Qn. 5. “Examining political phenomenon through a process of cross-global investigation has become the fundamental function of comparative politics.” Discuss. (2012/II/1a/20m)
The given statement indicates the shift in focus and function of comparative politics. Traditional approaches were Euro-centric, while modern contemporary methods pursue “cross- global investigation”, or more inclusive coverage.
Background: Comparative political science is one of the oldest disciplines. It has been improving, becoming more dynamic and adopting modern scientific methods. Limitations of traditional methods that were employed include conservatism, ethnocentrism, formalistic, descriptive rather than problem-solving, unscientific and so on. And World Wars ended with free colonies starting off as developing nations, the inadequacies became amplified and stalled comparative study. Newer modern methods evolved which sought to be more scientific, accommodative, context-sensitive, adaptive and realistic.
Traditional approach to comparative politics studied the western capitalist societies and built the comparative political academics on those lines. Examples of traditional approaches include historical approach, legal approach, institutional approach, configurative approach, problems approach and so on. With the 20th century transforming the world, much of these became inadequate and redundant.
Modern methodologies emerged to satiate demands of the new political landscape of the second half of the 20th century. So, driven by the behavioural revolution, the newer comparative political approaches emerged – a new, distinct framework. e.g. structural functionalism, political development approach, political modernisation and political culture approach. These examined political phenomenon through a cross-global investigation. E.g. political sociology sought to adapt theories to the new heterogeneous social contexts; political development concentrated on the developing world; political culture kept in mind the different values and preferences; dependency school claimed the west was economically parasitic for the rest etc.
All these academic developments targeted expansion of the subject while rationalising the attention given to the west. Comparative politics now sought to be global and pan-continental. The discipline rejuvenated itself for the fresh task of studying the new world.
Conclusion: The discipline of comparative politics, to stay relevant, chose to adapt to a changing world. Consequently, its fundamental function became the cross-global investigation of political phenomenon.