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Comparing and Miscomparing

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  • Giovanni Sartori

Abstract

I seek to explain the disappointing performance of the field of comparative politics addressing the three basic questions: Why compare? What is comparable? and How? I also challenge the view that the methodology of comparison is pretty well known and established. Hosts of unsettled issues remain, while a growing cause of frustration and failure is the undetected proliferation of `cat-dogs' (or worse), that is, nonexistent aggregates which are bound to defy, on account of their non-comparable characteristics, any and all attempts at law-like generalizations. The bottom line is that the comparative endeavor suffers from loss of purpose.

Suggested Citation

  • Giovanni Sartori, 1991. "Comparing and Miscomparing," Journal of Theoretical Politics, , vol. 3(3), pages 243-257, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:jothpo:v:3:y:1991:i:3:p:243-257
    DOI: 10.1177/0951692891003003001
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sartori, Giovanni, 1970. "Concept Misformation in Comparative Politics," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 64(4), pages 1033-1053, December.
    2. Lijphart, Arend, 1971. "Comparative Politics and the Comparative Method," American Political Science Review, Cambridge University Press, vol. 65(3), pages 682-693, September.
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    Cited by:

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    3. Rodriguez Lopez, Miguel & do Nascimento, Daniele Vieira & Garcia Sanchez, Daniela & Bolivar Lobato, Martha, 2015. "Disabling the Steering Wheel? National and International Actors' Climate Change Mitigation Strategies in Latin America," GIGA Working Papers 278, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    4. Jørgen Møller, 2017. "A framework for congruence analysis in comparative historical analysis of political change," Quality & Quantity: International Journal of Methodology, Springer, vol. 51(5), pages 2337-2355, September.
    5. Oettler, Anika, 2014. "The Scope and Selectivity of Comparative Area Studies: Transitional Justice Research," GIGA Working Papers 246, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    6. Petra Guasti & Debora Rezende de Almeida, 2019. "Claims of Misrepresentation: A Comparison of Germany and Brazil," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(3), pages 152-164.
    7. Bechle, Karsten, 2010. "Neopatrimonialism in Latin America: Prospects and Promises of a Neglected Concept," GIGA Working Papers 153, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
    8. Juliette Rouchier & Claudio Cioffi-Revilla & J. Gareth Polhill & Keiki Takadama, 2008. "Progress in Model-To-Model Analysis," Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, Journal of Artificial Societies and Social Simulation, vol. 11(2), pages 1-8.
    9. Matthias Basedau, 2005. "Context Matters – Rethinking the Resource Curse in Sub-Saharan Africa," Economic History 0508002, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    10. Huber, Christoph & Basedau, Matthias, 2018. "When Do Religious Minorities' Grievances Lead to Peaceful or Violent Protest? Evidence from Canada’s Jewish and Muslim Communities," GIGA Working Papers 313, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies.
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