Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction (Comparative Government and Politics, 12)

Product Description

This revised and updated edition of a core textbook – one of the most well-established texts in the field of comparative politics – offers a comprehensive introduction to the comparison of governments and political systems, helping students to understand not just the institutions and political cultures of their own countries but also those of a wide range of democracies and authoritarian regimes from around the world.The book opens with an overview of key theories and methods for studying comparative politics and moves on to a study of major institutions and themes, such as the state, constitutions and courts, elections, voters, interest groups and political economy. In addition, two common threads run throughout the chapters in this edition – the reversal of democracy and declining trust in government – ensuring that the book fully accounts for the rapid developments in politics that have taken place across the world in recent times.Written by a team of experienced textbook authors and featuring a range of engaging learning features, this book is an essential text for undergraduate and postgraduate courses on comparative politics, comparative government, introduction to politics and introduction to political science.New to this Edition:- New and extended coverage of important topics such as authoritarian states, identities, ethnicity and political violence- A brand new chapter on political economy- An engaging new page design, in full colour for the first time- An enhanced companion website, now providing an extensive testbank of questions for lecturers- Publishing alongside John McCormick’s new book on Cases in Comparative Government and Politics (October 2019), which offers more detailed coverage of the cases covered in this text.

Review

“This new edition does not simply update a classic resource for teachers and students. In exploring universal questions of comparative political science from the dual perspective of democratic backsliding on the part of elites, and declining trust on the part of the people, it compels us to consider those questions anew.” ―Benjamin Stanley, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Poland“In my experience, Comparative Government and Politics is by far the best stand-alone text in this area. It is thorough and unlike the many other texts in the field, it focuses, in very interesting and engaging sections, primarily upon the dynamics of a broad range of comparative political phenomena as they apply to real-world politics. Coupled with McCormick’s forthcoming country case studies volume, this will constitute the most comprehensive, and yet interesting and very readable approach to the teaching of this key subject at the undergraduate level.” ―Daniel Zirker, University of Waikato, New Zealand“Continues to be the leading introductory text in the field, and for good reason. Comprehensive, well-structured, and incorporating analysis of the latest trends and developments, it provides a highly accessible resource for both students and teachers the world over. Its thematic approach and extensive range of country case studies ensure that it is truly international in scope and relevance.” ―Monique Emser, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa“Comparative Government and Politics stands out in a market saturated with introductory textbooks. The tone and style of the text are very accessible and lend themselves well to both those majoring in the field, and those not familiar with it at all.” ―Johannes Van Gorp, American University of Sharjah, UAE“The addition of John McCormick in this classic title for comparative politics has made a significant impact in this edition. Full of new features, captivating graphs and images, this has become an important resource for students of comparative politics as well as an excellent reference point for those teaching the subject. Users of the book will particularly enjoy the spotlights on specific countries and cases, as well as the