but can be
    helpful for the Student of History , Because , politics is about the present .

    b. Political System of US VS India


    Most appropriate view , such type of comparative analysis is useful to the student
    of Political Science ---------They can draw conclusions and can propound theories .
    Some of the other nature of CP
    1. Interdisciplinary in Nature
    2. Multi- Theoretical --- System approach , Socializational Approach ,
    Modernizational approach , Developmental approach
    3. Dynamic in nature
    4. Accepts modern definition of politics
    5. More emphasis on Third World Countries
    6. Follows empirical approach
    Scope of CP
    • Area of study , it is convention in any discipline to decide the scope in order to
    point out its subject matter.
    • However , there are two problems during demarcation of the scope of CP
    1. Controversy over boundary
    2. Controversy over Basis

    Two Views
    3. Traditional view or institutional view or constitutional view or legal view :-
    Scope will extend as far as the extension of political institutions .
    Basis – Constitution
    Narrow view , not scientific and thus not appropriate… Why , non-constitutional
    also influence constitutional institutions .
    2. Behavioural View
    According to this view scope of CP include all the elements which are influencing
    the politics , Hence Scope of Comparative politics include everything .
    Institutional , Behavioural , Constitutional , non constitutional , political or non
    political .

    Hence it is often said that “Scope of Comparative politics include everything or


    nothing”

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