The Role of Theory in Comparative Politics

We already have argued at several places for the importance of empirical political theory as a potential savior for the methodological problems facing a good deal of comparative political analysis. If there are too many variables and an insufficient number of cases, then good comparative theory is expected to ride to the rescue and to enable the researcher to identify more parsimonious explanations. In addition, theory is expected to assist researchers in selecting the cases that should be included in their samples of political units for effective comparative analysis. Finally, political theory is expected to provide a basis for better-informed and more effective measurement of the concepts used in analysis. Can existing comparative theories sustain the weight of the responsibility that is being placed upon them?