THE STATE-POLITICS LITERATURE - MOVING BEYOND COVARIATION STUDIES ANDPURSUING POLITICS

Covariation studies of state politics have advanced our knowledge of v ariations in political cultures, institutions, actors, and policies am ong the U.S. states, but have remained marginal to the broader field o f American politics. The study of state politics will become more cent ral to the broader field only if it moves from a focus on covariation to a focus on explaining political processes and outcomes. It can do t his only with a methodological shift from correlation to case study an d comparative case study.