Synopses & Reviews
An authoritative new introductory text covering the key concepts, theories and issues in comparative politics.
About the Author
Ken Newton is Professor of Comparative Politics at the University of Southampton. He previously taught at the University of Essex, and was Director of the European Consortium for Political Research. Among his publications is the successful textbook The New British Politics (Longman).Jan W. van Deth is Professor of Political Science and International Comparative Social Research at the University of Mannheim, Germany. His main research areas are political culture (especially social capital and citizenship), social change, and comparative research methods.
Table of Contents
Part I. The State: Origins and Development: 1. The development of the modern state; 2. The democratic state; Part II. The Polity: Structures and Institutions: 3. Constitutions; 4. Presidential and parliamentary government; 5. Multi-level government: international, national and sub-national; 6. Policy-making and legislating: executives and legislatures; 7. Implementation: the public bureaucracy; Part III. Citizens, Elites, and Interest Mediation: 8. Political attitudes and behaviour; 9. Pressure groups and social movements; 10. The mass media; 11. Voters and elections; 12. Parties and governments; Part IV. Policies and Performances: 13. Political ideologies: conservatism, liberalism, Christian democracy and socialism; 14. Decision-making; 15. Defence and security; 16. Welfare; 17. The future of the democratic state.