ABSTRACT

Building on the strengths of the second edition, this highly regarded textbook continues to provide the best introduction to the strategies of comparative research in political science.

Divided into three parts, the book begins by examining different methods, applying these methods to dominant issues in comparative politics using a wealth of topical examples from around the world, and then discusses the new challenges in the area. New to this edition:

  • features explanation of regression analysis with accompanied briefing boxes
  • new discussion of the assumptions, research design, and the use of statistics characteristic of many-country comparisons
  • single and multi-country studies - how to compare countries and address problems of comparison, especially the principles for selecting countries
  • new chapter on the intersection between international relations and comparative politics
  • all chapters have been updated with new publications and research output relevant to the discussion.

Balancing reader friendly features with high quality analysis makes this popular academic text essential reading for everyone interested comparative politics and research methods.

part |2 pages

Part I WHY, HOW, AND PROBLEMS OF COMPARISON

chapter 1|20 pages

Why compare countries?

chapter 2|28 pages

How to compare countries

chapter 3|16 pages

Comparing many countries

chapter 4|18 pages

Comparing few countries

chapter 5|10 pages

Single-country studies as comparison

part |4 pages

Part II COMPARING COMPARISONS

chapter 6|32 pages

Economic development and democracy

chapter 9|32 pages

Transitions to democracy

chapter 11|26 pages

Human rights

part |2 pages

Part III COMPARATIVE METHODS AND NEW ISSUES

chapter 13|18 pages

Common themes and different comparisons

chapter 14|12 pages

New challenges for comparative politics