3.3.8 Comparative Theories in Practice

• The core comparative theories in politics include structuralism, culturalism, rational choice, and institutionalism
• Rational choice theory assumes individuals act rationally to maximize their self-interest
• Steps to analyze a case study using comparative theories:

  1️⃣ Examine how political institutions and social structures shape political outcomes (Structuralism)

  2️⃣ Investigate how cultural values influence political behavior (Culturalism)

  3️⃣ Assume political actors make rational decisions (Rational Choice)

  4️⃣ Analyze how formal and informal institutions constrain actions (Institutionalism)
• Culturalism examines how cultural values, norms, and traditions influence political behavior
• Culturalism investigates the political impact of East Asian cultures' emphasis on social harmony
• Structuralism assumes that political and social structures are the primary drivers of political outcomes
• Institutionalism examines how formal and informal institutions constrain and enable political actors
• Culturalism investigates how cultural factors influence political behavior
• Researchers use comparative theories to understand complex political phenomena in case studies

  True
• What does structuralism focus on in shaping political outcomes?

  Political institutions
• What assumption underlies structuralism regarding political outcomes?

  Structures are primary drivers
• Rational choice theory assumes individuals weigh costs and benefits to make decisions
• What principle does the rational choice theory use to explain decision-making?

  Cost-benefit analysis
• What principle underlies rational choice theory in politics?

  Weigh costs and benefits
• Structuralism explains China's rapid economic development as a result of its centralized, authoritarian political structure.


  True
• Steps in analyzing political outcomes using institutionalism

  1️⃣ Identify formal institutions

  2️⃣ Identify informal institutions

  3️⃣ Analyze how institutions constrain actors

  4️⃣ Analyze how institutions enable actors
• By comparing different comparative theories, researchers can better understand how various factors influence political outcomes.


  True
• Structuralism may overlook the role of individual agency and cultural factors
• Culturalism can oversimplify complex political phenomena by emphasizing cultural factors too much.


  True
• What is the goal of applying diverse comparative theories in research?

  Gain comprehensive understanding
• What is the ultimate goal of using comparative theories in politics?

  Understand political systems
• Match the theory with its description:

  Structuralism ↔️ Focuses on how political institutions and social structures shape political outcomes

  Culturalism ↔️ Emphasizes the role of cultural factors like values, norms, and traditions in shaping political behavior

  Rational Choice ↔️ Assumes political actors are self-interested and make rational decisions to maximize their preferences

  Institutionalism ↔️ Examines how formal and informal institutions constrain and enable political actors
• How does the centralized, authoritarian political structure in China exemplify structuralism?

  Rapid economic development but limited political freedoms
• Rational choice theory can explain political corruption as actors rationally calculating costs and benefits.

  True
• Match the theory with its key assumption:

  Structuralism ↔️ Political and social structures are primary drivers of outcomes

  Culturalism ↔️ Cultural values influence political behavior

  Rational Choice ↔️ Individuals act rationally to maximize self-interest

  Institutionalism ↔️ Institutions constrain and enable political actors
• Rational choice theory assumes political actors weigh costs and benefits to make decisions.


  True
• Order the comparative theories based on their focus on political actors:

  1️⃣ Culturalism

  2️⃣ Rational Choice

  3️⃣ Institutionalism

  4️⃣ Structuralism
• Culturalism emphasizes that culture shapes individual attitudes and norms


  True
• The core comparative theories offer different lenses to analyze political systems


  True
• Rational choice theory assumes political actors aim to maximize self-interest


  True
• Rational choice theory assumes political actors are self-interested and make rational decisions
• Culturalism assumes that cultural values influence political behavior


  True
• What is the principle of institutionalism regarding political interaction?

  Frameworks for interaction
• Institutionalism examines how both formal and informal institutions constrain political actors
• Structuralism assumes that social and political structures are the primary drivers of political outcomes
• Institutionalism examines how formal and informal institutions provide frameworks for political interaction.


  True
• Culturalism in East Asia emphasizes social harmony and deference to authority
• What role does the strong, independent judiciary in the United States play according to institutionalism?

  Shapes the balance of power
• How does structuralism analyze China's centralized authoritarianism?

  Political institutions and social structures
• What does culturalism investigate in political behavior?

  Cultural factors