Table of Contents

List of Figures
List of Tables
Acknowledgments
1. Introducing Comparative Politics
2. Development and Political Development
3. State Effectiveness and Political Economy
4. Electoral Democracies, Liberal Democracies, and Autocracies
5. Factors Conducive to Democracy
6. Institutional Variations of Democracies
7. Electoral Systems, Party Systems, and Government Formation in Democracies
8. Varieties of Autocracies: Totalitarianism, Sultanism, and Authoritarianism
9. Democratic Transitions, Consolidations, and Breakdowns
10. The Historical Evolution of Democracy
Glossary
Recommended Sources for Further Research
Bibliography
Index

About the Author

Alan Siaroff is a professor in the department of political science at the University of Lethbridge.

Reviews

"This is an extremely sophisticated and very insightful textbook on comparative politics. Its clear writing, underpinned by sustained analytic thinking, makes this book a top choice for introductory undergraduate courses. The book notably includes many useful tables and classifications of 195 countries in the world that will also be of much value to advanced researchers. Highly recommended."--Erik Martinez Kuhonta, Director of the Institute for the Study of International Development and Associate Professor of Political Science, McGill University
"This is an exceptional textbook. It treats the field of comparative politics very effectively, its broad coverage puts the entire world within reach of students, and it innovates at many points by offering fresh and revealing ways to consider the issues at stake."--Bruce Morrison, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Western University