Democratic Theory and Causal Methodology in Comparative Politics

Barrington Moore bequeathed comparativists a problem: how to reconcile his causal claim of 'no bourgeoisie, no democracy' with his normative 'dream of a free and rational society'. Lichbach harmonizes causal methodology and normative democratic theory, illustrating their interrelationship. Using a dialogue among four specific texts, Lichbach advances five constructive themes. First, comparativists should study the causal agency of individuals, groups and democracies. Second, three types of collective agency should be paired with an exploration of three corresponding moral dilemmas: ought-is, freedom-power and democracy-causality. Third, at the center of inquiry, comparativists should place big-P Paradigms and big-M Methodology. Fourth, as they play with research schools, creatively combining prescriptive and descriptive approaches to democratization, they should encourage a mixed-theory and mixed-method field. Finally, comparativists should study pragmatic questions about political power and democratic performance: in building a democratic state, which democracy, under which conditions, is best, and how might it be achieved?

1. Methodology's problem, and democracy's too; Part I. Rationalism and Constructivism: 2. Where democracy is to be found and why; 3. When causality is to be found and how; 4. Two Western dreams: thin and thick democracy; Part II. State-Society and Contentious Politics: 5. Pragmatic theories of a fit state: Kohli; 6. Pragmatic theories of a fit democracy: Tilly; Part III. Conclusions: Five Themes and Twelve Theses: 7. Agency; 8. Research schools; 9. Political power and democratic performance.

Mark I. Lichbach is Professor of Government and Politics at the University of Maryland. He received a BA from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, an MA from Brown University and a PhD in political science from Northwestern University. He is the author or editor of numerous books, including the award-winning The Rebel's Dilemma, and of numerous articles that have appeared in scholarly journals in political science, economics and sociology. His work has been supported by the National Science Foundation and private foundations. Lichbach has served as book review editor of the American Political Science Review, editor of the University of Michigan Press's series on interests, identities, and institutions, and as chair of three political science departments: the University of Maryland, the University of Colorado and the University of California, Riverside.