Comparative Politics:

Meaning, Nature and

Scope

By: Varsha Shekhar

Assistant Professor (Guest Faculty),
Department of Political Science
Bihar National College, Patna University,
Patna
Introduction
Comparative government and politics is a new rising
subject. Politics is a continuous, timeless, ever
changing and universal activity having it key
manifestation in the making of a decision to face and
solve a predicament or difficult situation. Comparative
Politics studies (popularly designated as Comparative
government) were used by the political scientists for
arriving at correct and valid conclusions regarding the
nature and organisations of state and government
through a comparative study of organisations, powers
and functions of various political institutions working
in various states.
The basic objective was to enquire the historical and ligal
similarities and dissimilarities among the various forms of
government and their political institutions. The features,
merits, demerits, similarities and dissimilarities of political
institutions were compared and an attempt to identify was
made the best political institutions.

Comparative Politics is a behavioural, process-oriented,

functional and scientific study of all political systems in
terms of their structures, functions, environments and
development process. This attempt continues even today
and Comparative Politics continues to be a popular and
highly productive area of the study.
The study of Comparative politics studying involves
conscious comparisons in the political experience,
institutions, behavior and process of the systems of
government in a comprehensive manner. In simple
words. we can say, Comparative Politics involves a
Comparative study of various political system either
as a whole or through a comparative analysis of
their structures and Some popular definitions are as
functions. follows:

According to M.G. Smith, " Comparative Politics is

the study of the forms of political organisations,
their properties, correlations, variations and modes
of change.
According to Jean Blondel "Comparative Politics is the study of
patterns of national 19 governments in the contemporary world."
The term patterns of government refers to the 3 parts of study is
government structure, is behavior le, the study of how a particular
political structure or institution works, and in the laws.

According to Jean Blondel "Comparative Politics is the study of

patterns of national governments in the contemporary world." The
term patterns of government refers to the 3 parts of study
1. government structure,
2. behaviour i.e., the study of how a particular political structure
or institution works, and
3. the laws.

According to M. Curtis, " Comparative Politics is concerned with

significant regularities, similarities and differences in the working of
political institutions and political behavior."
Comparative Politics involves a Comparative study
of not only the institutional and mechanistic
arrangements of government. also an empirical
and scientific analysis of non-institutional and
non-political determinants. of political behavior.
Empirical study of political processes, structures
and functions. forms the core of Comparative
Politics studies. It's aim is to build a scientific
theory of politics capable of explaining all
phenomena of politics
 The Nature of Comparative
Politics
Comparative Politics seeks to analyse and compare the political
systems operating in various societies. Politics being a struggle
for power or a process of conflict-resolution through the use of
legitimate power, involves a study of power or power relations in
society. Lasswell describes Politics as the process of shaping and
sharing of power.

Comparative Politics focuses on analytical empirical research. It

is no longer confined to descriptive studies. It seeks to analyse,
empirically and analytically, the actual activities of the
governments and their structures and functions
It stand for scientific studies of politics. Comparative
Politics involves a value- neutral empirical study. Only
those values are admitted whose validity scientifically
demonstrated. It rejects the normative prescriptive
approach of the comparative government. It aims at
developing am empirical and objective the nature
theory of politics. Thus it signifies of comparative
politics as objective study

Comparative Politics now seeks to analyse the actual

political behaviour of individuals, groups, structures,
sub-syste and systems in relation to the emiiro -
nment in which their behaviour manifests. Il emphasis
upon the study of Infra Structure of Politics.
Comparative Politics accepts the desirability and need for
adopting inter disciplinary focus. It accepts the need to
study politics with the help of the knowledge of
psychology, sociology, anthropology, economies and
other social sciences.

Comparative Politics involves both a comparative study of

the political structures and functions of national political
systems of various states and also a comparative study of
the political structures at work within a single state. The
former is called horizontal Comparative studies and the
latter vertical comparative studies.
The objective of the study of Comparative Politics is
not only to make compar. -alive studies of the
similarities and dissimilarities of different political
systems but also to build a theory of politics.
Scientific theory-building is it's objective as well as
nature.

With all these features, Comparative Politic is almost

a new science of politics. It has rejected the non-
comprehensive scope._ formal character, legal and
institutional framework, normative and prescriptive
approach and partial nature of the traditional
comparative studies of politics. It now involves a
comprehensive, precise and realistic. study of politics
which is capable of explaining and comparing all
phenomena of politics in all parts of globe.
 The Scope of Comparative
Politics

Comparative Politics has come out the parochialism and

limited scope of Comparative Government. It has come to
acquire a very of wide scope. It now includes the analysis
and comparison of the political processes, political
activities, political functions and political structures of all
political systems, developed as well as developing and
European as well as Asian, African and Latin American
After the end of the Second World War, revolutionary
changes took place in its scope and methodology.
Modern Political Scientists observed the shortcomings of
the traditional studies. They accepted that these must
include all the process of politics and notations. The actual
functioning of all political structures, formal only legal
institutions as well as non formal political structures like
interest groups, pressure groups, political parties and
political elites should also form a part of the scope of
comparative politics.

Comparative Politics has its own come very wide scope It

includes all that comes within the purview of politics all
political process. political activities and power relations
found in every part the globe. A comparative study of the
regularities, Similarities and differences among the
structures and functions of all political systems forms the
core of its scope.
The following are the main subjects included in the scope of
Comparative Politics:
1. the scope of Comparative Politics includes. the study of all
structures, formal and informl, governmental and extra-
governmental, which are directly or indirectly involved in the
struggle for power taking place in each state. It is not
confined only to the study of the three formal governmental
organs_ legislature, executive and judiciary. Along with these,
Bureaucracy, Interest Groups, Pressure Groups. Elites, Political
Parties and all other political groups of human beings form a
part of the scope of Comparative Politics.
2. Another important part of the scope of Comparative Politics
is the study of the actual political behaviour of the people in the
process of politics. Voting behavior, political participation
leadership recruitment, elite behaviour, mass politics, populism
etc. form an Comparative Politics.
3. Comparative Politics also undertake an analysis the
similarities and differences among political process
and functions. It is on basis of the actual functioning
of political structures" and processes that the
similarities and dissimilarities are empirically
explained, analysed and compared.

4. Comparative Politics seeks to analyse the actual

behaviour and performance of political systems -
Western as well as non western. Political Systems are
analysed and compared in terms of their structures,
functions, Capabilities and performances
5. Comparative Politics includes study of Political
Socialisation, also included in the scope of comparative
politics. It is the process by, which an individual acquires
his Political Culture.

6. Another scope of Comparative Politics is in the study of

Pressure Groups, Interest Groups and Political Parties.
These groups reflects wishes of people through public
meetings, programmes etc. Comparative Politics minutely
evaluate the structure, working and policy-programmes of
these groups.
7. Modern political scientists lay special emphasis on
the study of Power, Influence, Authority and
legitimacy. They use these concepts for a
classification of political systems on the basis of the
nature of autho rity, relations and struggle for power.
As such, the study of the concept of Power, Influence,
Legitimacy and Authority occupies an important
place in the scope of comparative Politics.

8. Comparative study of all the political process is also

an integral part of the scope of Comparative Politics
Political process like Decision-making, Policy making,
Judicial Process Leadership. recruitment and others
which works in all political systems.
 Conclusion:
Therefore, the scope of Comparative Politics has become comprehensive. It
seeks to study all mechanisms of politics with a view to build a science of
politics capable of explaining and comparing all political activities,
processes, and systems. It involves a study of all structures and functions,
which directly or indirectly affect the political processes in all states. Political
Behaviour, Political Culture, Political Socialisation, Decision -making, Power-
struggle, Interest Groups Political Parties, Power influence authority etc. are
all included in the scope of Comparative Politics.

In the words of P. Sharan, "Comparative Politics aims at studying the

political processes and institutions in a truly comparative manner for the
purpose.
In the words of P. Sharan, "Comparative Politics aims at studying the
political processes and institutions in a truly comparative manner for the
purpose of answering problems and questions. In doing so, it brodens the
scope of comparison to as many political systems as possible. "
 Thank You

By: Varsha Shekhar

Assistant Professor (Guest Faculty),
Department of Political Science
Bihar National College, Patna University, Patna