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Political Science

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Comparative Politics Today: A World View, Update Edition, 8/E
Gabriel A. Almond, Stanford University
Russell J. Dalton
G. Bingham J. Powell, Jr., University of Rochester
Kaare Strom, University of California, San Diego

ISBN-10: 0321350995
ISBN-13: 9780321350992

Publisher: Longman
Copyright: 2006
Format: Paper; 832 pp
Status: Out of Print

Suggested retail price: $117.20
This item is out of print and is no longer available for purchase.

The Eighth Edition Update of this market-leading text offers the most current and respected introduction to comparative politics available, with updated country studies.

Comparative Politics Today is the text that defined the discipline of comparative politics and continues to set the standard for the course with and the most current country study chapters available. The chapters on England, France, Germany, Russia, Japan, India, and the United States have all been thoroughly updated.  As in the eighth edition, theoretical chapters (Chapters 1-7) at the beginning of the book explore the "purpose of government" and provide students with a framework for understanding comparative politics. The theoretical section is followed by 12 individual country studies. All country studies are written by pre-eminent specialists on that particular country, ensuring that students have the most reliable information and insights into the political systems of those nations.

  • "Contemporary Problems" section at the beginning of each country study introduces students to the current policy issues and challenges faced by that country, drawing students into the chapter and piquing their interest.
  • "Example Boxes" throughout text illustrate discussions with practical examples of how politics works in the real world, helping to make abstract concepts concrete.
  • Longman Comparative Politics Website (Student)
    www.ablongman.com/comparativepolitics
    This website can be used with any of our Comparative Politics texts and offers interactive geography quizzes; profiles of 24 countries complete with political, geographical, cultural, and religious data; comparative case studies; helpful weblinks; and more!
    Open access site -- NO PIN REQUIRED.

  • Substantially revised country chapters include the most current content available and provide students with a reflection of the current political landscapes in these major governments of the world.
  • Updated United States chapter incorporates the controversial war in Iraq and the re-election of George W. Bush in the hard-fought election of 2004 (Ch. 19).
  • Updated Russia chapter discusses the Duma election of 2003, the reelection of Putin in 2004 and his increasing domination in that country, and the Beslan school terrorist attack (Ch. 12).
  • Updated India chapter incorporates the recent initiatives with Pakistan, the surprising parliamentary election of 2004, and coverage of the new Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh (Ch. 17).
  • Updated China chapter discusses Hu Jintao's completion of his transition to controlling leadership among other substantial developments in this growing world power (Ch. 13).
  • Revised and updated data throughout gives the text the most current tables and figures available.

  • New! Custom Database for Comparative Politics. Comparative Politics Your Way! Choose the chapters—and countries—you need for your course. The online book-building site makes it easy for you to create your own version of these best-selling texts. Just click on the chapters you need, place them in the order you teach them. You'll be able to create your own free evaluation copy - see your book before you decide! You can further customize your version by adding outside material — your syllabus, exercises, readings, etc. Your students pay only for the chapters that you assign. Go to www.ablongman.com/custom/comparativepolitics for more details!

Detailed Contents

 

Preface

Acknowledgments

Contributors

 

Part One: Introduction

 

Chapter 1: Issues in Comparative Politics

What is Politics?

Governments and the State of Nature

Why Governments?

When Does Government Become the Problem?

Political Systems

States

Building Community

Fostering Development

Securing Democracy, Human Rights, and Civil Liberties

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

 

Chapter 2: Comparing Political Systems

Why We Compare

How We Compare

Systems: Environment and Interdependence

Structures and Functions

An Illustrative Comparison: Russia in 1985 and 2002

The Policy Level: Performance, Outcome, and Evaluation

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

 

Part Two: System, Process, and Policy

 

Chapter 3: Political Culture and Political Socialization

Political Culture

Mapping the Three Levels of Political Culture

Political Socialization

Agents of Political Socialization

Trends in Contemporary Political Cultures

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

 

Chapter 4: Interest Articulation

Citizen Action

Interest Groups

Access to the Influential

Policy Perspectives on Interest Articulation

Interest Group Development

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

 

Chapter 5: Interest Aggregation and Political Parties

Personal Interest Aggregation

Institutional Interest Aggregation

Competitive Party Systems and Interest Aggregation

Authoritarian Party Systems

The Military and Interest Aggregation

Trends in Interest Aggregation

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

 

Chapter 6: Government and Policymaking

Constitutions and Decision Rules

Democracy and Authoritarianism

Separation of Government Powers

Geographic Distribution of Government Power

Limitations on Government Power

Checking the Top Policymakers

Assemblies

Political Executives

The Bureaucracy

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

 

Chapter 7: Public Policy

Government and What It Does

Extraction

Distribution

Regulation

Community-Building and Symbolic Policies

Outcomes: Domestic Welfare

Domestic Security Outcomes

International Outputs and Outcomes

Political Goods and Values

Strategies for Producing Political Goods

Trade-offs and Opportunity Costs

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

 

Part Three: Country Studies

 

Chapter 8: Politics in England

Current Policy Changes

The Constraints of History

The Environment of Politics

The Structure of Government

Political Culture and Legitimacy

Political Socialization

Political Participation and Recruitment

Organizing Group Interests

Party System and Electoral Choice

Making and Delivering Government Policies

Policy Outcomes and Changes in Society

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

 

Chapter 9: Politics in France

Current Policy Challenges

A Historical Perspective

Economy and Society

Constitution and Governmental Structure

Political Culture

Political Socialization

Mass Participation and Voting

Recruitment and Style of Elites

Interest Groups

Political Parties

Policy Processes

The State and Territorial Relations

Performance and Prospects

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

 

Chapter 10: Politics in Germany

Current Policy Challenges

The Historical Legacy

Following Two Paths

Social Forces

The Institutions and Structure of Government

Remaking Political Cultures

Political Learning and Political Communication

Citizen Participation

Politics at the Elite Level

Interest Groups

The Party System

The Electoral System

The Policy Process

Policy Performance

The Policy Challenges of Unification

After the Revolution

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

 

Chapter 11: Politics in Japan

Current Policy Challenges

Historical Origins of the Modern Japanese State

The Occupation

Political Institutions and the Policy Process

Electoral Systems and the Nature of Electoral Competition

The Japanese Party System

The Internal Organization of the LDP

Political Participation, Voting Behavior, and Interest Groups

Political Culture and Issue Cleavages

Policy Performance

Concluding Thoughts About Japan’s Democracy

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

 

Chapter 12: Politics in Russia

Rebuilding Russia

Current Policy Challenges

Historical Legacies

The Contemporary Constitutional Order

Russian Political Culture in the Post-Soviet Period

Political Participation

Interest Articulation: From Statism to Pluralism

Parties and the Aggregation of Interests

The Politics of Economic Reform

Rule Adjudication: Toward the Rule of Law

Russia and the International Community

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

 

Chapter 13: Politics in China

Current Policy Challenges

Historical Setting

Political History of the PRC

Chinese Society

A Community Party-State

Political Structures

Elite Recruitment

Rule by Law

Political Socialization

Political Culture

Political Participation

Interest Articulation and Aggregation

Policymaking and Implementation

Corruption

Policy Performance

Hong Kong

Taiwan

China’s Political Future

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

 

Chapter 14: Politics in Mexico

Current Policy Challenges

Historical Perspectives

Political Culture and Socialization

Political Structure and Institutions

Recruiting the Political Elite

Interest Representation and Political Control

Political Parties

Government Performance

Mexico’s Political Future

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

 

Chapter 15: Politics in Brazil

Current Policy Challenges

Historical Perspectives

Economy and Society

Institutions and Structures of Government

Political Culture

Political Recruitment and Political Participation

Political Representation and Interest Groups

Political Parties and Elections

The Policy Process

Policy Performance

International Relations

Prospects for the Future

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

 

Chapter 16: Politics in Egypt

Current Policy Challenges

The Importance of Place

The Legacy of History

Institutions and Structure of Government

Party System and Elections

Political Culture and Socialization

Political Participation and Recruitment

Articulation and Aggregation of Interests

Public Policy and Performance

Crisis of Legitimacy

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

 

Chapter 17: Politics in India

Current Policy Challenges

Beyond Indian “Exceptionalism”

Some Basic “Givens” of the Indian Social Structure: From Hierarchy to Democratic Plurality

The Twin Legacy of Colonial Rule and the Anticolonial Movement

Political Socialization, Recruitment, and Political Culture

Political Institutions and Policy Process

The Federal Structure

The Articulation and Aggregation of Interests

The Economy, Welfare, and Regulation

Conclusion: The Resilience of Pluralist Politics in India

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

 

Chapter 18: Politics in Nigeria

Current Policy Challenges

The Effects of History

Environmental Potential and Limitations

Political Culture and Subcultures

Political Socialization

Political Recruitment

Political Structure

Interest Articulation

Political Participation

Parties and Elections

Policy Formation and Implementation

Nigeria in Africa and in the World

Prospects for Development

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

 

Chapter 19: Politics in the United States

Current Policy Challenges

The United States Among the World’s Nations

The Constitutional System

Political Culture and Socialization

The Mass Communications Media

Political Participation and Recruitment

Recruitment of Leaders

Interest Articulation: Pressure Groups and PACS

The Special Characteristics of American Political Parties

The Policymaking Process in America

Policy Performance

American Exceptionalism: Myth or Reality?

Conclusion

Key Terms

Suggested Readings

 

Index

    Comparative Politics Today is the text that helped define the discipline of comparative politics, and it continues to set the standard in examining the purpose of government and comparing the world’s diverse political systems.


    Written by leading comparativists and area study specialists, this text's opening chapters outline key concepts in politics and government and show how theoretical frameworks describe and analyze the differences and the similarities among countries. The twelve country studies that follow focus on countries that are leaders within their regions and the larger world. Each country study includes the most current information and consistently applies the theoretical framework to explore broad issues like why some countries modernize more quickly or why some are more democratic. With numerous photos, figures, and tables to clarify complex political data and structures, Comparative Politics Today helps students learn about other countries, regions, and the world, and it will help them ask–and answer–fundamental questions about politics and government.

  • 0205529313Comparative Politics Today: A World View, 9/E
    Almond, Powell, Jr., Dalton & Strøm
    © 2008 | Longman | Paper; 800 pages | Instock
    ISBN-10: 0205529313 | ISBN-13: 9780205529315
    Brief Description | Buy from myPearsonStore

  • Instructor's Manual and Test Bank, 8/E
    Almond, Powell, Dalton & Strøm
    © 2004 | Longman | Paper; 353 pages | Instock
    ISBN-10: 0321188160 | ISBN-13: 9780321188168

    Instructor's Manual and Test Bank, 8/E
    Almond, Powell, Dalton & Strøm
    © 2004 | Longman | Paper;353 pages | Instock
    ISBN-10: 0321188160 | ISBN-13: 9780321188168

    Downloadable files:

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  • TestGen EQ: Computerized Test Bank, 8/E
    Almond, Powell, Dalton & Strøm
    © 2004 | Longman | CD-ROM Only | Out of Stock
    ISBN-10: 0321188330 | ISBN-13: 9780321188335

    TestGen EQ: Computerized Test Bank, 8/E
    Almond, Powell, Dalton & Strøm
    © 2004 | Longman | CD-ROM Only | Out of Stock
    ISBN-10: 0321188330 | ISBN-13: 9780321188335

    Please note: This testbank file must be used in conjunction with Pearson's TestGen application. Go to the TestGen website to download software, upgrade, and access "getting started" TestGen resources.

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