- Published: September 29, 2022
- Updated: September 29, 2022
- University / College: The University of Edinburgh
- Level: Intermediate School
- Language: English
- Downloads: 2
The Evolution of Comparative Politics Affiliation: Political science remains a critical component of the modern society, even after years of evolution. Comparative politics specifically has been a topic of interest to many scholars right of the John Stuart Mill and Max Weber times. Since then, comparative politics have evolved, covering pre-modern, modern and post-modern times. Political science in the modern professionalism remains a young, but a practice that has been undertaken throughout history. Klaus Von Beyme takes an evaluation that comparative politics has undergone since the realization of political undertakings in a wider scope. The traditional approach of making comparison in relation to politics employed speculative and normative tools, with Aristotle leading in that pursuit. This comparison made up the pre-modern comparative politics.
While the specific start of modernity remains a diverse debate, comparative politics in the modern times dates back to the emergence of various social science disciplines like sociology and political science (Caramani, 2008; Ch. 1). Following this, political science is regarded as a young professional practice due to the fact that modernity is associated with the 21st Century. On the other hand, post-modernism is seemingly an upgrade of classical modernity. In this case, political comparisons are systematic and clearly organized, thus the argument that post-modernism is a stage within the process of modernity. This whole pursuit cannot fail to importantly account for political influence across the identified three periods prior to modernity.
Contributions towards comparative politics are diverse and dynamic. History has it that many historians and modernists have the shaped comparative politics over time. The highlighted individuals in Chapter One; The Evolution of Comparative Politics are just but a few who have significantly contributed towards the evaluation and assessment of comparative politics throughout pre-modern, modern and post-modern times (Caramani, 2008; Ch. 1). Although political undertakings are one of the most volatile practices in the contemporary world, the ideas, concepts and theories aired in the chapter are still relevant.
The contemporary times in political context can be said to be modern in nature and paving way to post-modernism. Systematic comparisons of political aspects are evident today, with key players in the political field drawing relevant political concepts from political experts of the past. Therefore, the applicability of political comparisons in current times remains a significant field. Political analysts of the contemporary times argue their case of comparative politics in relation to the political environment that prevails today. However, their acknowledgement of past politics has shaped today’s political environment and comparative politics therein.
Comparative politics has been a critical aspect of political science that numerous political authors have sought to consider. Their ideas vary, but their argument utilizes political concepts and theories that have been employed both in the past and today. The different variables exhibited by different authors pertain to definition of terms, argument of political comparativeness and determinants of modern and post-modern politics. In other words, various writers seek to account for the trend of politics from time to time, with the underlying objective being to identify change in politics across states and the evolution of defining variables and factors in comparative politics.
Reference
Caramani, D. (2008). Comparative Politics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.