Comparative Politics

by Daniele Caramani (editor)

An outstanding group of internationally-renowned comparative political scientists provide a substantive introduction to comparative politics.

Thematic in organization, readers are guided through a comprehensive analysis of the core methods, theories, and concepts in comparative politics. An unrivalled amount of empirical material in the text and on the supporting website illustrates key similarities and differences of political systems in practice. The wealth of empirical data also encourages students to go beyond the"'what" of comparison to the "how".

Combining cutting edge treatment of theories and truly global geographical coverage, this exciting textbook is essential reading for all comparative politics students.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Political Science

648 pages, Paperback

First published March 20, 2008

Reviews

[Mark Oppenlander]

This textbook takes a slightly unusual approach. Rather than having a single author write all about Comparative Politics, the editor, Daniele Caramani, calls on top experts in various niches of the discipline to write short chapters on a variety of specific subjects within the field. This allows for a plethora of perspectives, but also for her to dial up cutting-edge thinkers in each research area.

The book begins with several chapters on research methods. For those who are not political scientists or don't hope to conduct research in this field, this section is probably the dullest. After that, things get more interesting with groupings of chapters on the historical context of comparative politics, political structures and institutions, political actors and processes, policy making and trends, and a final few chapters dealing with trans-national politics. I found the material relatively accessible, and very enlightening. As a relative novice in this area of study, I learned a lot.

The book does display a certain amount of unevenness. Because not all of the authors are writing in their primary language, the style and quality of the writing varies; I found some grammatical errors and odd turns of phrase that obscured meaning at times. Also, although a broad range of nation-states are used to illustrate specific points, countries in Asia and Africa remain underrepresented.

Still, this text feels like a good primer on a subject that likely appears opaque to many of us. For those wrapped up in the messiness or ugliness of their own governmental system (e.g. the United States or the UK), understanding some of the variety of political approaches used around the world can be refreshing. It's a reminder that there is more than one way to make the sausage.

[bookaholic]

Too neoliberal for me Bit very Accessible language.

[Mark Isaak]

The major sections of this textbook are Theories and methods, Historical context, Structures and institutions, Actors and processes, Public policies, and Beyond the nation-state; each chapter was written by a different author. All of it was slow reading, but only one or two chapters reverted to an academese dialect. An extensive set of appendices gathers salient country data. This edition is five years old as I write and is starting to show its age, but nearly all of it is still relevant.

[emiii]

ok diva 💜

[Thomas Andrikus]

I had to use this book for "PSC 102: Comparative Politics" class in Northern Kentucky University. I got an A on that class, despite the fact that I only studied the book on several occasions: for quizzes, one midterm exam, and one final exam.