Description

For courses in Introduction to Comparative Politics

Sets the standard for introducing the field of comparative politics

This text begins by laying out a proven analytical framework that is accessible for students new to the field. The framework is then consistently implemented in twelve authoritative country cases, not only to introduce students to what politics and governments are like around the world but to also understand the importance of their similarities and differences. Written by leading comparativists and area study specialists, Comparative Politics Today helps to sort through the world’s complexity and to recognise patterns that lead to genuine political insight.

Features

Balance Thematic Chapters and Country Studies - A balance of thematic chapters and country studies gives readers the theoretical and country knowledge they need to study comparative politics and to explore the text’s theme of why governments exist, what functions they serve, and how they create problems and solutions. The text offers seven thematic chapters and twelve country studies.

Offer a Global Introduction to Comparative Politics - The broadest geographical survey of developed and developing countries, including a unique chapter on the United States, offers students a global introduction to comparative politics and a wider sense of political possibilities, problems, and limitations.

Provide a Pedagogical Framework - All chapters now include learning objectives keyed to the main chapter headings, as well as review questions designed to emphasise key themes of the chapter.

New to this Edition

Chapters 1-7

• A substantially revised set of theory chapters (1–7) introduces the key concepts and theories that

are applied in the country studies. Data tables and references have been updated with more of

our countries systematically covered. A more extensive use of graphs and charts more clearly

demonstrate relationships.

Chapter 1

• Reorganized to create a more reader friendly introduction.

• Provides more thorough discussion of globalization and its components and consequences.

Chapter 2

• Reorganized to create a more reader friendly introduction.

Chapter 3

• Provides more thorough discussion of globalization and its components and consequences.

Chapter 7

• Introduces its concept of “political goods” with reference to the United Nations Millennium Goals

and systematically treats policy goals and consequences, including welfare, fairness, liberty, and

security outcomes.

• Politicides, cases of extreme government abuses of their own population, are now discussed.

• Provides more thorough discussion of globalization and its components and consequences.

Britain

• Describes how the coalition government of Conservatives and Liberal Democrats under the prime

ministership of David Cameron has performed.

France

• French voters rejected President Sakozy’s bid for a second term in May 2012, and elected a self-
confessed “normal” Socialist, François Hollande, as president. But even with a new legislative

majority Hollande’s policy initiatives have had mixed successes.

Germany

• In the recent 2013 election voters strongly endorsed Angela Merkel’s largely successful economic

policies. But the FDP, her previous government partner, lost its legislative representation. A

complex bargaining process eventually resulted in a grand coalition of Merkel-led CDU/CSU and

the SPD.

Japan

• The election of 2012 returned the Liberal Democrats to government. The LDP prime minister,

ShinzM Abe, has begun a dramatic reform program intended to revive the national economy.

Russia

• The chapter covers the 2012 election of Vladimir Putin to a third presidential term, as well as the

continuing slide toward autocracy and human rights abuses.

China

• China’s Communist Party managed a successful transition to a “fifth generation” of leaders and

was able to sustain continuing economic growth and international economic influence, while still

suppressing human rights and political challenges.

Mexico

• The 2012 election of President Enrique Peña Nieto brought the once-dominant PRI party back

into power for the first time since Mexico’s democratizing election of 2000.

• The chapter describes the new president’s initiatives and efforts to deal with divided government

in a context of an increasingly active citizenry making use of social media for scrutinizing political

behavior.

Brazil

• Dilma Rousseff was elected president in 2011. She is continuing the economic and social

programs of the Workers Party that had begun under the popular Lula administration.

Iran

• Hassan Rouhani’s election as president in 2013 potentially marks a fundamental change in Iran’s

foreign and domestic policies—and a sharp break from Ahmadinejad’s administration. Although

he has been an official in prior Iranian governments, Rouhani has expressed support for reform

caus

Table of Contents

• I. Introduction
• 1. Issues in Comparative Politics
• 2. Comparing Political Systems
• II. System, Process, and Policy
• 3. Political Culture and Political Socialization
• 4. Interest Articulation
• 5. Interest Aggregation and Political Parties
• 6. Government and Policymaking
• 7. Public Policy
• III. Country Studies
• 8. Politics in Britain by Richard Rose
• 9. Politics in France by Martin A. Schain
• 10. Politics in Germany by Russell J. Dalton
• 11. Politics in Japan by Frances Rosenbluth and Michael F. Thies
• 12. Politics in Russia by Thomas F. Remington
• 13. Politics in China by Melanie Manion
• 14. Politics in Mexico by Wayne A. Cornelius and Jeffrey A. Weldon
• 15. Politics in Brazil by Frances Hagopian
• 16. Politics in Iran by H.E. Chehabi and Arang Keshavarzian
• 17. Politics in India by Subrata K. Mitra
• 18. Politics in Nigeria by Robert J. Mundt, Oladimeji Aborisade, and A. Carl LeVan
• 19. Politics in the United States by Austin Ranney and Thad Kousser

Author

G. Bingham Powell is Marie C. Wilson and Joseph C. Wilson Professor of Political Science at the University of Rochester.
Russell J. Dalton is Professor of Political Science at the University of California, Irvine.
Kaare Strøm is Professor of Political Science at the University of California, San Diego.