Comparative Political Analysis - 2nd semester

General characterization

Prerequisites

None.

Bibliography

SKOCPOL, Theda e SOMMERS, Margaret, «The uses of comparative history in macrosocial inquiry» in Theda Skocpol, Social Revolutons in the Modern World, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 1994, pp. 72-98
LIJPHART, Arend, «The Comparable-Cases Strategy», Comparative Political Studies, 8 (2), 1975, pp. 158-177.
RAGIN, Charles C., The Comparative Method. Moving Beyond Qualitative and Quantitative Strategies, Berkeley, University of California Press, 1989.
ROSE, Richard, «Comparing Forms of Comparative Analysis», Political Studies, XXXIX, 1991, pp. 446-462.
SARTORI, Giovanni e MORLINO, Leonardo, La Comparacion en las ciencias sociales, Alianza, Madrid, 1994.

Teaching method

Lectures introducing the major topics of the course, and presentation and discussion of selected texts by the students.

Evaluation method

Two examinations tests, written in the classroom.

Subject matter

1. The comparative tradition in political sicence.
2. Classical foundations of comparative politics
3. Scientific logic: styles of researh, inference and theory
4. Concepts, typologies and indexes
5. Causality: dependent and independent variables
6. Case selection and selection bias
7. Stretagies and types of comparison
8. Formal methods: Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA)
9. Time processes: path dependency, sequencing and timing.
10. Historical institutionalism: development and trends
11. Historical institutionalism: two research examples

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: