American Difference: American Politics from a Comparative Perspective

Examining democracies from a comparative perspective helps us better understand why politics--or "who gets what, when, and how"--differs among democracies. In American Difference: American Politics from a Comparative Perspective, authors Lori M. Poloni-Staudinger and Michael R. Wolf take the reader through different aspects of democracy--political culture, institutions, interest groups, political parties and elections--and explore how the US is both different from and similar to other democracies. Used in conjunction with a textbook for courses in Introduction to American Politics, Introduction to Comparative Politics, or Introduction to Politics, this book will provide additional context and deepen students' understanding of key political concepts.

About the Author :
Dr. Lori M. Poloni-Staudinger (PhD, Indiana University, 2005) is a professor in the Department of Politics and International Affairs at Northern Arizona University and Associate Dean for research, personnel, and graduate programs in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences at Northern Arizona University. She was statewide coordinator for Arizona Deliberates, an organization focused on increasing public deliberation in Arizona, and a Kettering Foundation Fellow. 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. 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 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."--Jacqueline Reich "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."--Joseph Romance "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."--Taylor Dark