Politics Guide: Comparative Government

The fourth edition of this well-respected textbook explores the changing nature of politics in the developing world as the twenty-first century moves into its second decade. Thematic chapters examine theoretical approaches and the historical and economic context; society-state relations;structures and processes of governance, and conflict; and the evolution of policy, including human rights and the environment. The book concludes with a revised case study section that draws out central themes and comparisons between a wide range of developing countries from Indonesia and Iraq toBrazil and Guatemala. This new edition has been thoroughly updated to take account of developments including the aftermath of the financial crisis and the "Arab spring" and includes new chapters on social movements and governance, as well as a new country case study on Brazil.

This book explores all the major fields of political leadership, from executive, legislative and party leadership to leadership in social movements and international organizations.

This book explains international action on climate change from the perspective of countries' domestic politics. In an effort to understand both what progress has been made and why it has been so limited, experts in comparative politics look at the experience of seven jurisdictions in deciding whether or not to ratify the Kyoto Protocol and to pursue national climate change mitigation policies.

The shelf life of minor parties in democracies tends to be short, but major parties tend to be highly durable. Major parties perpetuate themselves by maintaining a consistent ideology on major national issues, even at the cost of periodic defeats at the polls.