In comparison to democratic political systems, we know very little about how dictatorships work. Who are the key political actors? Where does the locus of power rest? What determines leadership behavior—and survival? Erica Frantz and Natasha Ezrow argue that dictatorships are not regimes driven by the whims of a single individual.  Frantz and Ezrow reveal how leader-elite relations    More >

Understanding Revolution concisely, but thoroughly, explains one of the most fundamental sources of political change in the modern world. Designed to be accessible to undergraduate students, the book systematically explores such questions as:     • What should be defined as a revolution?     • Is there a "typical" pattern to the course    More >

Why did a clique of Mauritanian officers risk their lives to overthrow the autocrat they had served for twenty years, only to cede power to an elected civilian? And having won acclaim for their commitment to a process of democratic transition, why did most of these officers join a year later to overthrow the newly elected president? Had the international community been fooled by a military    More >

Despite the homogenizing effect of globalization, identity politics have gained significance—numerous groups have achieved political goals and gained recognition based on, for example, their common gender, religion, ethnicity, or disability. Are each of these groups unique, or can comparisons be drawn among them? What is the impact of globalization on identity politics? The authors of    More >

This systematic, user friendly, and refreshingly unusual introduction to comparative politics is designed to teach students how to think comparatively and theoretically about the world they live in. The second edition retains the core features of the first, coherently integrating comparative method, theory, and issues, but provides updated material and additional cases throughout. The text now    More >

Bridging the pragmatic and the theoretical, leading scholars and policy analysts delve into the critical issues facing Afghanistan today. Their exploration of questions relating to security and peacekeeping, the rule of law, institutional design, mobilization of the economy, and relations within the region provides a crucial resource for understanding not only Afghanistan’s prospects, but    More >

It is increasingly difficult to find developing countries whose leaders have not debated or implemented some type of decentralization reform. But has decentralization worked? Does it actually help a country to deepen democratic governance, promote economic development, or enhance public security? Under what conditions does it justify the enthusiasm of those who have pushed so successfully for its    More >

Why have so many attempts at democracy in the past half-century failed? Confronting this much discussed question, Jay Ulfelder offers a novel explanation for the coups and rebellions that have toppled fledgling democratic regimes and that continue to threaten many new democracies today. Ulfelder draws on an original dataset of 110 democratic failures spanning 1955–2007 and also presents    More >

Fully revised to reflect the realities of the post–September 11 world, this acclaimed curricular reference provides a comprehensive review of the field of peace, justice, and security studies. Seven introductory essays systematically cover the state of the discipline today, surveying current intellectual and pedagogical themes. These are followed by seventy classroom-tested syllabuses    More >

How is it that billions of dollars flow through the developing world without altering its reality of poverty and scarcity? Jenny Kehl explores the crucial relationship between foreign direct investment and domestic development, focusing on the wide variation in the capacity of governments to negotiate FDI to the advantage of their citizens. To isolate the influence of political factors, Kehl    More >

Although China denies that it harbors ambitions to become a superpower, its leadership has made clear its intention that the country be a major player in the global arena. Against this backdrop,Ian Taylor explores the nature and implications of China's burgeoning role in Africa.

There is increasing consensus among scholars and policy analysts that successful peacebuilding can occur only in the context of capable state institutions. But how can legitimate and sustainable states best be established in the aftermath of civil wars? And what role should international actors play in supporting the vital process? Addressing these questions, this state-of-the-art volume explores    More >

Comparative Politics of the Third World offers just the right blend of theory and substance to introduce students in a meaningful way to the developing— or not developing—world. Avoiding both overgeneralization and the problems of a strictly country-by-country approach, authors Green and Luehrmann consistently link concepts pertaining to history, politics, economics, and    More >

Often regarded as a phenomenon of earlier times and backward places, vote buying has made an impressive comeback in recent decades—primarily as a by-product of democratization. Elections for Sale offers the first comprehensive analysis of this widespread but ill-understood practice.   The authors systematically explore a series of key questions: What exactly is vote buying?    More >

With more than 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS—and more than 25 million dead from related diseases since the early 1980s—the need to understand the causes and impact of the pandemic is manifest. In response, The Global Politics of AIDS explores power and politics at multiple levels, ranging from individual behavior to corporate boardrooms to international institutions and    More >

Have parties, and party systems, come back to life in the twenty-first century? Are they capable of playing their roles in ways that will foster rather than betray the public interest? These are among the questions explored in When Parties Prosper, a richly comparative, up-to-date, and accessible study of political parties in power in Europe, Asia, and the Americas.   Each country    More >

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In the transition from war-torn societies to stable multiparty democracies, what is the role of former rebel leaders? Can rebel movements effectively transform themselves from military to political organizations? From Soldiers to Politicians explores when and how militias succeed in reorienting their goals and practices toward legitimate political activities. The authors present eight    More >

Today, electoral authoritarianism represents the most common form of political regime in the developing world and the one we know least about. Filling in the lacuna, this new book presents cutting-edge research on the internal dynamics of electoral authoritarian regimes.   Each concise, jargon-free chapter addresses a specific empirical puzzle on the basis of careful cross-national    More >

Few would dispute the importance of donating funds and expertise to conflict-ridden societies—but such aid, however well meant, often fails to have the intended effect. This study critically evaluates international democratization assistance in postconflict societies to discern what has worked, what has not, and how aid programs can be designed to have a more positive impact.   The    More >

As national governments struggle to cope with the complex threat of mass-casualty terrorist attacks, there is an ongoing debate about the best approaches to counterterrorism policy. The authors of How States Fight Terrorism explore the dynamics of counterterrorism policy development in Europe and North America. A series of case studies examine security concerns, political debates and    More >

Is Islam compatible with democracy? Despite the seemingly endless debate on this issue, Moataz Fattah's study is a rare investigation of actual Muslim beliefs about democracy across numerous and diverse Islamic societies. Fattah's survey analysis of more than 31,000 Muslims in 34 countries (including 3 countries in which Muslims live as minorities), enhanced by focus group discussions, offers a    More >

Krishna Kumar surveys the nature and significance of international aid designed to build and strengthen independent news media in support of democratization and development. Providing the first comprehensive coverage of media assistance programs, Kumar discusses the evolution, focus, and overall impact of a range of intervention strategies. He also presents seven in-depth case studies based on    More >

Getting Globalization Right explores political and economic changes in seven new democracies that have in common both a movement toward greater integration with the world economy and the challenges posed by persistent or even increasing domestic economic inequalities.   The authors argue that, without effective national policies to dampen the effects of globalization, the    More >

With the widespread movement toward democratization that characterized the first post-Cold War decade, why did some nondemocratic regimes undergo a transition toward a democratic political system, but others not? Why have some transitions succeeded completely, but others resulted in only limited political reform? Renske Doorenspleet addresses these questions, providing a systematic theoretical and    More >

With the increasing use of elections as a tool for peacebuilding after civil war, the question of why some postconflict elections succeed and others fail is a crucial one. Tackling this question, Terrence Lyons finds the answer in the internal political dynamics that occur between the cease-fire and the voting.   Lyons shows that the promise of elections can provide the incentive for the    More >

This timely assessment of both the progress toward democratic governance globally and the significant challenges that democracies face is the outcome of a seminar organized by the Community of Democracies. The Community is a group of more than a hundred countries devoted to the spread and consolidation of democracy around the world.      More >

Despite legal affirmations of women's rights to abortion, actual access to the procedure in North America is increasingly curtailed. Melissa Haussman analyzes this disturbing disparity between official policies and daily realities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.   Haussman examines the successes of U.S. antichoice groupsgroups that have extended their reach to effectively contest    More >

Now available in paperback! Rejecting theories of economic deprivation and psychological alienation, Mohammed Hafez offers a provocative analysis of the factors that contribute to protracted violence in the Muslim world today. Hafez combines a sophisticated theoretical approach and detailed case studies to show that the primary source of Islamist insurgencies lies in the    More >

Scholars and development practitioners agree that developing countries urgently need cohesive administrative reforms to consolidate new market economies, promote sustainable development, and improve social welfare. Reinventing Leviathan provides extensive comparative research on the political processes that facilitate or block efforts designed to improve administrative    More >

Have the changes of the past decade made this an easier or a more difficult world for small states as they pursue their foreign policy goals? To understand the foreign policies of small states, are new explanatory factors needed? Does the concept of the “small state” still have utility at all? Small States in World Politics addresses these questions, deftly analyzing the    More >

With contentious issues of sovereignty and self-determination a focus of current world affairs, this comprehensive analysis is especially timely. The authors explore the conceptual, political, legal, cultural, economic, and strategic aspects of self-determination—encompassing both theory and practice—in the context of the evolving international system. Wide-ranging case studies enrich    More >

For decades, researchers and policymakers have examined the impact of development programs on women—and evidence of sustained gender discrimination has inspired local, national, and international policy reforms. But has the empowerment movement increased women's control of resources? Has it had the desired effect on gender relations traditionally defined by patriarchal ideology and    More >

This controversial book examines the challenges that social inequities present to democratic governance. The authors argue that issues of poverty and inequality—far from diminishing—are becoming even more important in the present global environment. They consider the effects of globalization on the distribution of income and wealth within state borders, the impact of inequality on the    More >

Reflecting an extraordinary career, Ventures in Political Science collects Gabriel Almond's most important work on the development of political science and democratic theory. An absorbing introduction—providing personal and historical context—precedes Almond's masterful "History of Political Science." Equally notable are essays on capitalism and democracy, the    More >

Thoroughly updating his widely acclaimed book on third world democracy, Pinkney incorporates provocative explorations of the influences of external forces, the roles of the state and civil society, and the varying trajectories of democratic consolidation (and decay).      More >

  Now Available in Paperback! Incorporated into the discourse of academics, policymakers, and grassroots activists, of multilateral development agencies and local NGOs alike, "civil society" has become a topic of widespread discussion. But is there in fact any common understanding of the term? How useful is it when applied to the South, and what    More >

Launching into Cyberspace explores the Internet as an increasingly important variable in the study of comparative politics and international relations. Focusing on Africa, the Middle East, Central and Eastern Europe, Eurasia, China, and India, Franda examines the extent to which Internet development has (or has not) taken place and the relationship between that development and the    More >

In this classic work, noted political sociologist Juan Linz provides an unparalleled study of the nature of nondemocratic regimes. Linz's seminal analysis develops the fundamental distinction between totalitarian and authoritarian systems. It also presents a pathbreaking discussion of the personalistic, lawless, nonideological type of authoritarian rule that he calls (following Weber) the    More >

As nationalism increasingly captures our attention through its impact on intercommunal violence and even the stability of states, this fresh look at the phenomenon plumbs an important aspect of its power: how nationalism affects the domestic and foreign-policy behavior of states. Systematically examining a range of states and societies, the Cottams draw on case studies from Africa, Europe, Latin    More >

New democracies all over the world are finding themselves haunted by the old demons of clientelism, corruption, arbitrariness, and the abuse of power—leading to a growing awareness that, in addition to elections, democracy requires checks and balances. Democratic governments must be accountable to the electorate; but they must also be subject to restraint and oversight by other public    More >

Topics include: Protecting Democracy by Controlling State Crime in Advanced Industrialized Countries; Controlling State Crime in the United Kingdom; Controlling State Crime in the United States of America: What Can We Do about the Thug State?; Controlling State Crime in Canada; Controlling State Crime in Israel: The Dichotomy between National Security versus Coercive Powers; Controlling State    More >

On the Humanitarian Times list of the Top Ten Books of 1998! With the resolution of intrastate conflicts in Africa, Central America, and Southeast Asia, and with new hope for the peaceful settlement of many still-existing conflicts, attention is turning to the issue of “free and fair” elections. This book examines the nature of postconflict (transition)    More >

The dramatic reconfigurations of political authority taking place in Africa—what many term "warlordism" or "state failure"—call for an exploration of the origins of these changes, the likelihood of their durability, and their implications for the continent's regional system of states. Reno argues that the end of the Cold War as a particular configuration of the    More >

Once a proud and independent institution, the Singapore press was brought to its knees by threats, arbitrary arrests and detentions, general harassment, and litigation during Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew's administration. Singapore's former solicitor general, Francis T. Seow, tells this story, documenting the demise of the Eastern Sun, the Nanyang Siang Pau, and the Singapore    More >

Even amid the apparent post–Cold War consensus, the benefits and drawbacks of economic and political liberalization remain controversial. At the same time, explanations for the recent surge in these processes, and for the forms they have taken, remain fragmentary. Likewise, the linkages between the two remain under-researched—despite many sweeping assertions of a positive    More >

This gendered analysis of Third World politics examines both "high politics" and political activity at the grassroots level, as well as the impact of state policy on differing groups of women. Waylen first discusses the major theoretical questions involved in the study of gender in Third World politics. She then discusses the topic in the context of colonialism, revolution,    More >

This second edition of the highly regarded Politics in Developing Countries again presents case studies of experiences with democracy in Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East, along with the editors' synthesis of the factors that facilitate and obstruct the development of democracy around the world. The new edition adds a chapter on South Africa and brings the other nine    More >

This imaginative and ambitious book takes issue convincingly with common conceptions about the relationship—or lack of relationships—among race, nationalism, and religion. Manzo sets the modern nation-state in historical, global, and philosophical context to support three key themes. First, she argues that the theoretical literature on nations and nationalism is limited by a too-ready    More >

Abrupt democratization in Third World countries does not always result in enhanced human rights. Mahmood Monshipouri argues that human rights in fledgling democracies are most likely to be improved if the transition from authoritarianism is preceded by a process of economic liberalization, which works as a prelude to a gradual expansion of civil society. Monshipouri bridges the gaps between    More >

In response to scores of requests, this textbook edition of Political Culture and Democracy in Developing Countries has been abridged to convey the core arguments of the book in a format appropriate for classroom use. The authors explore the complex and reciprocal interactions between a society's dominant beliefs, values, and attitudes about politics and the nature of its political    More >

Determining the foundations and contradictory implications of the liberalization, democratization, and sociopolitical restructuring occurring today on an almost global scale constitutes a major challenge for contemporary social science. The central objective of this book is to analyze the impact, limits, and evolution of various forms of clientelism and patronage in the historical matrix of    More >

Political explanations in comparative foreign-policy research typically center on the assumption that foreign-policy decisionmakers in democratic regimes are far more politically constrained than are their counterparts in authoritarian polities. Disputing this assumption, Hagan draws on case studies of the politics of foreign policy in a variety of non-U.S. settings to develop direct measures of    More >

Classification systems and typologies, if properly developed, can help formulate research questions, determine agendas for inquiry, and lead to the development of scientifically testable hypotheses and general theory building. In political science, however, influential classifications and typologies become obsolete faster than in many other disciplines. They are also used highly sel ectively and    More >

Experts from around the globe come together in this important peer-reviewed forum to present compelling social science research on the entire East Asia region. Topics include democratic governance, military security, political culture, economic cooperation, human rights, and environmental concerns. Thought-provoking book reviews enhance each issue.  Want more information information    More >