Study of comparative government and politics

THE work by Professor Gunnar Heckscher which is now published for the first time is the report of a round table con-
ference on teaching and research in comparative government held by the International Poftreal Science Association in
Florence from April 5-10, 1954. Aldiough Professor Heckscher has drawn freely and fully on the papers contributed to the
round table, and on the discussioris which took place there, his essay is far more than a 'report in the ordinary sense of the
word. It is, I believe, the first monograph to explore at length the methodological problems involved in the study of
comparative government and politics.
The subject was admirably suited to an international meeting of political scientists. For it bears on the question how
far conclusions drawn from the experience of one country can be validly applied to the political systems of other countries;
and the conditions which must be taken into account in attempting to answer that question. Can the data of government
and politics be regarded as strictly comparable in any sense, or is it unique to the particular countries from which it is drawn?
What are the merits and demerits of the different methods of approaching the subject? How far must the political scientist
rely on the findings of neighbouring disciplines, such as history or economics or sociology, in studying a foreign country?
What do we mean by area studies? These are a few of the significant points on which those who organised the meet-
ing hoped an international discussion would throw some light.