Discusses the methodological and epistemological orientations of Comparative Area Studies~Bridges the gap between the specificity of area studies scholarship and the social scientific quest for general theory~Demonstrates how cross-regional comparisons can shed new light on a range of important topics such as protests and rebellions, anti-corruption campaigns, resource booms, institutional change, and the organization of production~Incoporates past comparative research to build a diverse and cross-regional analysis that appeals to both social scientists and area studies' communities