Modernization Theory Case Analysis

Modernization Theory Case Analysis Paper

Traditional Research Paper For your final research paper, you should select one research question from any of the topics in the course, and use either a most similar case analysis or a most different case analysis to determine which related theory has the most support. Your paper should include the following components:

Research question: each course topic includes a series of major questions. You should pick one of the questions we addressed in class (ie, why are some countries more democratic than others?).

Explanations*: select at least two different theoretical explanations that apply to your research question and explain them thoroughly (i.e., modernization theory and fiscal contracts theory). Method: select either the most different case analysis or the most similar case analysis.

Cases: based on your method, you will need to select two cases and justify why they are either “most different” or “most similar.”

Evidence: Do research to determine which explanation best answers your research question. The nature of your evidence will depend on the theories and on the method you have selected.

Conclusion: Evaluate whether the evidence supports one, all, or none of the theories you selected.

Requirements:

1500-2000 words Times New Roman 12 pt font (or size equivalent) Include works cited page, APSA format (not included in word count) Reference relevant course reading, conduct external research for appropriate data Minimum of 3 scholarly sources will be evaluated on:

1) Ability to correctly select and explain theories relevant to the research question

2) Correct application of research method and relevance of cases

3) Appropriate use of evidence

4) Reasonable conclusion (note: you may conclude that all or none of the theories you selected actually explains the outcome).

Final Paper

• Traditional research paper

• Academic sources

Step 1: Pick a topic

Economic development Welfare states Democracy CHOSE THIS ONE Varieties of democracy (electoral and executive) Authoritarianism Democratic backsliding Voting Interest groups & social movements Revolutions

Step 2: Pick a question  

Why are some countries richer than others? Why are there different kinds of welfare states? Which welfare state is the best? Why are some countries more democratic than others? CHOSE THIS ONE Why are some countries experiencing backsliding?

 Step 3: Pick theories

• Need at least 2, make sure you can find evidence for it  

Agency CHOSE THIS ONE Interests Structures Institution

CHOSE THIS ONE Culture CHOSE THIS ONE

Step 4: Pick method & cases

• Most similar or most different • Make sure your outcomes match the cases! o Most similar -> different outcomes o Most different -> same outcomes

Step 5: Find evidence

• least three academic sources not from class • Databases we’ve used throughout the semesters o o o World bank OECD Varieties of Democracy Step 6: Evaluate evidence • either/both/none of your theories successfully explain outcome you care about?