Unit 7: Comparative Case Studies
In this unit, we introduce methods of comparative analysis used in political science and international studies. Note that the case studies we will explore are hardly geographically or topically exhaustive. We apply factor analysis and comparative methods to examples from four world regions – Africa, the Americas, Asia, and the Middle East – which is the classification of area studies and standard geopolitical organization American political scientists use.
For example, we divide Asian politics into four regions: East, South, Southeast, and Central Asia. We also divide Africa into two regions: the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and sub-Saharan Africa. We will explore how political elites and policymakers hold distinct views on democratization and modernization, and how these views impact political conflict in these regions.
Completing this unit should take you approximately 16 hours.
Upon successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:
- describe and explain the political economy and development in selected regions and countries; and
- identify and explain political challenges and changing agendas in selected regions and countries.
7.1: Africa
Watch this video, which describes the historical underpinnings of the political power struggles and ethnic violence that took place in so many countries in Africa after they gained independence from their past colonial rulers after WWII.
In 1885, European leaders had carved up the geographical areas of the "Dark Continent" that would become their subjects in the Act of Berlin following the end of the Franco-Prussian War. Intensive exploitation of Africa's natural resources and various levels of ethnic subjugation followed.
In 1957, the rise of nationalism among African citizens led to calls for self-sovereignty. and independence from colonial rule. A sense of celebration and hopes for a future pan-African state took hold. Unfortunately, global geopolitics and a struggle for control over natural resources again "proved a disastrous mix". Ethnic differences and hostilities that colonial imperial rule had suppressed exploded upon independence.
The 1960s were a violent period when the new leaders faced the challenges of state-building, struggles for political power, ethnic and regional division, and competition among corporate multinationals for financial dominance. The video ends with examples of hope for the future among the new professional classes.
Read this report. The section "Guinea-Bissau’s Issues" on pages 9 to 16 examines some of the political barriers that have prevented politicians in Guinea-Bissau from creating stable institutions that otherwise might have been able to combat the drug trade that took over the country. What cultural, geographic, and political factors have led to the growth and institutionalization of the illegal drug trade in Guinea-Bissau?
Listen to this podcast, which asks whether oil created the Ijaw, Nigeria's fourth-largest ethnic group, by giving them a sense of identity and political purpose or whether this ethnic group would have formed without these natural riches.
Petroleum is the largest industry in Nigeria and has been a primary generator of economic growth in Africa's most populous country. However, ownership claims of the country's rich oil reserves between the Nigerian state and ethnic minorities have been a source of civil and often violent conflict. While listening to the podcast, consider the claims made by each side. Can you identify any ways to resolve this conflict?
Read this article. What have been the repercussions of oil production on the Nigerian environment and how have activists responded?
7.2: Latin America
Read this article. Guillermo O'Donnell, an Argentinean political scientist, has compared the rise of bureaucratic-authoritarianism in Brazil and Argentina during the 1960s. Drawing on dependency theory (which assumes resources will flow from poorer peripheral nations to wealthier core nations), O'Donnell argues that dependent development in Latin America led to heightened class division within Latin American countries. Modernization efforts in Latin America has resulted in increasingly repressive governments, as state-led industrialization promoted dictatorship in the 1960s and 1970s and the growth of a technocratic elite. The recent rising popularity of socialist and revolutionary military movements has signaled a backlash against this technocratic elite.
Watch this video. The goal of conditional cash transfer programs is to alleviate poverty by making social welfare programs contingent on the actions of the recipient, generally related to children's health care and education. Why have these programs seen such a proliferation in Latin American countries? Are they effective?
Read this report. What are some of the criticisms of cash transfer programs? Why do the authors argue that "poverty targeted" programs are more effective than categorical ones?
Read this article. What are some of the debates and challenges of microfinancing in developing countries? Do you consider microfinance a valuable development tool?
Read this article. Why does Milford Bateman believe microcredit has been so destructive in Latin America? What evidence does he offer to support his argument?
Read this report. When NAFTA was first proposed in 1993, a vigorous debate ensued among its supporters and opponents, regarding trade and investment policy between the United States and Mexico. More than 20 years after Congress enacted NAFTA, economists, journalists, and policymakers have conducted full-scale assessments of its impact. Do you think the authors of this report believe NAFTA has been a success, failure, or a combination of both?
Read this article. Colombia has suffered from decades of civil conflict and violence among various left- and right-wing paramilitary groups, exacerbated in large part by the drug trade. During the past several years, Columbia's largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia People's Army (FARC) has tentatively engaged in peace talks with the Colombian government. In the reading, Philip Abbott analyzes the conflict from a socio-psychological perspective to "gain a more equitable perception of reality". What policies and strategies do he suggest can accurately address these realities?
7.3: Asia
Watch this video. Asia is considered a model of rapid political and economic development. Many scholars argue that a decades-long trend of liberalization, after a long history of political consolidation, has been a key factor in its economic prosperity. However, debates about human rights and political freedom continue to be points of contention between Asia and the West.
Watch this video. Competition for economic dominance has forced many countries to compete against each other, particularly those which share the same geographic regions. What factors have led to these countries' current positions as global players? What are the political, economic, and social strengths and weaknesses of each country? What solutions does Lingle provide to address their respective problems?
Watch this video. Across Asia, a new generation of women has emerged to challenge the international community on human rights and political reform. What tools are these young activists using to empower individuals and advocate for change?
Watch this presentation. China has long been a target of non-governmental organizations like Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and other world governments for systematic human rights abuses. Issues involving freedom of the press, the one-child policy, capital punishment, and repression of minority groups have gotten world attention at the same time that China is becoming an economic and political superpower. How have China's leaders worked to reframe their human rights diplomacy in the face of these realities?
Read this report. China currently has the world's second largest economy behind the United States. Its unprecedented economic growth puts it on track to becoming a potential world superpower within the next twenty years. What policies has China put in place to spur this phenomenal growth? What lessons can the United States take from China's experience?
Read this report. Land reform is one of the policy areas in Vietnam that has gone through a radical transformation from its origins as a collectivist enterprise. How has this change impacted families, agriculture, and the overall economy in Vietnam?
7.4: The Middle East and the Islamic World
Watch these videos. World War I was important in shaping the development of the modern Middle East. Once encompassing the Ottoman Empire, the war's end precipitated a peace settlement that divided the Arab lands into European protectorates, stripping them of most of their independence. While watching the videos, consider how the current conflicts in the Middle East can be traced back to this initial event.
Read this article. The state of Israel is central to many of the historic and contemporary upheavals in the Middle East. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict is one of the world's longest standing conflicts, and many believe that resolving this conflict is the key to resolving the various conflicts throughout the region.
Read this article on the role of jihad in political Islam. The term "political Islam" is often used to identify the adoption of Islam into secular politics.
Watch this video, which features a panel discussion on the issue of how to combat extremism and improve relations between the West and the Muslim world.
Read this analysis of the main arguments Samuel Huntington, an American political scientist, presented in his provocative thesis, "Clash of Civilizations", in 1993. Be sure to read and think about Bowden's analyses of the strengths and weaknesses of Huntington's thoughts regarding contemporary international conflict.
Unit 7 Assessment
- Receive a grade
Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.
- This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
- You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
- You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.
- Receive a grade
Take this assessment to see how well you understood this unit.
- This assessment does not count towards your grade. It is just for practice!
- You will see the correct answers when you submit your answers. Use this to help you study for the final exam!
- You can take this assessment as many times as you want, whenever you want.