Introducing Comparative Politics: Concepts and Cases in Context

This book weaves a set of extended case studies of 11 core countries into its 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. In this edition, a new chapter on Contentious Politics ties together content on ethnic fragmentation, social movements, civil war, and revolutions, and adds significant new material from the growing literature on political violence. 

Table of Contents:
World Map Regional and Country Coverage Preface About the Authors 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 Understanding Identity The Policy Debate Nations and Nationalism Ethnicity Race Religion: Recognition, Autonomy, and the Secular State Gender and Sexual Orientation: The Continuing Struggle for Recognition, Social Status, and Representation Conclusion Key Concepts Works Cited Resources for Further Study Web Resources PART II POLITICAL SYSTEMS AND HOW THEY WORK CHAPTER 5. 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 6. INSTITUTIONS OF PARTICIPATION AND REPRESENTATION IN DEMOCRACIES The Electoral System Formal Institutions: Political Parties and Party Systems Civil Society Case Studies in Participation and Representation Conclusion Key Concepts Works Cited Resources for Further Study Web Resources CHAPTER 7. CONTENTIOUS POLITICS: SOCIAL MOVEMENTS, POLITICAL VIOLENCE, AND REVOLUTION Framing Contentious Politics Political Violence Revolution 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 Transitions to Democracy Explaining Democratization, Consolidation, and Breakdown Conclusion Key Concepts Works Cited Resources for Further Study Web Resources PART III POLITICAL ECONOMY AND POLICY CHAPTER 10. POLITICAL ECONOMY OF WEALTH The Market, Capitalism, and the State Key Economic Debates Types of Capitalist Economies 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 CHAPTER 11. POLITICAL ECONOMY OF DEVELOPMENT What Is “Development”? Development and Globalization The Development Debate Case Studies in Development Conclusion Key Concepts Works Cited Resources for Further Study Web Resources CHAPTER 12. 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 Glossary Index

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 fifteen 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 :
“Introducing Comparative Politics provides a solid introduction to the key concepts and themes of Comparative Politics for undergraduate students.  The book successfully resolves the decades long question of whether to teach concepts or countries by integrating concise case study material within chapters focused on concepts and themes.  This approach allows students to grasp key understandings of comparative politics, develop a lexicon of terms and concepts, and then apply the concepts using the comparative method.  Therefore, Orvis & Drogus impart to students not only a better understanding of our world; they also train them on using a valuable skill—thinking like a Comparativist.” “Introducing Comparative Politics is the perfect text for introducing college students to the language and methods of comparative politics. The country specific case studies are the perfect length for illustrating the concepts and themes, and rather than overwhelm students with extensive histories of countries' political development, the cases provide rich and relevant vignettes about foreign people and places in ways that are meaningful and inspiring to students of all levels. The material is accessible to students new to political analysis, yet sophisticated enough to engage more advanced students eager to deepen their knowledge about the global political landscape.”