Comparative Comprehensive – August 20131
Questions
Comparative Comprehensive Exam – August 2013
Committee
David Wilsford, Chair
Mark Katz
Eric McGlinchey
Methods/Methodology in comparative politics
Answer one (1) of the following questions.
1. Explain thoroughly the difference between a research question and adependent variable. Enumerate the necessary characteristics of each.What are the consequences of not specifying a research question correctly versus those of not specifying a dependent variable correctly?
2. Compare and contrast the utility of any two (or more) of the following approaches: comparative historical analysis, statisticalmethods, rational choice, and cultural studies.
3. Careful attention to measurement validity—the issue of whether the observations we gather as comparative political scientists meaningfullycapture or reflect the concept we seek to explore--is critical forsuccessful social science. Choose a topic in comparative politics (forexample, regime change, revolutions, good governance--any topic you findcompelling) and two works that address this topic. Discuss how each workaddresses, successfully or unsuccessfully, the issue of measurementvalidity. In the case of successful works, what pitfalls in measurementvalidity were avoided? In the case of unsuccessful works, how might theauthor have avoided the pitfalls that s/he encountered? Lastly, briefly discuss the central concept you anticipate you will be addressing inyour dissertation proposal and how you will approach the challenge ofmeasurement validity when gathering observations on this concept.
Substantive and Field questions in comparative politics
Answer two (2) of the following questions.
1. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of the theories of revolution advanced by what are known as the 1st , 2nd , 3rd , and 4thgenerations.
2. One of the most compelling puzzles in comparative politics is regimechange. As recent events in the Middle East and North Africaillustrate, change may be sudden, unanticipated and, ultimately,fleeting. Yet, as Central European cases illustrate, change can beequally sudden and unanticipated, yet enduring. Our discipline hasdeveloped many theories, for example modernization, newinstitutionalism, and transitions theories, as well as culturalapproaches and rational choice, in an effort to explain the complexphenomenon of regime change. What are the strengths and shortcomings ofthese competing approaches and do any of these approaches enjoy greaterempirical support than others?
3. As social scientists, peasants have been with us for ages, but – paradoxically – only periodically. Trace the evolution of dependent variables in which peasants have played a large role. Why do they fall regularly out of our favor, then back in again? If one takes the science part of political science seriously, how do you explain the rise and fall of any phenomenon or dependent variable within the overall community of research scholars?
4. Comparative political scientists have long debated the origins ofidentity. Somecomparativistsargue that identities are relatively fixedand enduring. Others argue identities are malleable. What are causalmechanisms offered by these competing approaches to identity? And whenyou look at specific cases of identity-based conflict today, do you findone approach to be more compelling than the other?
5. In light of theories of democratization and/or authoritarianism,discuss the prospects for democratization or continued authoritarianism in any or all of the following:Russia, China, SaudiArabia.