New Books in Political Science Marcus Kreuzer, "The Grammar of Time: A Toolbox for Comparative Historical Analysis" (Cambridge UP, 2023)
Apr 22, 2025
Marcus Kreuzer, a Political Science Professor at Villanova University, discusses his book, which synthesizes interpretive and positivist research designs in Comparative Historical Analysis (CHA). He explores the concept of the 'grammar of time,' emphasizing its importance in understanding context and historical methodology. Kreuzer advocates for bridging methodologies to enhance political analysis and critiques traditional methods. His enthusiasm for teaching complex concepts reflects his commitment to making research more accessible for students, fostering a renewed appreciation for CHA.
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Context Is Constructed and Theoretical
- Context in political science is multi-dimensional and constructed, not just noise to control for.
- Theorizing involves pivoting perspectives to understand contexts holistically.
CHA Bridges Historians and Positivists
- Comparative Historical Analysis (CHA) bridges historians' ideographic focus with positivist causal inference.
- CHA is problem-driven and uses flexible, question-based methods.
Time Central in CHA's Genealogy
- CHA's genealogy traces from 19th-century sociology to modern diverse approaches.
- Time is central to CHA, with overlapping notions of historical and physical time.
