Approaches to the Study of Comparative Politics

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Approaches to the Study of Comparative Politics

• September 29

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Lecture Overview

• Current Political Issues
• Approaches to comparative politics
• The 5 Is
• Marx and Weber
• Documentary
• Economic Development A Global Challenge (36 min)

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The 5 Is

• Institutions,
• Interests,
• Ideas,
• Individuals,
• International environment
• a bonus, sixth I - interactions

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Two Major Theoretical Traditions

• Karl Marx
• Max Weber

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Marx

• Grand theory and politically engaged analysis
• historical materialism
• mode of production
• class struggle
• Philosophers have sought to understand the
  world. The point, however, is to change it.

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Weber

• Middle-range (grounded) theory and striving
  toward objective social scientific research.
• Use of models and ideal types
• Study of culture and religion
• Study of institutional variables
• Weber defined the state a a human community that
  (successfully) claims the monopoly of the
  legitimate use of physical force within a given
  territory.

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Economic Development A Global Challenge

• An introductory documentary on issues of economic
  development.
• Available online via the York library catalogue.