Comparative political analysis : an introduction.

As American political science becomes increasingly conscious
of theory and method, there is need to review and critically
examine theoretical concepts and methodological techniques in
relation to particular subject areas in the discipline. The present
volume is an attempt to perform this task for comparative
political analysis
More specifically, the volume is intended (1) to bring
together the analytical concepts and methodological techniques
that are associated with comparative political analysis, (2)
to identify problems and ambiguities that must be recog-
nized explicitly if the goal of rigorous analysis is to be realized,
and (3) to place in proper theoretical perspective some of the
major contributions that have been made to the literature of
comparative political studies.
The intellectual debts of an author who attempts a volume
such as this are unusually heavy. I have tried fully to acknowl-
edge and document these in the text.
For offering valuable comments on portions of the manu-
script I am indebted to my colleagues Ashley Schiff and Edward
Friedland. Mrs. Frank Hill has served as a cheerful secretarial
aid throughout the various drafts of the manuscript. Finally,
to my students at the State University of New York at Stony