The monograph addresses three methodological approaches – or ‘roads’ – to comparative research. The first one is centered on statistical analyses and on comparative descriptions of the obtained results. The second transforms a set of comparable data into a visual pattern with which a competent observer interacts. The third road opens up some surprising possibilities within the context of strictly incomparable data sets. The book contributes to an improved understanding of the complexities of the European project and to a widening of our current approaches in comparative research.
COBISS.SI-ID: 28581981
Trust in institutions of political and social system is a basis of modern democracies. The analysis confirms that expression of trust in political institutions is under the strong influence of political views of the evaluators. Low level of trust in political institutions in Slovenia limits participation of Slovenians in the democratic processes and the success of their control over legislative and executive power. Cross country comparisons reveal a relationship between trust and level of democratic and economic development.
COBISS.SI-ID: 28584541
This article presents an analytical approach that could become of special relevance for large quantities of unused data outside the current data bases for comparative analyses. Surveys which have been designed for the purpose of analyzing a single population are characterized as atomic survey-datasets. The morphological approach creates bridges between atomic survey datasets and attempts to bring them into the arena of comparative research. It generates a set of morphological constructs which allows heterogeneous datasets to be used for comparative analyses.
COBISS.SI-ID: 28584797
The article presents the traditional concept of citizenship through a discussion of the ‘conflict’ between the liberal and republican models. A possibility to resolve this ‘conflict’ by introducing a new concept of ‘post-modern’ citizenship is indicated. The analysis of comparative data reveals that in highly developed countries with longer democratic tradition more elements of post-modern citizenship can be identified. Authors propose a possible direction for modeling a ‘post-modern’ paradigm of citizenship based on the idea of multilevel citizenship.
COBISS.SI-ID: 28584285
The article provides an analysis of the determinants of the success of transitions to democracy based on a combination of qualitative comparative analysis of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia & Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro and Macedonia; and hierarchical clustering. The key finding is that one can reveal configurations of several factors which jointly determine either continuous or disrupted transitions to democracy.
COBISS.SI-ID: 28574813