Principles of Comparative Politics
3rd Edition
Published on 9. March 2017
Book
Paperback/Softback
888 pages
978-1-5063-1812-7 (ISBN)
Description
Principles of Comparative Politics offers the most comprehensive and up-to-date introduction to comparative inquiry, research, and scholarship. In this thoroughly revised Third Edition, students now have an even better guide to cross-national comparison and why it matters. The new edition retains a focus on the enduring questions with which scholars grapple, the issues about which consensus has started to emerge, and the tools comparativists use to get at the complex problems in the field.
Among other things, the updates to this edition include a thoroughly-revised chapter on dictatorships that incorporates a discussion of the two fundamental problems of authoritarian rule: authoritarian power-sharing and authoritarian control; a revised chapter on culture and democracy that includes a more extensive examination of cultural modernization theory and a new overview of survey methods for addressing sensitive topics; a new section on issues related to electoral integrity; an expanded assessment of different forms of representation; and a new intuitive take on statistical analyses that provides a clearer explanation of how to interpret regression results. Examples from the gender and politics literature have been incorporated into various chapters, the Problems sections at the end of each chapter have been expanded, a! nd the empirical examples and data on various types of institutions have been updated. Online videos and tutorials are available to address some of the more methodological components discussed in the book. The authors have thoughtfully streamlined chapters to better focus attention on key topics.
Among other things, the updates to this edition include a thoroughly-revised chapter on dictatorships that incorporates a discussion of the two fundamental problems of authoritarian rule: authoritarian power-sharing and authoritarian control; a revised chapter on culture and democracy that includes a more extensive examination of cultural modernization theory and a new overview of survey methods for addressing sensitive topics; a new section on issues related to electoral integrity; an expanded assessment of different forms of representation; and a new intuitive take on statistical analyses that provides a clearer explanation of how to interpret regression results. Examples from the gender and politics literature have been incorporated into various chapters, the Problems sections at the end of each chapter have been expanded, a! nd the empirical examples and data on various types of institutions have been updated. Online videos and tutorials are available to address some of the more methodological components discussed in the book. The authors have thoughtfully streamlined chapters to better focus attention on key topics.
Reviews / Votes
"Principles of Comparative Politics is a very comprehensive, rigorous, and detailed text. It is logically and effectively organized, across and within chapters. One of its strengths is the way the text discusses the strengths and weaknesses of different types of institutions and introduces students to debates in the literature. I will continue to assign the textbook so students are made to engage with the heated and continuing debates in political science." -- Tayna Bagashka "It is both my opinion and a majority of students' opinion that Principles of Comparative Politics clearly and concisely presents and describes theories and concepts. From my experience, the book is clearer than most of the alternatives focused on Comparative Politics. From the student's experience, the book is clearer than many similar texts they have read in Political Science and other disciplines. I believe the book manages to cover many of the relevant themes in Comparative Politics within a logical and interesting framework; as part of a more relevant discussion of the differences in democracy and dictatorships." -- Nick Clark "The key strength to Principles of Comparative Politics is the theoretical approach. This is the best undergraduate text I have found within both Comparative and International Relations for introducing the scientific method and recent research. I feel that students leave this textbook understanding what political science truly is and what differentiates this field from area specialists. In addition, the book also acts as a comprehensive primer to rational choice theory, and is a great text to be used as a supplement to a rational choice class if looking for a substantive example." -- Christine Mele "After more than 20 years in the profession, Principles of Comparative Politics is truly the first textbook that will pave the way to establish norms on how to teach Introduction to Comparative Politics. Traditional method is outdated and too historical. This textbook provides an introduction to the 'science of politics.'" -- Emizet KisanganiMore details
Edition
3rd Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Washington
United States
Publishing group
SAGE Publications Inc
Target group
College/higher education
Edition type
Revised edition
Dimensions
Height: 232 mm
Width: 191 mm
Weight
1160 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5063-1812-7 (9781506318127)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Previous edition
William Roberts Clark | Matt Golder | Sona N. Golder
Principles of Comparative Politics
Book
05/2012
2nd Edition
CQ Press
€153.01
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Persons
William Roberts Clark is head of the Department of Political Science at Texas A&M University and a fellow at the Institute for the Study of Religion at Baylor University. He is the author of Capitalism, Not Globalism, and his articles have appeared in American Political Science Review, Comparative Political Studies, Political Analysis, and European Union Politics, among other journals. He has been teaching at a wide variety of public and private schools (William Paterson College, Rutgers University, Georgia Tech, Princeton, New York University, and the University of Michigan) for more than three decades. Matt Golder was previously assistant professor of political science at Florida State University. He is the author of articles which have appeared in the American Journal of Political Science, British Journal of Political Science, Comparative Political Studies, Electoral Studies, and Political Analysis among other journals. He has taught classes on comparative politics, advanced industrialized democracies, quantitative methods, and European politics at the University of Iowa, Florida State University, and the University of Essex. Sona Nadenichek Golder was previously assistant professor of political science at Florida State University. She is the author of The Logic of Pre-Electoral Coalition Formation, and has published articles in the British Journal of Political Science, Electoral Studies, and European Union Politics. She teaches courses on European politics, democracies and dictatorships, comparative institutions, game theory, and comparative politics at Florida State University and was a Mentor-in-Residence for the 2007 Empirical Implications of Theoretical Models Summer Program at UCLA .
Content
Preface
PART I. WHAT IS COMPARATIVE POLITICS?
1. INTRODUCTION
Overview of the Book
The Approach Taken in This Book
Key Concepts
2. WHAT IS SCIENCE?
What Is Science?
The Scientific Method
An Introduction to Logic
Myths about Science
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Problems
3. WHAT IS POLITICS?
The Exit, Voice, and Loyalty Game
Solving the Exit, Voice, and Loyalty Game
Evaluating the Exit, Voice, and Loyalty Game
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Preparation for the Problems
Problems
PART II. THE MODERN STATE: DEMOCRACY OR DICTATORSHIP?
4. THE ORIGINS OF THE MODERN STATE
What Is a State?
Somalia and Syria: Two Failed States
The Contractarian View of the State
The Predatory View of the State
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Preparation for the Problems
Problems
5. DEMOCRACY AND DICTATORSHIP: CONCEPTUALIZATION AND MEASUREMENT
Democracy and Dictatorship in Historical Perspective
Classifying Democracies and Dictatorships
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Problems
6. THE ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF DEMOCRACY AND DICTATORSHIP
Classic Modernization Theory
A Variant of Modernization Theory
Some More Empirical Evidence
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Appendix: An Intuitive Take on Statistical Analyses
Problems
7. THE CULTURAL DETERMINANTS OF DEMOCRACY AND DICTATORSHIP
Classical Cultural Arguments: Mill and Montesquieu
Does Democracy Require a Civic Culture?
Religion and Democracy
Experiments and Culture
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Problems
8. DEMOCRATIC TRANSITIONS
Bottom-Up Transitions to Democracy
Top-Down Transitions to Democracy
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Problems
9. DEMOCRACY OR DICTATORSHIP: DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
The Effect of Regime Type on Economic Growth
The Effect of Regime Type on Government Performance
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Problems
PART III. VARIETIES OF DEMOCRACY AND DICTATORSHIP
10. VARIETIES OF DICTATORSHIP
A Common Typology of Authoritarian Regimes
The Two Fundamental Problems of Authoritarian Rule
Selectorate Theory
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Problems
11. PROBLEMS WITH GROUP DECISION MAKING
Problems with Group Decision Making
Arrow's Theorem
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Appendix: Stability in Two-Dimensional Majority-Rule Voting
Problems
12. PARLIAMENTARY, PRESIDENTIAL, AND SEMI-PRESIDENTIAL DEMOCRACIES
Classifying Democracies
Making and Breaking Governments in Parliamentary Democracies
Making and Breaking Governments in Presidential Democracies
Making and Breaking Governments in Semi-Presidential Democracies
A Unifying Framework: Principal-Agent and Delegation Problems
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Problems
13. ELECTIONS AND ELECTORAL SYSTEMS
Elections and Electoral Integrity
Electoral Systems
Legislative Electoral System Choice
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Problems
14. SOCIAL CLEAVAGES AND PARTY SYSTEMS
Political Parties: What Are They, and What Do They Do?
Party Systems
Where Do Parties Come From?
Types of Parties: Social Cleavages and Political Identity Formation
Number of Parties: Duverger's Theory
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Problems
15. INSTITUTIONAL VETO PLAYERS
Federalism
Bicameralism
Constitutionalism
Veto Players
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Problems
PART IV. VARIETIES OF DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL OUTCOMES
16. CONSEQUENCES OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS
Majoritarian or Consensus Democracy?
The Effect of Political Institutions on Fiscal Policy
Electoral Laws, Federalism, and Ethnic Conflict
Presidentialism and Democratic Survival
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Problems
References
Index
PART I. WHAT IS COMPARATIVE POLITICS?
1. INTRODUCTION
Overview of the Book
The Approach Taken in This Book
Key Concepts
2. WHAT IS SCIENCE?
What Is Science?
The Scientific Method
An Introduction to Logic
Myths about Science
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Problems
3. WHAT IS POLITICS?
The Exit, Voice, and Loyalty Game
Solving the Exit, Voice, and Loyalty Game
Evaluating the Exit, Voice, and Loyalty Game
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Preparation for the Problems
Problems
PART II. THE MODERN STATE: DEMOCRACY OR DICTATORSHIP?
4. THE ORIGINS OF THE MODERN STATE
What Is a State?
Somalia and Syria: Two Failed States
The Contractarian View of the State
The Predatory View of the State
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Preparation for the Problems
Problems
5. DEMOCRACY AND DICTATORSHIP: CONCEPTUALIZATION AND MEASUREMENT
Democracy and Dictatorship in Historical Perspective
Classifying Democracies and Dictatorships
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Problems
6. THE ECONOMIC DETERMINANTS OF DEMOCRACY AND DICTATORSHIP
Classic Modernization Theory
A Variant of Modernization Theory
Some More Empirical Evidence
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Appendix: An Intuitive Take on Statistical Analyses
Problems
7. THE CULTURAL DETERMINANTS OF DEMOCRACY AND DICTATORSHIP
Classical Cultural Arguments: Mill and Montesquieu
Does Democracy Require a Civic Culture?
Religion and Democracy
Experiments and Culture
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Problems
8. DEMOCRATIC TRANSITIONS
Bottom-Up Transitions to Democracy
Top-Down Transitions to Democracy
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Problems
9. DEMOCRACY OR DICTATORSHIP: DOES IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE?
The Effect of Regime Type on Economic Growth
The Effect of Regime Type on Government Performance
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Problems
PART III. VARIETIES OF DEMOCRACY AND DICTATORSHIP
10. VARIETIES OF DICTATORSHIP
A Common Typology of Authoritarian Regimes
The Two Fundamental Problems of Authoritarian Rule
Selectorate Theory
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Problems
11. PROBLEMS WITH GROUP DECISION MAKING
Problems with Group Decision Making
Arrow's Theorem
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Appendix: Stability in Two-Dimensional Majority-Rule Voting
Problems
12. PARLIAMENTARY, PRESIDENTIAL, AND SEMI-PRESIDENTIAL DEMOCRACIES
Classifying Democracies
Making and Breaking Governments in Parliamentary Democracies
Making and Breaking Governments in Presidential Democracies
Making and Breaking Governments in Semi-Presidential Democracies
A Unifying Framework: Principal-Agent and Delegation Problems
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Problems
13. ELECTIONS AND ELECTORAL SYSTEMS
Elections and Electoral Integrity
Electoral Systems
Legislative Electoral System Choice
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Problems
14. SOCIAL CLEAVAGES AND PARTY SYSTEMS
Political Parties: What Are They, and What Do They Do?
Party Systems
Where Do Parties Come From?
Types of Parties: Social Cleavages and Political Identity Formation
Number of Parties: Duverger's Theory
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Problems
15. INSTITUTIONAL VETO PLAYERS
Federalism
Bicameralism
Constitutionalism
Veto Players
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Problems
PART IV. VARIETIES OF DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL OUTCOMES
16. CONSEQUENCES OF DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS
Majoritarian or Consensus Democracy?
The Effect of Political Institutions on Fiscal Policy
Electoral Laws, Federalism, and Ethnic Conflict
Presidentialism and Democratic Survival
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Problems
References
Index