Comparative Politics and Approaches to the study of Politics

    Comparative politics is as old as political science. Aristotle, the father of political science, used comparative method for comprehending and analyzing principles, issues and problems of Greek City States of his times. Following Aristotle, several political thinkers use this method to conclude and analyze their views and conclusions about politics. Thus, we can say Aristotle the father of the comparative politics.
    Aristotle observed the working of 158 constitutions and used the knowledge for answering such questions as; 

• which is an ideal state? 
• Which can be the best practicable state? 
• Which is the best constitution?

    Aristotle’s path was followed by his admires, and the tradition still continues. After Aristotle, several political scientists – Cicero, Polybius, Machiavelli, Montesquieu, J. S. Mill, Bagehot and now in 20th century Almond and David Easton are most famous.
    The basic objective of comparative politics was to answer two main questions:What form of Government was best? andWhich type of political institutions were the best?
Approaches to the study of Politics:
Traditional Approaches

• Philosophical Approach
• Historical Approach
• Institutional Approach
• Legal Approach

Modern Approaches

• Behavioral Approach
• Post-behavioral Approach

Traditional Approach: is the study of forms of political organizations, their properties, correlations, variations and models of change. Comparative Politics no doubt, has to be concerned with the government structure, but at the same time, it has to take note of:

• Society, historical heritage and geographic and resources endowed, its social and economic organizations, its ideologies ad value system and its political style; and
• Its parties, interest and leadership structure.

    The term patterns of government refer to the three parts of study:

• Government structure
• Behaviour i.e., the study of law in a particular political structure or institution, and
• The laws

    Traditional Approaches to the political science were widely prevalent till the outbreak of second world war. These approaches were mainly related to traditional view of politics, which emphasize the study of state and government. Therefor traditional approaches primarily concerned with the study of organization and activities of the state.
    Characteristics of Traditional Approaches:

• They are largely normative.
• Emphasize on the study of different political structures.
• Made little attempt to relate theory and Research.
• These approaches believe that studies in political science can never be scientific.

Philosophical Approach: is concerned with the establishment of an ideal society with norms and values.
Historical Approach: is based on the development and evolution in history. It uses knowledge of history and applies it to the understandings of political life.
Institutional Approach: deals with the formal aspects of the government and politics, emphasizes the study of the political institutions and structures.
Legal Approach: is concerned with the legal process, legal bodies or institutions, justice and independence of judiciary.
Behavioral Approach: After WW2, political scientist Gabriel Almond and David Easton worked on this approach. They said that traditional approach is normative. Moreover they argued that comparative study should be scientific and systematic. David Easton who is pioneer in his work on Behavioral Approach to the study of Politics, gave his eight intellectual stones of behavioral approach and named them as "Credo". Here are eight characteristics:

• Regulations
• Pure Science
• Quantification
• Systemization
• Techniques
• Values
• Verification
• Integration