The Grammar of Time: A Toolbox for Comparative Historical Analysis

Kreuzer provides guidance for scholars using comparative historical analysis (CHA) to analyze macro-historical questions, drawing attention to the ontological constructions of these worlds and engaging in ontological triage, dialogue, and translation of test results into genuine answers.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 180 pages
Publication date: 25 May 2023
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Kreuzer provides valuable guidance to scholars seeking to employ comparative historical analysis (CHA) as a powerful tool for tackling macro-historical questions. CHA, akin to history, employs the past to formulate research questions, describe social transformations, and generate inductive insights. Similar to social science, CHA compares these patterns to explicate generalizable and testable theories. It operates in two distinct worlds: one constantly evolving, characterized by cultural particularities, and another static, filled with orderly uniformities. CHA emphasizes the ontological constructions of these worlds, shedding light on how scholars approach historical and geographic particularities to create a social reality suitable for theorizing, while others foreground these particularities to re-complexify it and generate fresh inductive insights. CHA engages in ontological triage, fostering dialogue between exploration and confirmation, and engaging in conversations on how to translate test results into genuine answers.

This book is complemented by an extensive range of online materials, including introductory videos, diagnostic quizzes, advanced exercises, and annotated bibliographies. These resources further enhance the reader's understanding and application of CHA techniques. By utilizing the insights and tools offered in this book, scholars can delve deeper into the complexities of historical change and develop a more comprehensive understanding of the past.

Weight: 312g
ISBN-13: 9781108718233