The Development of Comparative Politics

Abstract

Just as political scientists generally, in seeking to understand and explain aspects of contemporary politics, necessarily take into account historical influences on the political culture of a system, so an appreciation of the current ‘state of the art’ in comparative politics involves an understanding of its historical development. The more frustrated and dissatisfied workers in the area of comparative politics are inhibited by this history from redesigning the subject ab initio. Less revolutionary ‘reformers’ can perhaps use an appreciation of past trends to realise more effectively the improvements and reorientations which they propound.