Introducing Comparative Politics: Concepts and Cases in Context

Organized thematically around important questions in comparative politics—Who rules? What explains political behavior? Where and why?—Introducing Comparative Politics integrates a set of extended case studies of 11 core countries into the narrative. Serving as touchstones, the cases are set in chapters where they make the most sense topically—not separated from theory or in a separate volume—and vividly illustrate issues in cross-national context. The book’s hybrid organization allows you to teach the way you want to teach and gives students a more accurate sense of comparative study.

Table of Contents:
Regional and Country Coverage Preface PART I A Framework for Understanding Comparative Politics CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION The Big Issues Comparative Politics: What Is It? Why Study It? How to Study It? Three Key Questions in Comparative Politics Plan of the Book Key Concepts Works Cited Resources for Further Study Web Resources CHAPTER 2. THE MODERN STATE Characteristics of the Modern State Historical Origins of Modern States Strong, Weak, and Failed States Case Studies of State Formation Conclusion Key Concepts Works Cited Resources for Further Study Web Resources CHAPTER 3. STATES, CITIZENS, AND REGIMES Citizens and Civil Society Regimes, Ideologies, and Citizens Conclusion Key Concepts Works Cited Resources for Further Study Web Resources CHAPTER 4. STATES AND IDENTITY The Debate over Identity Identity-Based Political Mobilization and Violence Nations and Nationalism Ethnicity and Religion Race Conclusion Key Concepts Works Cited Resources for Further Study Web Resources CHAPTER 5. STATES AND MARKETS The Market, Capitalism, and the State Key Economic Debates Globalization: A New World Order, or Déjà Vu All Over Again? States and Markets around the World Conclusion Key Concepts Works Cited Resources for Further Study Web Resources PART II Political Systems and How They Work CHAPTER 6. GOVERNING INSTITUTIONS IN DEMOCRACIES Executives and Legislatures Comparing Executive-Legislative Institutions Judiciary Bureaucracy Federalism Conclusion Key Concepts Works Cited Resources for Further Study Web Resources CHAPTER 7. INSTITUTIONS OF PARTICIPATION AND REPRESENTATION IN DEMOCRACIES Formal Institutions: The Electoral System Formal Institutions: Political Parties and Party Systems Civil Society Patron-Client Relationships Case Studies in Participation and Representation Conclusion Key Concepts Works Cited Resources for Further Study Web Resources CHAPTER 8. AUTHORITARIAN INSTITUTIONS Authoritarian Rule around the World Governing Institutions in Authoritarian Regimes Elections, Parties, and Civil Society in Authoritarian Regimes Conclusion Key Concepts Works Cited Resources for Further Study Web Resources CHAPTER 9. REGIME CHANGE The Military in Politics: Coups d’État Revolution Democratization Conclusion Key Concepts Works Cited Resources for Further Study Web Resources PART III Issues and Policies CHAPTER 10. GLOBALIZATION, ECONOMIC SOVEREIGNTY, AND DEVELOPMENT Wealthy Countries: Globalization and Economic Sovereignty Development and Globalization Conclusion Key Concepts Works Cited Resources for Further Study Web Resources CHAPTER 11. PUBLIC POLICIES WHEN MARKETS FAIL: WELFARE, HEALTH, AND THE ENVIRONMENT “Welfare”: Social Policy in Comparative Perspective Health Care and Health Policy Environmental Problems and Policy Conclusion Key Concepts Works Cited Resources for Further Study Web Resources CHAPTER 12. POLICIES AND POLITICS OF INCLUSION AND CLASHING VALUES The Debate over Inclusion and Group Rights Politics of Inclusion and the Modern State Religion: Recognition, Autonomy, and the Secular State Gender: The Continuing Struggle for Equal Social Status, Representation, and Participation Sexual Orientation: Assimilation or Liberation? State Responses to the LGBT Movement Conclusion Key Concepts Works Cited Resources for Further Study Web Resources Glossary Index Photo Credits

About the Author :
Stephen Orvis is Professor of Government at Hamilton College. He is a specialist on sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya in particular), identity politics, democratic transitions, and the political economy of development. He has been teaching introduction to comparative politics for more than twenty-five years, as well as courses on African politics, nationalism and the politics of identity, political economy of development, and weak states. He has written a book and articles on agricultural development in Kenya, as well as several articles on civil society in Africa and Kenya, and is currently doing research on political institutions in Africa. Carol Ann Drogus is a retired Professor of Government at Hamilton College. She is a specialist on Brazil, religion, and women’s political participation. She taught introduction to comparative politics for more than twenty years, as well as courses on Latin American politics, gender and politics, and women in Latin America. She has written two books and numerous articles on the political participation of women in religious movements in Brazil.

Review :
"The presentation of core concepts is written in a clear, concise, and lively fashion that hooks the reader and doesn’t overload with technical detail, while setting out most of the ideas I try to cover in my course. In general, the Orvis and Drogus text covers a wide range of country cases that are well selected for examining the themes and issues under discussion and is written in an engaging style that holds the reader’s attention while covering concepts and explanations that are often quite sophisticated." "The hybrid approach is the primary reason I picked this book. Given my thematic approach, generic case studies that don’t directly relate to a particular comparison or theme aren’t very useful, so I appreciate the balance between thematic and case elements in the Orvis and Drogus text. My students have responded much more positively to this book than the previous offering. I think they find the writing level to be an attainable challenge."  "The content of the case studies is excellent. Students easily grow bored with lengthy chapters on specific cases, but the thematic approach to the cases in the Orvis and Drogus text is much more interesting to my students."