Comparative Politics

Comparative Politics and Disasters:
Assessing Substantive and Methodological Contributions

David A. McEntire and Sarah Mathis
Emergency Administration and Planning
Department of Public Administration
University of North Texas
P.O. Box 310617
Denton, Tx 76203-0617

Abstract
The following chapter illustrates how the discipline of comparative politics may help increase our understanding of disasters in other countries as well as promote more effective emergency management institutions and practices domestically and abroad. In seeking to reach this objective, the nature, goals, history, and background of comparative politics will first be mentioned. The chapter will then discuss the underappreciated method of comparison, and identify a number of subject areas that have been examined or could be addressed by this discipline in the future. The major argument to be made is that the comparative method makes unrecognized contributions to disaster studies and will continue to do so as research advances in the United States and in foreign territories.

“Nations can only be understood in comparative perspective” (Lipset 1990, xiii).

“The significance of disaster . . . is brought sharply into focus when one takes a cross-cultural and international view” (Dynes 1988, 102).

Introduction According to the renowned disaster sociologist, Thomas Drabek, the field of emergency management is currently being professionalized and internationalized (McEntire 2001). These changes imply that emergency managers are now more knowledgeable than they were in the past, and suggest that there is increased effort to expand this valued area of public service to other countries. Although a great deal of attention is being directed toward the increasingly recognized profession in terms of new degree programs, additional academic journals and recurring conferences sponsored by emergency management associations, we lack understanding of disasters and

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