Introducing Comparative Politics: Concepts and Cases in Context / Edition 4

by Stephen Walter Orvis, Carol Ann Drogus

Overview

Organized thematically around important questions in comparative politics—who rules? what explains political behavior? where and why?—Introducing Comparative Politics, Fifth Edition, integrates a set of extended case studies of 11 countries that vividly illustrate issues in cross-national context. Serving as touchstones, the cases are placed within the chapters where they make the most sense —not separated from the theory or in a separate volume—helping students make connections between the two earlier in the semester. The book’s hybrid organization gives students a more holistic view of comparative politics.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781506375465
Publisher:	SAGE Publications
Publication date:	02/28/2017
Edition description:	Fourth Edition
Pages:	760
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

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.

Table of Contents

World Map
Regional and Country Coverage
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
PART I: A FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING COMPARATIVE POLITICS
CHAPTER 1: Introduction
Comparative Politics: What Is It? Why Study It? How to Study It?
Three Key Questions in Comparative Politics
Plan of the Book
Key Concepts
Works Cited
Resources for Further Study
Web Resources
CHAPTER 2: The Modern State
Characteristics of the Modern State
Historical Origins of Modern States
Strong, Weak, and Failed States
Case Studies of State Formation
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Works Cited
Resources for Further Study
Web Resources
CHAPTER 3: States, Citizens, and Regimes
Citizens and Civil Society
Regimes, Ideologies, and Citizens
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Works Cited
Resources for Further Study
Web Resources
CHAPTER 4: States and Identity
Understanding Identity
The Policy Debate
Nations, Nationalism, and Immigration
Ethnicity
Race
Social Class
Religion: Recognition, Autonomy, and the Secular State
Gender and Sexual Orientation: The Continuing Struggle for Recognition, Social Status, and Representation
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Works Cited
Resources for Further Study
Web Resources
PART II: POLITICAL SYSTEMS AND HOW THEY WORK
CHAPTER 5: Governing Institutions in Democracies
Executives and Legislatures
Comparing Executive–Legislative Institutions
Judiciary
Bureaucracy
Federalism
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Works Cited
Resources for Further Study
Web Resources
CHAPTER 6: Institutions of Participation and Representation in Democracies
The Electoral System
Formal Institutions: Political Parties and Party Systems
Civil Society
Case Studies in Participation and Representation
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Works Cited
Resources for Further Study
Web Resources
CHAPTER 7: Contentious Politics: Social Movements, Political Violence, and Revolution
Framing Contentious Politics
Political Violence
Revolution
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Works Cited
Resources for Further Study
Web Resources
CHAPTER 8: Authoritarian Institutions
Trends in Authoritarian Rule
The Dictator’s Dilemma: Governing Authoritarian Regimes
Elections, Parties, and Legislatures
Clientelism and Civil Society
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Works Cited
Resources for Further Study
Web Resources
CHAPTER 9: Regime Change
Trends in Regime Change
Regime Change: Transitions to Democracy
Regime Change: Transitions to Authoritarian Rule
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Works Cited
Resources for Further Study
Web Resources
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 Déjà Vu All Over Again?
States and Markets Around the World
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Works Cited
Resources for Further Study
Web Resources
CHAPTER 11: Political Economy of Development
What Is “Development”?
Development and Globalization
The Development Debate
Case Studies in Development
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Works Cited
Resources For Further Study
Web Resources
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
Conclusion
Key Concepts
Works Cited
Resources for Further Study
Web Resources
Glossary
Index

Editorial Reviews

Introducing Comparative Politics provides a solid introduction to the key concepts and themes of Comparative Politics for undergraduate students. The book successfully resolves the decades long question of whether to teach concepts or countries by integrating concise case study material within chapters focused on concepts and themes. This approach allows students to grasp key understandings of comparative politics, develop a lexicon of terms and concepts, and then apply the concepts using the comparative method. Therefore, Orvis & Drogus impart to students not only a better understanding of our world; they also train them on using a valuable skill—thinking like a Comparativist.

Neal G. Jesse

”Orvis and Drogus have authored a comprehensive and up-to-date introduction to comparative politics which will engage today’s undergraduates.”

Jeffrey Key

An excellent resource for the political scientist who is teaching comparative politics for the first time.”

Immanuel Ness

In depth case studies and analysis of particular topics in comparative politics”

Eli C. Kaul

Organizes the material and places it into context with the case studies.”

Sandra K. Rana

The graphics in the book are extremely reader-friendly. The language is clear and easy for students to follow. Instructor resources are quite helpful (and a key part of my decision-making). Overall, this is the best comparative politics text for undergrads that I have found. It covers all the important topics in the field and presents them in a way that is accessible to students.”

Laura N. Bell

This is a great introductory comparative politics text for both majors and non-majors. The material is accessible for non-discipline students, and easily lends itself to connections with other academic disciplines. The structure of the content is flexible enough to allow for the integration of current events.”

Erika Cornelius Smith

"A solid textbook on the major topics in comparative politics that integrates case studies, most of which are recurring, in each chapter."

Lillian Frost

What a fantastic book! It has great case studies that are very contemporary and lots of relevant discussions on things my students are really interested in, like political protest and identity politics. All the resources, like slides and lecture notes, are great, and I'm able to use those quite effectively in my classes. This book has nailed what comparative politics is all about.

Sales call - David Matijasevich

"A theoretically-motivated but approachable introduction to comparative politics."

Agatha Skierkowski Hultquist

Introducing Comparative Politics is the perfect text for introducing college students to the language and methods of comparative politics. The country specific case studies are the perfect length for illustrating the concepts and themes, and rather than overwhelm students with extensive histories of countries' political development, the cases provide rich and relevant vignettes about foreign people and places in ways that are meaningful and inspiring to students of all levels. The material is accessible to students new to political analysis, yet sophisticated enough to engage more advanced students eager to deepen their knowledge about the global political landscape.

Carolyn J. Craig

The hybrid approach is the primary reason I picked this book. Given my thematic approach, generic case studies that don’t directly relate to a particular comparison or theme aren’t very useful, so I appreciate the balance between thematic and case elements in the Orvis and Drogus text. My students have responded much more positively to this book than the previous offering. I think they find the writing level to be an attainable challenge.”

John Hulsey

The content of the case studies is excellent. Students easily grow bored with lengthy chapters on specific cases, but the thematic approach to the cases in the Orvis and Drogus text is much more interesting to my students.”

M. Casey Kane Love

The presentation of core concepts is written in a clear, concise, and lively fashion that hooks the reader and doesn’t overload with technical detail, while setting out most of the ideas I try to cover in my course. In general, the Orvis and Drogus text covers a wide range of country cases that are well selected for examining the themes and issues under discussion and is written in an engaging style that holds the reader’s attention while covering concepts and explanations that are often quite sophisticated.”

Stephen P. Mumme