Typologies in Social Inquiry

Abstract

For a long time typologies have figured prominently among the instruments of social science. They have served as conceptual tools to simplify and order complex social phenomena such as political systems, parties and party systems or varieties of capitalism. Only recently has the usefulness of typology been questioned. Typologies, so the fundamental critique goes, do not contribute to the development of theory, because they do not contain a theoretical argument. Nor do they improve empirical knowledge since they defy empirical testing. As it seems, typologies are outdated instruments which are to be replaced by formal models and advanced empirical techniques. This critique notwithstanding, eminent scholars still invest intellectual energies in the development of typologies (see, for instance: Andeweg and Thomassen, 2005; Gunther and Diamond, 2003). Thus, there is some confusion concerning the use of typology in social inquiry: Should they be used? And if yes, for which purposes and how? It is on these questions that I concentrate here.