Theoretical Approaches
Political Studies: Edexcel A Level, topic 17.1.1
Theoretical Comparative Approaches
Rational, cultural and structural approaches are three different ways to compare the politics of different countries.
Rational approach
- The rational approach compares individuals in different political systems.
- The rational approach views individuals as rational actors who act in their own self-interest to achieve political goals.
- The rational approach is useful for comparing members of the executive, legislature, political parties, pressure groups and voters.
Cultural approach
- The cultural approach focuses on the shared ideas and beliefs of groups within different political systems.
- The cultural approach argues that the ideas and values of groups influence the behaviour of individuals within that group.
- The cultural approach explains why societies behave differently from one another.
Structural approach
- The structural approach compares the institutions in each political system and the processes within each institution.
- The structural approach argues that different political structures, such as different types of constitution, lead to different political outcomes.
- The structural approach is useful for comparing constitutions, legislatures, judiciaries, executives, political parties and pressure groups.
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What are the three comparative approaches?