Methodological Advances, Bridges and Limits in the Application of Qualitative Comparative Analysis

Applications of Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) have proliferated in the 25 years since Charles Ragin’s landmark publication “The Comparative Method”, testifying to the marked increase in interest among researchers in the possibilities and advantages of this method as a tool for social-scientific enquiry. However, while the basic mechanisms behind its three related variants – crisp-set QCA (csQCA), multi-value QCA (mvQCA), and fuzzy set QCA (fsQCA) – have become widely accepted, a critical juncture has now been reached. Scholars begin to not only recognize fundamental limits and limitations, but also possibilities in further developing, extending, and complementing this method to reap its full potential in advancing our understanding of social, political and economic questions. The proposed workshop thus addresses junior and senior scholars working on methodological issues relating to QCA as a technique, and applications of QCA to substantial questions, in order to improve the method and broaden its applicability.