Review article
WHAT IS COMPARATIVE POLITICS? A CRITICAL REVIEW OF THE STUDY OF COMPARATIVE POLITICS AT THE FACULTY OF POLITICAL SCIENCE, UNIVERSITY OF ZAGREB
Mirjana Kasapović
; Faculty of Political Science, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
The author gives a critical review of the perception of comparative politics in the programmes of the Faculty of Political Science. The perception is based on the assumption that comparative politics is a sub-discipline of international politics. Contrary to that, the author claims that: 1. comparative politics is not a sub-discipline of international politics but a separate discipline of political science in its own right that has gained academic legitimacy together with political theory, international and national politics; 2. both the international and the national politics can be the subject of comparative research; 3. the methodology of research and not the subject matter is essential for the definition of comparative politics. These premises are drawn from an outline of the theoretical and methodological evolution of this discipline and the account of its current state. The author uses these to highlight the academic and organizational problems of comparative politics in Croatia.
Keywords
comparative politics; political science; research methodology; area-studies; reform
Hrčak ID:
23663
URI
Publication date:
31.3.2003.
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