American Difference: American Politics from a Comparative Perspective

Americans strongly believe in the idea that our democracy is unique—is an exception, in fact, among other advanced industrialized democracies. But exactly how and why is our political system different? Poloni-Staudinger and Wolf start with the idea that each country’s political priorities are influenced by the development of its political beliefs, political culture, and political institutions. They want to remind American students that our form of democracy is just one form of democracy. And if we examine components of our political system comparatively, we can better see and learn the ways in which our government is unique as well as see how other democracies function differently and successfully. This learning through contrast not only enriches students’ understanding of their own political system, but this comparative context has become increasingly important as students see themselves as global citizens, competing and engaging in what is truly a globalized world and workforce.  Unfortunately few  American government texts offer much in the way of comparison to other countries and comparative politics books don’t always situate the US in their analysis. This book fills that void with a crisply written and brief supplement.

Table of Contents:
Tables, Figures, and Photographs Preface Acknowledgments About the Authors Chapter 1: Introduction What Does It Mean to Examine American Politics from a Comparative Perspective? Is American Democracy the Best Type of Democracy? Why Is It Important to Examine American Politics from a Comparative Perspective? What to Expect in the Following Chapters How to Use This Book Key Terms Notes Chapter 2: Similarities between the United States and Other Democracies Introduction Definition of Democracy Procedural Democracy Public Contestation (Competition) and Inclusion (Participation) Freedoms Socioeconomic Development Conclusion Points to Remember Key Terms Review Questions Suggested Readings Notes Chapter 3: American Exceptionalism Introduction Differing Views of Governing Legitimacy Functional Explanations for American Exceptionalism Social Democracy and Liberal Democracy Conclusion Points to Remember Key Terms Review Questions Suggested Readings Notes Chapter 4: Political Beliefs Introduction Political Culture Civic Culture Political Engagement: Political Interest Interpersonal Trust, Reciprocity, and Social Capital Political Efficacy: Free Choice and Control over Life Distinction of American Cultural Beliefs Individualism and Economy Ideology Conclusion Points to Remember Key Terms Review Questions Suggested Readings Notes Chapter 5: Political Institutions Introduction Majoritarian and Consociational Democracies Governing Institutions Vertical Organization of Government: Unitary, Federal, and Confederal Systems National Governing Institutions The Executive Branch The Legislative Branch Judiciary Civil Law Legal Tradition Systems Common Law Legal Tradition Systems Conclusion Points to Remember Key Terms Review Questions Suggested Readings Notes Chapter 6: Interest Groups Introduction Interest Groups, Social Movements, and Social Movement Organizations Interest Group Life Cycle Pluralist Versus Neo-Corporatist Interest Group Arrangements Why Pluralist or Neo-Corporatist? Role of Interest Groups in the United States Historically and Today Types of Groups New Social Movements How Do Groups Participate in Politics? Conclusion Points to Remember Key Terms Review Questions Suggested Readings Notes Chapter 7: Political Parties Introduction Party History and Formation Party Formation as a Result of Democratization American Party Development – Why Aren’t Parties as Strong? The Nature of American Parties Where Are the American Cleavages? Role of Parties in Government American Two-Party System Versus Other Party Systems An Americanization of Parties Elsewhere or More Party Government in the United States? Conclusion Points to Remember Key Terms Review Questions Suggested Readings Notes Chapter 8: Elections, Electoral Institutions, and Electoral Behavior Introduction Candidate Selection Electoral Institutions Plurality, Majority, and Proportional Representation Systems Consequences of Electoral Systems Context of Elections and Campaigns Voting Behavior: Electoral Participation Political Party Mobilization: Weak Party Organization in the United States Campaign Information Flow Clarity of Electoral Choice: Liberalism and Limited Government Evaluating the Consequences of the Electoral Context on Voter Participation Electoral Behavior: Determinants of Vote Choice Non-Voting Behavior Consequences of Electoral Laws, Context, and Voting for Democracy Conclusion Points to Remember Key Terms Review Questions Suggested Readings Notes Chapter 9: Conclusion Index

About the Author :
Dr. Lori M. Poloni-Staudinger (PhD, Indiana University, 2005) is Associate Dean for research, personnel, and graduate programs in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and a Professor of Political Science at Northern Arizona University. Her research and publications focus on social movements, political contention and extra-institutional participation, and political institutions, mainly in Western Europe. Her recent work examines questions around women and political violence. She was a Distinguished Fulbright Fellow at the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna, Austria, and has served as a consultant for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. She also taught at University of the Basque Country in San Sebastian, Spain. She served as treasurer, vice president and president of the Women’s Caucus for the Midwest Political Science Association. Lori is a Kettering Foundation Fellow and also serves as vice president of a school board and president of a non-profit board in Flagstaff, Arizona. Dr. Michael R. Wolf (PhD, Indiana University, 2002) is aa professor and department chair in the Department of Political Science at Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne. His research focuses on comparative and American public opinion and political behavior. He has recently published on the nature and effects of political discussion in democracies and the dynamics of political compromise and political incivility. He is a research a research fellow with the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics, and former Lugar Senior Fellow, 2017 Arts and Sciences Distinguished Lecturer, and partner with the Kettering Foundation.

Review :
“I think the main strength of this text is the attention paid to culture and the recurring theme of American exceptionalism.  The authors stay focused on those themes and it shows throughout the book. This gives the text a clarity that other books may lack.” “I believe that American students especially benefit from seeing their own system from a comparative perspective.  They are often frustrated or disillusioned with shortcomings in American democracy and they are not used to thinking about other ways that democracy is practiced.  Poloni-Staudinger and Wolf’s book gives students a context for understanding weaknesses and strengths in American democracy and enables students to (often to their great surprise) appreciate their system in a new light.  As educators and policy-makers look for ways to increase undergraduate interest in civic engagement and democracy-promotion, this book could be a valuable tool for helping students to see how democracy can work to provide the public good in various countries.” “This book is a concise, no-nonsense account of the ways in which US politics differs from that of other advanced industrial countries. It offers a combination of brevity and comprehensiveness rarely found in introductory textbooks.”