Compare two countries as case studies on one particular issue – utilizing qualitative or quantitative techniques (or both). What is an important difference between the two countries relevant to comparative political analysis? What kinds of factors explain this difference?
Example: What explains the difference in public opinion on immigration between the US and another advanced democratic country?
Example: What explains differences in voter turnout between two democracies?
Example: Why did a country transition from a communist regime to a democracy and another not?
Example: How can income equality in a certain democratic industrialized country be similar to that in a developing country?
These are quite ‘high level’ questions, you are perfectly fine when you choose to study a difference between two countries at a more practical level. You are allowed to use a comparison between two other actors in politics, for instance political parties, states, cities, non-governmental organizations. Make sure that you consult the instructor!
The variable that you want to explain is the dependent variable (the effect). The factors that add to the explanation of the dependent variable are the independent variables (the causes). Choose one dep ndent variable and up to three independent variables.
The paper should include:
Introduction
• This section should include an introduction of the subject matter and your research question, as well as why it is important or relevant.
• Be sure to include your research question(s) and, based on your questions, the hypothesis or thesis statement. What do you think explains the phenomenon being studied?
• Note: The introduction should be brief – about 1-2 pages.
Literature Review
• This section should discuss the kind of research and reporting which has already been done on this subject. What do other people say about your topic. What, do you think, is missing, outdated or incorrect about it?
• Do not simply summarize what others have done – be critical and organize your thoughts. You may want to group the discussion in terms of authors’ opposing viewpoints or conclusion or in terms of their different methodologies.
• Note: Your review of the literature should include at least five articles or books, which have considered the same or similar topic. Also, limit this part of the paper to about 3-4 pages.
Analysis
• This section should discuss the things you looked at to test your hypothesis. What did you look at? What were your findings – the patterns or characteristics you observed? Did you use a specific theoretical framework? If so, describe the framework and why you think it is applicable. How did you apply the theoretical framework that you selected?
• Analysis might include looking at government, international organization or other documents such as progress reports or development plans, laws or treaties. You might want to compare survey or economic data, etc. Please see your instructor if you have questions or need assistance located data sources.
• If you used data in your analysis, incorporate your tables or graphs here. Be sure to discuss in the text how the information presented relates to the overall questions. Give your graphs, tables etc. your own number and title, and make sure you use a proper reference to the source of the data.
Conclusions
• Conclude your paper with a discussion wrapping up your findings – Did the analysis support your hypothesis? Will you accept or reject your hypothesis?
• Can your conclusions be generalized or are they specific to this particular case?
• What might be some areas for future research?