This working paper from the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) proposes that concepts and methods of comparative politics can shine light on political factors important for catalysing positive change on the governance, climate change adaptation and food security of countries in the developing world. It makes five recommendations for CCAFS future research: the need (i) to identify new dimensions for institutional research, (ii) to conduct governance research beyond institutions, (iii) to embrace more rigorous comparative methods, (iv) to address the “dependent variable” problem in climate change adaptation research and (v) to come to grips with “good enough” climate governance.