Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
The book considers the past accomplishments and future agendas of comparative-historical research in the social sciences. It defines the distinctiveness of this type of research and explores its strengths in explaining important outcomes (e.g. revolutions, social provision, democracy) in the world. It includes sections on substantive research accomplishments, methodology and theory, and features essays by some of the most important political scientists and sociologists currently working.
Synopsis
'The book considers the accomplishments and agendas of comparative-historical research in the social sciences. It defines the distinctiveness of this type of research and explores its strengths in explaining important outcomes in the world.\n
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Table of Contents
1. Comparative-historical analysis: achievements and agendas James Mahoney and Dietrich Rueschemeyer; Part I. Accumulation of Research: 2. Comparative-historical analysis and knowledge accumulation in the study of revolutions Jack A. Goldstone; 3. What we know about the development of social policy: comparative and historical research in comparative and historical perspective Edwin Amenta; 4. Knowledge accumulation in comparative-historical research: the case of democracy and authoritarianism James Mahoney; Part II. Analytic Tools: 5. Big, slow-moving, and ... invisible: macro-social processes in the study of comparative politics Paul Pierson; 6. How institutions evolve: insights from comparative-historical analysis Kathleen Thelen; 7. Uses of network tools in comparative-historical research Roger V. Gould; 8. Periodization and preferences: reflections on purposive action in comparative-historical social science Ira Katznelson; Part III: Issues of Method: 9. Can one or a few cases yield gains? Dietrich Rueschemeyer; 10. Strategies of causal assessment in comparative-historical analysis James Mahoney; 11. Aligning ontology and methodology in comparative politics; 12. Doubly engaged social science: the promise of comparative-historical analysis Theda Skocpol.