Introduction to Comparative Government, Update

by Michael Curtis, Roger E. Kanet, Martin C. Needler

With an accessible, descriptive approach and an easy-to-use, three-part structure within each chapter, this flexible comparative text offers students an affordable alternative. Rather than focusing on one perspective to the exclusion of others, Introduction to Comparative Government exposes students to multiple approaches. Instructors and students can choose the comparative approach that is most helpful to their understanding of the whole or parts of political systems. The text offers nine country-study chapters and two region-study chapters, which reflect the most recent election results, the war in Iraq, the expansion of the EU, and notable terrorist attacks.

734 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

Reviews

[Marc · Rating 2 out of 5]

An overview of the British institutions and politics. Very didactic, but the edition I read (1986) of course is outdated by now (there are more recent ones!)

[Benjamin · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book has at least one error: Bin Laden, al Qaeda, etc. are not Wahhabists.

Wahhabism is a fundamentalist version of Islam, and is also known as muwahhidun (unitarian) or Salafist (companions of the Prophet). It developed in Saudi Arabia mid 18th Century
and reached the Trucial States (future UAE) around 1800.
Saudi Arabia built Wahhabi mosques around the world in response to the 1979 Iranian (Shi’ite) revolution and increased Arab emigration. Saudi Arabia now supports 90% of the global costs of Islam, yet only contains 1% of Muslims.
Bin Laden, al Qaeda, etc. are actually takfiris. Takfir essentially means excommunication. Muslims who oppose the takfiris are not considered true believers, and can therefore be killed. Takfir emerged from Egypt, not Saudi Arabia, and most victims of takfiri violence are Muslims

Curtis, 2006, 511; Davidson, 2005, 24-5; Sageman, 2008, 39, 105; Wright, 2006, 34, 72, 170