ABSTRACT
There can be little argument about the necessity and usefulness of comparative studies no matter if they are cross-national or intertemporal. They counteract the ethnocentricism of theories and perceptions inspired by a particular social milieu. By being submitted to comparative scrutiny, such formulations are refined and validated. In this respect, the investigative practice follows the folk wisdom which holds that ‘to understand oneself one must observe others’. A comparative study is a social analyst’s equivalent of travelling abroad. It sharpens one’s perceptions and deepens one’s understanding of a phenomenon. So the issue often raised in discussions about comparative studies is not as to why they should be undertaken; rather it is as to how they may be carried out. This pre-occupation with how is evident in the substantial literature about the methodologies of comparative studies.
