Description
Barrington Moore bequeathed comparativists a problem: how to reconcile his causal claim of 'no bourgeoisie, no democracy' with his normative 'dream of a free and rational society'. Lichbach harmonizes causal methodology and normative democratic theory, illustrating their interrelationship. Using a dialogue among four specific texts, Lichbach advances five constructive themes. First, comparativists should study the causal agency of individuals, groups and democracies. Second, three types of collective agency should be paired with an exploration of three corresponding moral dilemmas: ought-is, freedom-power and democracy-causality. Third, at the center of inquiry, comparativists should place big-P Paradigms and big-M Methodology. Fourth, as they play with research schools, creatively combining prescriptive and descriptive approaches to democratization, they should encourage a mixed-theory and mixed-method field. Finally, comparativists should study pragmatic questions about political power and democratic performance: in building a democratic state, which democracy, under which conditions, is best, and how might it be achieved?
Table of Contents
1. Methodology's problem, and democracy's too; Part I. Rationalism and Constructivism: 2. Where democracy is to be found and why; 3. When causality is to be found and how; 4. Two Western dreams: thin and thick democracy; Part II. State-Society and Contentious Politics: 5. Pragmatic theories of a fit state: Kohli; 6. Pragmatic theories of a fit democracy: Tilly; Part III. Conclusions: Five Themes and Twelve Theses: 7. Agency; 8. Research schools; 9. Political power and democratic performance.
