Table of Contents

Tables, Figures, and Photographs
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Chapter 1: Introduction
What Does It Mean to Examine American Politics from a Comparative Perspective?
Is American Democracy the Best Type of Democracy?
Why Is It Important to Examine American Politics from a Comparative Perspective?
What to Expect in the Following Chapters
How to Use This Book
Key Terms
Notes
Chapter 2: Similarities between the United States and Other Democracies
Introduction
Definition of Democracy
Procedural Democracy
Public Contestation (Competition) and Inclusion (Participation)
Freedoms
Socioeconomic Development
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Key Terms
Review Questions
Suggested Readings
Notes
Chapter 3: American Exceptionalism
Introduction
Differing Views of Governing Legitimacy
Functional Explanations for American Exceptionalism
Social Democracy and Liberal Democracy
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Key Terms
Review Questions
Suggested Readings
Notes
Chapter 4: Political Beliefs
Introduction
Political Culture
Civic Culture
Political Engagement: Political Interest
Interpersonal Trust, Reciprocity, and Social Capital
Political Efficacy: Free Choice and Control over Life
Distinction of American Cultural Beliefs
Individualism and Economy
Ideology
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Key Terms
Review Questions
Suggested Readings
Notes
Chapter 5: Political Institutions
Introduction
Majoritarian and Consociational Democracies
Governing Institutions
Vertical Organization of Government: Unitary, Federal, and Confederal Systems
National Governing Institutions
The Executive Branch
The Legislative Branch
Judiciary
Civil Law Legal Tradition Systems
Common Law Legal Tradition Systems
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Key Terms
Review Questions
Suggested Readings
Notes
Chapter 6: Interest Groups
Introduction
Interest Groups, Social Movements, and Social Movement Organizations
Interest Group Life Cycle
Pluralist Versus Neo-Corporatist Interest Group Arrangements
Why Pluralist or Neo-Corporatist?
Role of Interest Groups in the United States Historically and Today
Types of Groups
New Social Movements
How Do Groups Participate in Politics?
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Key Terms
Review Questions
Suggested Readings
Notes
Chapter 7: Political Parties
Introduction
Party History and Formation
Party Formation as a Result of Democratization
American Party Development – Why Aren’t Parties as Strong?
The Nature of American Parties
Where Are the American Cleavages?
Role of Parties in Government
American Two-Party System Versus Other Party Systems
An Americanization of Parties Elsewhere or More Party Government in the United States?
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Key Terms
Review Questions
Suggested Readings
Notes
Chapter 8: Elections, Electoral Institutions, and Electoral Behavior
Introduction
Candidate Selection
Electoral Institutions
Plurality, Majority, and Proportional Representation Systems
Consequences of Electoral Systems
Context of Elections and Campaigns
Voting Behavior: Electoral Participation
Political Party Mobilization: Weak Party Organization in the United States
Campaign Information Flow
Clarity of Electoral Choice: Liberalism and Limited Government
Evaluating the Consequences of the Electoral Context on Voter Participation
Electoral Behavior: Determinants of Vote Choice
Non-Voting Behavior
Consequences of Electoral Laws, Context, and Voting for Democracy
Conclusion
Points to Remember
Key Terms
Review Questions
Suggested Readings
Notes
Chapter 9: Conclusion
Index

About the Author

Dr. Lori M. Poloni-Staudinger (PhD, Indiana University, 2005) is Associate Dean for research, personnel, and graduate programs in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and a Professor of Political Science at Northern Arizona University. Her research and publications focus on social movements, political contention and extra-institutional participation, and political institutions, mainly in Western Europe. Her recent work examines questions around women and political violence. She was a Distinguished Fulbright Fellow at the Diplomatic Academy in Vienna, Austria, and has served as a consultant for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe. She also taught at University of the Basque Country in San Sebastian, Spain. She served as treasurer, vice president and president of the Women’s Caucus for the Midwest Political Science Association. Lori is a Kettering Foundation Fellow and also serves as vice president of a school board and president of a non-profit board in Flagstaff, Arizona.

Dr. Michael R. Wolf (PhD, Indiana University, 2002) is aa professor and department chair in the Department of Political Science at Indiana University–Purdue University Fort Wayne. His research focuses on comparative and American public opinion and political behavior. He has recently published on the nature and effects of political discussion in democracies and the dynamics of political compromise and political incivility. He is a research a research fellow with the Mike Downs Center for Indiana Politics, and former Lugar Senior Fellow, 2017 Arts and Sciences Distinguished Lecturer, and partner with the Kettering Foundation.

Reviews

"I think the main strength of this text is the attention paid to culture and the recurring theme of American exceptionalism.  The authors stay focused on those themes and it shows throughout the book. This gives the text a clarity that other books may lack."
*Joseph Romance*

"I believe that American students especially benefit from seeing their own system from a comparative perspective.  They are often frustrated or disillusioned with shortcomings in American democracy and they are not used to thinking about other ways that democracy is practiced.  Poloni-Staudinger and Wolf’s book gives students a context for understanding weaknesses and strengths in American democracy and enables students to (often to their great surprise) appreciate their system in a new light.  As educators and policy-makers look for ways to increase undergraduate interest in civic engagement and democracy-promotion, this book could be a valuable tool for helping students to see how democracy can work to provide the public good in various countries."
*Jacqueline Reich*

"This book is a concise, no-nonsense account of the ways in which US politics differs from that of other advanced industrial countries. It offers a combination of brevity and comprehensiveness rarely found in introductory textbooks."
*Taylor Dark*