Comparative politics Different theoretical approaches
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The field of comparative politics is one in which a variety of different approaches have been undertaken to the material at hand, with varying results. Macridis and Brown (1977) note that the field remains in flux at the time they are putting together their book of readings in the subject: "There has been little theory building and cumulative empirical testing and data collection. There has been also little agreement on concepts and definitions or on the scope and range of comparative analysis" (p. 1). There are various theoretical approaches apparent in different writers on the subject, however, whether or not those approaches have been codified or presented in a comprehensive and coherent manner as theory. Macridis and Brown give a good overview of the way theoretical concepts have developed in the field and of the work still to be done. Wiarda (1985) also finds that the field is in a state of crisis because of a failure on the part of scholars to define the parameters of the field precisely and to set forth its methodology in a convincing fashion. Wiarda also finds that there is no single integrating set of theories on which the scholars in the field can agree. Bill and Hardgrave (1973) seem to feel the same way and offer in their book what they identify as "a theoretical introduction to and an analytical framework for the field of comparative politics" (p. v). Almond and Powell (1980) set out to describe a specific theoretical approach based on syst
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This approach emphasizes first that there is no one comprehensive and satisfactory theory, and instead what the field seems to face is a series of theories applicable to various parts of the field. In other words, there are different theories for the different aspects of comparative politics but not for comparative politics as an overarching subject. Stanley Hoffman first suggested this idea: "He argued cogently and convincingly that since the comparative politics field had by now lost its earlier unity, those active in the field should accept this fact realistically rather than simply lamenting it or wishing it away" (p. 209). Wiarda sees this approach as valuable because the field has become diverse and encompasses a variety of different elements that have their own theoretical structures and modes of analysis that are not necessarily transferrable to other elements within the same field.
Inherent in Wiarda's analysis is the idea that the field of comparative politics was unified in the 1960s and later entered a period of decline. In the 1960s, development was the theoretical base for studying the field. Today, though, there is no longer a coordinating or integrating theory for the field, and there is not even an agreed-up
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Approximate Word count = 2430
Approximate Pages = 10 (250 words per page)
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