Covers all the core areas of comparative politics, allowing the book to be used on a variety of modules.

Expert contributors provide a diverse range of perspectives to offer students a full and sophisticated account of the subject.

A whole section is devoted to theories and methods to help students develop a conceptual understanding of comparative politics.

Empirical data and examples from both developing regions and advanced industrial countries are included throughout the book.

Student learning is aided by excellent learning features within the text and a wealth of additional resources provided on the accompanying Online Resource Centre.

New to this edition

The second edition has been fully updated and features more in depth coverage of national identity, nation building and nationalism, democratization, constitutional principles, and party positioning.

Chapter 14: 'Interest associations' has been expanded to include trade unions and networks of decision making.

In light of the global financial crisis concepts of deglobalization and economic nationalism are newly examined in chapter 24: 'Globalization and the nation state'.

Comparative Politics provides an exciting and authoritative introduction to one of the most important fields of political science. International experts explore the methods and theories of comparative politics as well as the institutions, actors, processes, and policies at the heart of political systems around the world. Alongside explanation of the most important themes, students are presented with a wealth of empirical data to demonstrate similarities and differences in practice, and to encourage research. By focusing on industrial and developing countries, together with political bodies and systems above and below the level of the nation state, Comparative Politics provides a fully comprehensive and up-to-date account of the discipline.

The second edition of this successful textbook is also supported by an innovative Online Resource Centre with the following features for students and lecturers:

Student Resources:

Comparative data sets for over 200 countries - files can be used for empirical analysis, essay writing and lab exercises

Web directory of data archives

Country comparator

Review questions and exercises

Flashcard glossary

Country profiles

Instructor Resources:

PowerPoint slides

Test bank

Figures and tables from the book

Readership: First, second and third year undergraduates undertaking a module in comparative politics typically taught as part of a political science degree.