Comparative Politics: Principles of Democracy and Democratization (Principles of Political Science) - Softcover

Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

John T. Ishiyama is Professor of Political Science at the University of North Texas. He is editor in chief of the Journal of Political Science Education. Professor Ishiyama is the author of six books and over 100 articles on political science-related issues. He studies the politics of post-communist eastern and central Europe and Africa (especially Ethiopia).

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"This book stands out from other textbooks on comparative politics. It represents a rare accomplishment as it has a focus on a substantively significant issue, that of democracy and democratization, which also serves as an instructional tool for problem-based learning. The book is insightful, coherent, and lucidly written and will enrich comparative politics classrooms."
Kerstin Hamann, University of Central Florida

How does one promote the development of political democracy? And what are the factors that help explain the emergence of political democracy? By providing the answers to questions like these, Comparative Politics helps shape our understanding of why the "building" of democracy in post-war Iraq remains so elusive and reveals that democracy may not, in fact, be the best institutional arrangement given a country's unique set of historical, economic, social, cultural, and international circumstances. After examining the historical development of democracy in such cases as Great Britain, France, the US, Germany, Russia, and Japan, chapters proceed to address the contextual conditions which promote or hinder democratic development. Choices and elements of the "design" of political systems are then considered, including presidential vs. parliamentary vs. "mixed" systems, legislative and judicial design, and the relationship between military and civilian authorities. With scholarly precision, Comparative Politics offers rich insights into the reasons why there is no universally applicable institutional design that can help "promote" democracy along with the impediments that can prevent the fruition of any such design.

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"This book stands out from other textbooks on comparative politics. It represents a rare accomplishment as it has a focus on a substantively significant issue, that of democracy and democratization, which also serves as an instructional tool for problem-based learning. The book is insightful, coherent, and lucidly written and will enrich comparative politics classrooms."
Kerstin Hamann, University of Central Florida

How does one promote the development of political democracy? And what are the factors that help explain the emergence of political democracy? By providing the answers to questions like these, Comparative Politics helps shape our understanding of why the "building" of democracy in post-war Iraq remains so elusive – and reveals that democracy may not, in fact, be the best institutional arrangement given a country's unique set of historical, economic, social, cultural, and international circumstances. After examining the historical development of democracy in such cases as Great Britain, France, the US, Germany, Russia, and Japan, chapters proceed to address the contextual conditions which promote or hinder democratic development. Choices and elements of the "design" of political systems are then considered, including presidential vs. parliamentary vs. "mixed" systems, legislative and judicial design, and the relationship between military and civilian authorities. With scholarly precision, Comparative Politics offers rich insights into the reasons why there is no universally applicable institutional design that can help "promote" democracy – along with the impediments that can prevent the fruition of any such design.