Comparing and Miscomparing

Citation: Giovanni Sartori (1991) Comparing and Miscomparing. Journal of Comparative Politics (RSS)
DOI (original publisher): 10.1177/0951692891003003001
Semantic Scholar (metadata): 10.1177/0951692891003003001
Sci-Hub (fulltext): 10.1177/0951692891003003001
Internet Archive Scholar (search for fulltext): Comparing and Miscomparing
Wikidata (metadata): Q69448213
Tagged: Sociology (RSS)

Summary

In this article, Sartori addresses what he sees as the serious failure of the field of comparative politics to make genuine progress. He outlines the basic framework which he believes defines the comparative method, which in turn defines the field of comparative politics. First, he asserts that the purpose of comparative work is to allow for checking of generalizations across cases and to provide "control" -- akin to statistical controls. He confronts the question of "incommensurability" -- that is, concern that nothing can ever be compared to anything else because of differences in context -- by challenging scholars to be guided by the question "comparable in what respect?" He then proceeds to outline several flaws observed in the field: parochialism (only considering one case), misclassification (categorizing things into the same category when they are not), degreeism (treating everything as on a continuous scale, with arbitrary cut-points), and conceptual stretching (applying labels that don't really belong). He closes by referring to an approach he recommends called a "ladder of abstraction", where one proceeds from particulars to generalities, in a focused and disciplined way.

Theoretical and Practical Relevance

This article offers a sharp, clear roadmap for producing comparative scholarship and avoiding nihilistic conceptual muddiness.