Introducing Comparative Politics

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 twenty 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.

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 Chapter 2. The Modern State Characteristics of the Modern State Historical Origins of Modern States Strong, Weak, and Failed States Chapter 3. States, Citizens, and Regimes Citizens and Civil Society Regimes, Ideologies, and Citizens 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 Part II Political Systems and How They Work Chapter 5. Governing Institutions in Democracies Executives and Legislatures Comparing Executive-Legislative Institutions Judiciary Bureaucracy Federalism Chapter 6. Institutions of Participation and Representation in Democracies The Electoral System Formal Institutions: Political Parties and Party Systems Civil Society Chapter 7. Contentious Politics: Social Movements, Political Violence, and Revolution Framing Contentious Politics Political Violence Revolution Chapter 8. Authoritarian Institutions Authoritarian Rule around the World Governing Institutions in Authoritarian Regimes Elections, Parties, and Civil Society in Authoritarian Regimes Chapter 9. Regime Change The Military in Politics: Coups d'Etat Revolution Democratization 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 Deja Vu All Over Again? Chapter 11. Political Economy of Development What Is "Development"? Development and Globalization The Development Debate 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