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Comparative Politics
With unparalleled empirical material, this is the most comprehensive introduction to comparative politics written by the leading experts in the field who bring together a diverse and informed international perspective on comparative politics. Five new authors join the team for the fifth edition, bringing fresh ideas and insights to the comparative analysis the book provides.
The new edition has been brought fully up to date with coverage of Brexit, Trump and the resurgence of Populism, and a greater focus on developing countries through a reworked Chapter 15 on Regions and Ethnicity. Furthermore, the chapter on Political Culture includes more in-depth coverage of gender and representation in the era of the #MeToo movement. Importantly, issues around migration and how different countries respond are explored in Chapter 24 on Globalization.
An unrivalled amount of empirical material in the text and in the supporting online resources 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.
The new edition has been brought fully up to date with coverage of Brexit, Trump and the resurgence of Populism, and a greater focus on developing countries through a reworked Chapter 15 on Regions and Ethnicity. Furthermore, the chapter on Political Culture includes more in-depth coverage of gender and representation in the era of the #MeToo movement. Importantly, issues around migration and how different countries respond are explored in Chapter 24 on Globalization.
An unrivalled amount of empirical material in the text and in the supporting online resources 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.
664 pages, Paperback
First published March 20, 2008
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 5, 2021
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.
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.
September 21, 2021
Too neoliberal for me Bit very Accessible language.
April 11, 2022
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.
December 28, 2025
ok diva 💜
December 24, 2012
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.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews