Comparative Politics Nature, Scope

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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Comparative politics

Semester –III(Political Science Hons. )

Comparative Politics :Meaning,

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

7. CP take help of other factors such as

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

b. Political System of US VS India

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

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