Transitology
Encyclopedia
In political science
, international and comparative law
and economics
, transitology is the name for the study of the process of change from one political regime
to another, mainly from authoritarian regimes to democratic ones.
Transitology tries to explain processes of democratization
in a variety of contexts, from bureaucratic authoritarianism and other forms of dictatorship in Latin America
and southern Europe
to postcommunist developments in eastern Europe
. The debate has become something of an academic "turf-war" between comparative studies
and area studies
scholars, while highlighting several problematic features of social science methodology
, including generalization
, an overemphasis on elite
attitudes and behavior, Eurocentrism
, the role of history
in explaining causality
, and the inability to produce testable hypotheses.
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
, international and comparative law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
and economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
, transitology is the name for the study of the process of change from one political regime
Regime
The word regime refers to a set of conditions, most often of a political nature.-Politics:...
to another, mainly from authoritarian regimes to democratic ones.
Transitology tries to explain processes of democratization
Democratization
Democratization is the transition to a more democratic political regime. It may be the transition from an authoritarian regime to a full democracy, a transition from an authoritarian political system to a semi-democracy or transition from a semi-authoritarian political system to a democratic...
in a variety of contexts, from bureaucratic authoritarianism and other forms of dictatorship in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
and southern Europe
Southern Europe
The term Southern Europe, at its most general definition, is used to mean "all countries in the south of Europe". However, the concept, at different times, has had different meanings, providing additional political, linguistic and cultural context to the definition in addition to the typical...
to postcommunist developments in eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
. The debate has become something of an academic "turf-war" between comparative studies
Comparative politics
Comparative politics is a subfield of political science, characterized by an empirical approach based on the comparative method. Arend Lijphart argues that comparative politics does not have a substantive focus in itself, but rather a methodological one: it focuses on "the how but does not specify...
and area studies
Area studies
Area studies are interdisciplinary fields of research and scholarship pertaining to particular geographical, national/federal, or cultural regions. The term exists primarily as a general description for what are, in the practice of scholarship, many heterogeneous fields of research, encompassing...
scholars, while highlighting several problematic features of social science methodology
Methodology
Methodology is generally a guideline for solving a problem, with specificcomponents such as phases, tasks, methods, techniques and tools . It can be defined also as follows:...
, including generalization
Generalization
A generalization of a concept is an extension of the concept to less-specific criteria. It is a foundational element of logic and human reasoning. Generalizations posit the existence of a domain or set of elements, as well as one or more common characteristics shared by those elements. As such, it...
, an overemphasis on elite
Elite
Elite refers to an exceptional or privileged group that wields considerable power within its sphere of influence...
attitudes and behavior, Eurocentrism
Eurocentrism
Eurocentrism is the practice of viewing the world from a European perspective and with an implied belief, either consciously or subconsciously, in the preeminence of European culture...
, the role of history
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
in explaining causality
Causality
Causality is the relationship between an event and a second event , where the second event is understood as a consequence of the first....
, and the inability to produce testable hypotheses.
Notable academics
- Joseph Stiglitz, Nobel Prize winning economist and professor of economics at Columbia University.
- Jeffrey SachsJeffrey SachsJeffrey David Sachs is an American economist and Director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University. One of the youngest economics professors in the history of Harvard University, Sachs became known for his role as an adviser to Eastern European and developing country governments in the...
, Director of the Earth Institute, Columbia University. - Katharina Pistor, Professor of Law, Columbia University.