Comparative politics Books

Book SynopsisThis book gives readers a better understanding of contemporary dictatorships and the policy implications of political struggles that occur in them. Its accessible, evidence-based insights into how dictatorships rise, survive, and fall will appeal to both experienced academic researchers and students of political science.Trade Review'How Dictatorships Work artfully combines the minutia of autocratic rule – as with the Turkmen dictator naming his dentist as his successor after successfully replacing his teeth with gold - with rigorous attention to general patterns based on an assiduously collected and award-winning dataset in order to illuminate the multifarious challenges faced by 'seizure groups' and their leaders that seek to consolidate rule and stave off oppositional conspiracies.' David D. Laitin, Stanford University, California'This book is a landmark contribution on the logics of autocratic rule. With insightful theorizing, novel empirical data and captivating historical detail, the authors offer answers to some of the most critical questions about autocratic rule: why some autocrats establish stable governments while others suffer continuous revolts? Why some create pseudo democratic institutions and others do not? Why some distribute benefits broadly while others concentrate these among a small group of regime loyalists? This book will set the agenda for the study of authoritarianism for years to come.' Beatriz Magaloni, Freeman Spogli Institute, Stanford University, California'How Dictatorships Work masterfully illustrates the paths autocrats take to power and the ways in which they keep it.' Anna Grzymala-Busse'The book is essential reading for anyone interested in authoritarian politics, democratization or comparative politics.' Albertus Schoeman, DemocratizationTable of Contents1. Introduction; Part I. Initiation: 2. Autocratic seizures of power; 3. What do we know about coups?; Part II. Elite Consolidation: 4. Power concentration: the effect of elite factionalism on personalization; 5. Dictatorial survival strategies in challenging conditions: factionalized armed supporters and party creation; Part III. Ruling Society: Implementation and Information Gathering: 6. Why parties and elections in dictatorships?; 7. Double-edged swords: specialized institutions for monitoring and coercion; Part IV. Dictatorial Survival and Breakdown: 8. Why dictatorships fall; 9. Conclusion and policy implications.

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Book SynopsisPolitical Consumerism captures the creative ways in which consumers and citizens turn to the market as their arena for politics. This book theorizes, describes, analyzes, compares and evaluates how political consumers target corporations to solve globalized problems. It demonstrates the reconfiguration of civic engagement, political participation and citizenship.Trade Review"Political Consumerism is well-argued, well-researched, and presents a good deal of original information. Engaging with the political science literature on governance and participation, it offers arguments for expanding conventional political science theory and concepts to better accommodate this growing pattern of contemporary politics. The idea that consumers are an increasingly important and organized political force on the planet seems at once obvious and woefully underdeveloped academically, particularly in political science. Dietlind Stolle and Michele Micheletti go a long way toward remedying this situation. This is a fine book." W. Lance Bennett, Ruddick C. Lawrence Professor of Communication, and Professor of Political Science, University of Washington, Seattle"Political consumerism has become a growing form of social and political activism in recent decades, and Dietlind Stolle and Michele Micheletti have produced the authoritative study of the use and impact of political consumerism in politics today. This book should be the standard citation in the growing debate about political consumerism and other new forms of citizen action." Russell J. Dalton, University of California, IrvineTable of Contents1. Reconfiguring political responsibility; 2. Reconfiguring political participation; 3. Who are political consumers?; 4. Mapping political consumerism in Western democracies; 5. The organizational setting for political consumerism; 6. Discursive political consumerism; 7. Does political consumerism matter? Effectiveness and limits of political consumer action repertoires; 8. Political consumerism's scope and challenges.

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Book SynopsisTheda Skocpol shows how state structures, international forces, and class relations combine to explain the origins and accomplishments of social-revolutionary transformations. Believing that existing theories of revolution, both Marxist and non-Marxist, are inadequate to explain the actual historical patterns of revolutions, Skocpol urges the reader to adopt fresh perspectives.Trade Review'With lucidity and care, Skocpol has laid out a challenging comparison of three great revolutions … Here is a book worth studying, refuting, testing, elaborating, and emulating.' Charles Tilly'I am convinced that States and Social Revolutions will be considered a landmark in the study of the sources of revolution.' Lewis A. Coser, The New York Times Book ReviewTable of ContentsList of tables and maps; Preface; Introduction; 1. Explaining social revolutions: alternatives to existing theories; Part I. Causes of Social Revolutions in France, Russia and China: 2. Old-regime states in crisis; 3. Agrarian structures and peasant insurrections; Part II. Outcomes of Social Revolutions in France, Russia and China: 4. What changed and how: a focus on state building; 5. The birth of a 'modern state edifice' in France; 6. The emergence of a dictatorial party-state in Russia; 7. The rise of a mass-mobilizing party-state in China; Conclusion; Notes; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisA comparison of the political development of census questions about race, demonstrating how ideas and politics shape racial boundaries. The book is written for social scientists in political science, sociology and history, and for anyone interested in the politics of race and the nature of state power.Table of Contents1. Invitation; 2. Orientation; 3. Transnational biological racialism; 4. The death and resurrection of race; 5. The multicultural moment; 6. The multiracial moment; 7. The future of counting by race.

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Book SynopsisThis book has both empirical and theoretical goals. The primary empirical goal is to examine the evolution of industrial relations in Western Europe from the end of the 1970s up to the present. Its purpose is to evaluate the extent to which liberalization has taken hold of European industrial relations and institutions through five detailed, chapter-length studies, each focusing on a different country and including quantitative analysis. The book offers a comprehensive description and analysis of what has happened to the institutions that regulate the labor market, as well as the relations between employers, unions, and states in Western Europe since the collapse of the long postwar boom. The primary theoretical goal of this book is to provide a critical examination of some of the central claims of comparative political economy, particularly those involving the role and resilience of national institutions in regulating and managing capitalist political economies.Trade Review'This is an important book for all scholars and practitioners of industrial relations. It includes very detailed and insightful analyses of developments in industrial relations in a number of European countries (Britain, France, Germany, Italy and Sweden), but its ambition goes well beyond that.' Roberto Pedersini, TransferTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Arguing for neoliberal convergence; 2. Quantitative analysis of industrial relations change; 3. Constructing a liberal market economy: the collapse of collective regulation in Britain; 4. State-led liberalization and the transformation of worker representation in France; 5. Softening institutions: the liberalization of German industrial relations with Chiara Benassi; 6. 'Well dug old mole!' The rise and decline of concessionary corporatism in Italy; 7. The conversion of corporatism: re-engineering Swedish industrial relations for a neo-liberal era; 8. Actors, institutions and pathways: the liberalization of industrial relations in Western Europe; 9. From industrial relations liberalization to the instability of capitalist growth; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisWhy have seemingly similar African countries developed very different forms of democratic party systems? Despite virtually ubiquitous conditions that are assumed to be challenging to democracy - low levels of economic development, high ethnic heterogeneity, and weak state capacity - nearly two dozen African countries have maintained democratic competition since the early 1990s. Yet the forms of party system competition vary greatly: from highly stable, nationally organized, well-institutionalized party systems to incredibly volatile, particularistic parties in systems with low institutionalization. To explain their divergent development, Rachel Beatty Riedl points to earlier authoritarian strategies to consolidate support and maintain power. The initial stages of democratic opening provide an opportunity for authoritarian incumbents to attempt to shape the rules of the new multiparty system in their own interests, but their power to do so depends on the extent of local support built upTrade Review'This well-designed comparative study helps to explain the structure of political party competition in Africa's new democracies. The author shows how and why authoritarian precedents continue to shape institutional outcomes. Future analysts of party systems and democratic stability will have no choice but to take Riedl's important and challenging findings into account.' Michael Bratton, University Distinguished Professor of Political Science and African Studies, Michigan State University'The most thorough, wide-ranging and important study of African political parties to date. If students of democratization and African politics want to know about African parties and party systems - and Reidl convincingly argues that they should - this is the place to start.' Nic Cheeseman, African Studies Centre, University of Oxford'In this model work of comparative-historical analysis, Rachel Beatty Riedl unravels an important puzzle in contemporary African politics: why party competition is more stable in some African democracies than others. In so doing, she advances an argument with truly global resonance: how democracies work in the present depends on how dictatorships tried to accumulate power and rewire authority in the authoritarian past. Authoritarian Origins of Democratic Party Systems in Africa is a major achievement.' Dan Slater, University of Chicago'In this first-rate former dissertation, Riedl asserts that the nature of authoritarian regimes significantly influences the strength of ensuing democratic governments … An excellent bibliography and useful tables and figures add to Riedl's book's utility. Summing up: highly recommended.' C. E. Welch, Choice'Africa's fledgling democracies feature both stable, strong political parties, in countries such as Ghana, and fractious, weak, and unstable parties, in countries such as Benin. In this finely crafted book, Riedl argues convincingly that the main factor in determining the strength of parties in any given country in the region is the extent to which the authoritarian regime that dominated politics prior to the country's democratic transition was able to influence the terms of democratization. But the relationship is somewhat counter-intuitive: the greater the staying power of the old regime, the more likely it is that the opposition coalesced into a well-institutionalized, strong party. The book's best sections smartly observe and carefully compare the electoral politics of Benin, Ghana, Senegal, and Zambia. Riedl demonstrates that in contemporary Africa, single-party authoritarian rule might well have left a positive legacy.' Nicolas van de Walle, Foreign Affairs'Rachel Beatty Riedl's Authoritarian Origins of Democratic Party Systems in Africa represents one of the most important contributions to the study of African politics in recent memory. Meticulously researched and theoretically innovative, the book is essential reading for those seeking to comprehend the character and dynamics of political life in Africa's democratic societies.' Peter VonDoepp, Journal of Modern African Studies'There is much to commend about Riedl's work - recognized in awards by two sections of the American Political Science Association - including her careful situation of her research in the broader literatures on parties and regime change, her close examination of the nature of authoritarian strategies and transitions in her four disparate cases, and the logical and convincing unfolding of her argument.' Jeffrey Conroy-Krutz, African AffairsTable of Contents1. A theory of party system variation; 2. Variations in party system institutionalization in Africa; 3. Competing explanations: from colonial rule to new democratic institutions; 4. Modes of authoritarian power; 5. Authoritarian power and transition control; 6. The emergence and endurance of the multiparty system; 7. Africa and beyond: party systems in new democracies.

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Book SynopsisDuring the first half of the twentieth century, movements seeking political equality emerged in France's overseas territories. Within twenty years, they were replaced by movements for national independence in the majority of French colonies, protectorates, and mandates. In this pathbreaking study of the decolonization era, Adria Lawrence asks why elites in French colonies shifted from demands for egalitarian and democratic reforms to calls for independent statehood, and why mass mobilization for independence emerged where and when it did. Lawrence shows that nationalist discourses became dominant as a consequence of the failure of the reform agenda. Where political rights were granted, colonial subjects opted for further integration and reform. Contrary to conventional accounts, nationalism was not the only or even the primary form of anti-colonialism. Lawrence shows further that mass nationalist protest occurred only when and where French authority was disrupted. Imperial crises were Trade Review"Political scientists interested in nationalism, imperialism, and contentious politics will find something in this book to inform their thinking. But Lawrence has something new to say to other audiences too. Historians who feel that political scientists enter the historical field only to fetch a few examples to prove their pet theories will find in Lawrence a political scientist who, when she delves into history, does so as a historian would and actively contributes to the historical understanding of nationalism in the Middle East." Nathan J. Brown, George Washington University"Adria Lawrence presents an important argument: the development of nationalism is not a natural, automatic response to subordination in an empire, but an interactive, contingent phenomenon. Her book is about actual politics – the give and take of claims and counterclaims, the opening and shutting of opportunities. She presents an analysis that students of nationalism, colonial situations, and political movements need to ponder." Frederick Cooper, New York University, author of Decolonization and African Society: The Labor Question in French and British Africa"Mainstream interpretations of how nationalist movements under French colonial rule emerged and mobilized for independence have long privileged the inherent link between colonialism and the impulse for national self-determination. In this innovative and deeply informed study, Lawrence highlights the contingent nature of the nationalist enterprise, in which the impulse for political equality and its subsequent denial by the colonial authorities serves to catalyze popular demand for independence framed in the language of nationalism. The author brings together an impressive array of original and secondary sources to substantiate her theoretical claims with particular focus on the Moroccan experience. Clearly written and devoid of jargon, Lawrence has produced a compelling reinterpretation of imperial rule and the politics of nationalism from which students and specialists alike will benefit." John P. Entelis, Fordham University"Some of the most rewarding books are those that expose a flaw in conventional wisdom. Adria Lawrence’s Imperial Rule and the Politics of Nationalism discredits the widely held view that nations naturally want to rule themselves. She shows that Moroccans might well have been satisfied by French rule had the French governed them more skillfully. This finding, which is based on impressive research, has huge policy implications concerning the world’s trouble spots." Timur Kuran, Duke UniversityTable of Contents1. Introduction: the politics of nationalism in the French empire; 2. Indigènes into Frenchmen? Seeking political equality in Morocco and Algeria; 3. Political equality and nationalist opposition in the French empire; 4. Empire disrupted: nationalist opposition accelerates; 5. Nationalist mobilization in colonial Morocco; 6. Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisThe Logic of Connective Action explains the rise of a personalized digitally networked politics in which diverse individuals address the common problems of our times such as economic fairness and climate change. Rich case studies from the United States, the United Kingdom and Germany illustrate a theoretical framework for understanding how large-scale connective action is coordinated. In many of these mobilizations, communication operates as an organizational process that may replace or supplement familiar forms of collective action based on organizational resource mobilization, leadership, and collective action framing. In some cases, connective action emerges from crowds that shun leaders, as when Occupy protesters created media networks to channel resources and create loose ties among dispersed physical groups. In other cases, conventional political organizations deploy personalized communication logics to enable large-scale engagement with a variety of political causes. The Logic oTrade Review'W. Lance Bennett and Alexandra Segerberg's The Logic of Connective Action is a welcome introduction to the topic and should, I hope, convince more sociologists that our theories of movements should consider social media as a distinctive resource, one that transforms the way people engage in activism rather than simply augmenting traditional communications … This book makes a strong case that social media and other forms of online activism should grab the attention of social movement scholars.' Brayden G. King, American Journal of Sociology'Playing off Olson's title, Bennett and Segerberg describe the emerging development of 'connective' action, in which the lower costs of social media and the ability to claim credit for one's substantive contribution to policy debates have fueled new modes for personal political involvement. Through the development of a sophisticated matrix of mobilization types and techniques and a set of widely divergent case studies of social movement in a variety of political settings, they show the potential for technology to motivate, inform, and engage previously uninvolved individuals in the policy process … Summing up: recommended.' S. E. Frantzich, Choice'Scholars interested in social movements or activism, political organizing, political communication, civic engagement, new information and communications technologies, and media studies would find the book particularly useful. This path-breaking work, along with others (Bimber, Flanagin, and Stohl, 2012, and Castells, 2012), will change how we think about organization and contentious action for years to come.' Hao Cao, International Journal of CommunicationTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. The logic of connective action; 2. Personalized communication in protest networks; 3. Digital media and the organization of connective action; 4. How organizationally enabled networks engage publics; 5. Networks, power, and political outcomes; 6. Conclusion: when logics collide.

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Book SynopsisThis book bridges the gap between the fields of international relations, comparative politics and conflict processes. Using the cases of Chechnya, Afghanistan, Sudan and Turkey, among others, it explores the border-crossing features of civil war, providing a significant theoretical and empirical contribution to the study of the subject.Trade Review'Jeff Checkel has assembled an excellent group of authors with on-the-ground expertise on civil wars and sensibility to standards of social-science method and research design. [This] book should enjoy a wide readership of scholars of civil war and students taking courses on international relations, transnationalism, and civil conflict.' Matthew Evangelista, Cornell University'Featuring the workings of various causal mechanisms, this volume contributes invaluably to our understanding of dynamic processes at work during civil war.' Scott Gates, Director, Centre for the Study of Civil War, Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO)'With more than half of all post-1945 civil wars spilling across state borders, this new volume offers a welcome introduction into the often overlooked transnational dynamics of 'local' wars. Taken as a whole, these chapters also provide compelling evidence for the importance of qualitative process-tracing that moves beyond just-so stories to the much tougher challenge of rigorously testing the mechanisms that underpin our explanations of civil war dynamics.' Jason Lyall, Yale UniversityTable of ContentsPart I. Civil War: Mobilizing across Borders: 1. Transnational dynamics of civil war Jeffrey T. Checkel; Part II. Transnationalized Civil War: 2. Copying and learning from outsiders? Assessing diffusion from transnational insurgents in the Chechen wars Kristin M. Bakke; 3. Mechanisms of diaspora mobilization and the transnationalization of civil war Fiona B. Adamson; 4. Refugee militancy in exile and upon return in Afghanistan and Rwanda Kristian Berg Harpviken and Sarah Kenyon Lischer; 5. Rebels without a cause? Transnational diffusion and the Lord's Resistance Army, 1986–2011 Hans Peter Schmitz; 6. Transnational advocacy networks, rebel groups, and demobilization of child soldiers in Sudan Stephan Hamberg; 7. Conflict diffusion via social identities: entrepreneurship and adaptation Martin Austvoll Nome and Nils B. Weidmann; Part III. Theory, Mechanisms, and the Study of Civil War: 8. Causal mechanisms and typological theories in the study of civil conflict Andrew Bennett; 9. Transnational dynamics of civil war: where do we go from here? Elisabeth Jean Wood.

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Book SynopsisThis timely volume brings together leading scholars from across the social sciences, whose work presents empirical evidence that the obstacle of regulatory capture is more surmountable than previously thought. The unprecedented rigor they bring to the study of capture will appeal to scholars and students across the social sciences, and prove a valuable resource for policy makers.Trade Review“This collection deftly sharpens our thinking about the nature of regulatory capture. It compiles the most multidimensional treatment we have of capture and the American regulatory state.” – John Braithwaite, Australian National University“This is an enormously useful collection that goes beyond alleging and lamenting regulatory capture to provide diagnostic tools for evaluating purported instances of captured regulatory regimes and institutional techniques for avoiding their emergence and mitigating their effects.” – Jerry Mashaw, Yale University“’Regulatory capture’ is an often used, little understood term. It is quoted frequently by those who would like to question a regulation for any of a number of agendas without an effort to understand the science or reason behind it. Daniel Carpenter, David Moss, and the co-authors have written a long overdue analysis of the issue and what, when proven true, can be done about it. – Christine Todd Whitman, former governor of New Jersey and former administrator of the Environmental Protection AgencyTable of ContentsIntroduction Daniel Carpenter and David Moss; Part I. Failures of Capture Scholarship: 1. A revisionist history of regulatory capture William Novak; 2. The concept of regulatory capture: a short, inglorious history Richard Posner; 3. Detecting and measuring capture Daniel Carpenter; Part II. New Conceptions of Capture - Mechanisms and Outcomes: 4. Cultural capture and the financial crisis James Kwak; 5. Complexity, capacity, and capture Nolan McCarty; 6. Preventing economists' capture Luigi Zingales; 7. Corrosive capture? The dueling forces of autonomy and industry influence in FDA pharmaceutical regulation Daniel Carpenter; Part III. Misdiagnosing Capture and Case Studies of Regulatory Success: 8. Capturing history: the case of the Federal Radio Commission in 1927 David Moss and Jonathan Lackow; 9. Conditional forbearance as an alternative to capture: evidence from coal mine safety regulation Sanford Gordon and Catherine Hafer; 10. Captured by disaster? Reinterpreting regulatory behavior in the shadow of the Gulf oil spill Christopher Carrigan; 11. Reconsidering agency capture during regulatory policymaking Susan Webb Yackee; 12. Coalitions, autonomy, and regulatory bargains in public health law Mariano-Florentino Cuéllar; Part IV. The Possibility of Preventing Capture: 13. Preventing capture through consumer empowerment programs: some evidence from insurance regulation Daniel Schwarcz; 14. Courts and regulatory capture M. Elizabeth Magill; 15. Can executive review help prevent capture? Richard Revesz and Michael Livermore; Conclusion David Moss and Daniel Carpenter; Afterword Sheldon Whitehouse and Jim Leach.

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Book SynopsisJeff D. Colgan explores why some oil-exporting countries are aggressive, while others are not. Using evidence from key countries such as Iraq, Iran, Libya, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, Petro-Aggression proposes a new theoretical framework to explain the importance of oil to international security.Trade Review'Jeff Colgan significantly expands our understanding of the relationship between oil and war, explaining the domestic politics of oil's role in enabling revolutionary leaders to pursue aggressive foreign policies. Petro-Aggression presents a clear theoretical argument, which it supports with a wealth of qualitative and quantitative data. Colgan has made a major contribution to the study of energy security.' Charles L. Glaser, George Washington University'There are hundreds of books on global security and oil. Yet it would be hard to find one as compelling and original as Petro-Aggression, which develops new insights into the foreign policies of countries that are both oil-rich and have revolutionary aims. Colgan's analysis breaks important new ground in the study of organized violence and natural resources.' Michael L. Ross, University of California, Los Angeles'In Petro-Aggression: When Oil Causes War, Jeff Colgan provides an indispensable starting point for researchers interested in the relationship between oil and international conflict … he offers a theoretical foundation for future research on a topic likely to grow in importance over the next several years - both within the field of international relations and out in the 'real world'.' Rosemary A. Kelanic, H-Diplo'… this book moves the research frontier forward and will set an agenda for future work - particularly since the author has posted the replication data on his American University website.' Nils Petter Gleditsch, Journal of Peace Research'Resource wars, including coverage of struggles over access to oil, have been the focus of many studies in recent years. This book, however, features a different angle: countries that produce significant amounts of oil that do not act aggressively to enhance their oil supplies, but instead instigate interstate wars … Recommended. Professional collections.' A. Klinghoffer, ChoiceTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. A theory of oil, revolution, and conflict; 3. Evidence and research design; 4. Quantitative impact of oil and revolution on conflict; 5. Iraq; 6. Libya and the Arab Jamahiriyya; 7. Iran; 8. Venezuela and the Bolivarian revolution; 9. Saudi Arabia; 10. Does oil cause revolution?; 11. Conclusion and policy implications.

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Book SynopsisThis volume brings together essays by many of the leading scholars of comparative constitutional design from many perspectives to collectively assess what we know - and do not know - about the design process as well as particular institutional choices concerning executive power, constitutional amendment processes and many other issues. Bringing together positive and normative analysis, this volume provides state of the art in a field of growing theoretical and practical importance.Trade Review'The combination of theoretical and empirical essays will further develop comparative constitutional design as an important perspective and project within comparative constitutional studies.' International Journal of Constitutional LawTable of Contents1. Introduction Tom Ginsburg; Part I. Design Processes: 2. Clearing and strengthening the channels of constitution-making Jon Elster; 3. What we know - and don't know - about design processes Justin Blount, Zachary Elkins and Tom Ginsburg; Part II. How Do We Get to Constitutional Design? Constraints and Conditions: 4. Democratization and countermajoritarian institutions: the role of power and constitutional design in self-enforcing democracy Susan Alberts, Chris Warshaw and Barry R. Weingast; 5. The origins of parliamentary responsibility Adam Przeworski, Tamar Asadurian and Anjali Thomas Bohlken; 6. The social foundations of China's living constitution Randall Peerenboom; 7. The political economy of constitutionalism in a post-secular world Ran Hirschl; Part III. Issues in Institutional Design: 8. Designing constitutional amendment rules, to scale Rosalind Dixon and Richard Holden; 9. Federalism: general welfare, interstate commerce, and economic analysis Robert D. Cooter and Neil Seigel; 10. Personal laws and equality: the case of India Martha Nussbaum; 11. Constitutional adjudication, Italian style John Ferejohn and Pasquale Pasquino; 12. Tyrannophobia Eric A. Posner and Adrian Vermuele; 13. Do executive term limits cause constitutional crises? Tom Ginsburg, Zachary Elkins and James Melton.

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Book SynopsisThis volume presents the first systematic comparative analysis of national traditions of local democracy across the developed world, as well as their origins and evolution. It reveals how inclusive local institutions that integrate national and local governance make democracy work better. Across most of the developed world, early forms of the national state entrenched the local power of elites. In Anglo-American and Swiss democracies, state formation imposed enduring tensions with local civic governance. In contrast, inclusive, integrative local institutions in Northern Europe enabled close links with central government around common local and national agendas, producing better governance and fuller democracy to the present day. Through comparative analysis, the authors demonstrate how institutions for local governance and the participation of civil society differ widely among developed democracies, and how local democracy relates to national democracy. The resulting insights fundamentTrade Review'This book restores local democracy to its rightful place at the center of our understanding of national politics. Through an illuminating, comparative historical analysis, the authors show that systematic variations in local political incorporation have laid down enduring differences in the character of multilevel democracy, with far-reaching consequences for policymaking and the quality of democracy. A must-read!' Christopher Ansell, University of California, Berkeley'Local governments are often overlooked in discussions on the formation of modern democracies. This insightful and carefully researched book shows why they should not be: local institutional incorporation in the nation state is historically meaningful for democracies.' Merilee S. Grindle, Harvard University, Massachusetts'Multilevel Democracy offers an original and fascinating account of institutional endurance and change. The authors' analyses challenges our understanding of state formation, political mobilization, and institutions. Perhaps most importantly, they show the role of local democracy and institutions in developing democratic states, and the significance of 'vertical circuits of power and influence' between institutions at different levels of the polity in shaping and sustaining democracy. If Acemoglu and Robinson, in their seminal work, showed the importance of good institutions for economic growth, Sellers, Lidström and Bae show a similar pattern for the development of democracy and governance. This book should be required readings for all students of democracy, institutions and governance.' Jon Pierre, Göteborgs Universitet, Sweden'A breakthrough book in comparative urban analysis! Following in the tradition of Tocqueville, the trio of Sellers, Lidstrom, and Bae provide a multi-national treatment of how state and civil society are interwoven with local-national relations. Resisting the temptation to retreat into vague abstractions about multiscalar politics, the authors use a much-needed comparative approach that grounds their work in examinations of cross-national experiences. During an era in which democratic advancement faces numerous obstacles, Multilevel Democracy offers lessons that can be applied in a time of great challenges. By emphasizing the important role of civil society, this book moves scholarship beyond a limited political-economy conception into a framework that is more accommodating to the vital part that civil society plays in shaping governance in today's world.' Clarence N. Stone, George Washington University, Washington DC'... Multilevel Democracy offers a significant contribution to the broad field of comparative political science and is a must-read for a wide range of political scientists ...' Arjan H. Schakel, Comparative Politics'… an impressive body of research literature and masses of quantitative data … it is probably primarily of interest for researchers of public administration, but the parts about 'civil society' will raise the interest of Voluntas readers. The authors describe interesting fits between governance infrastructures on the one hand and the political and civic organizations on the other. The book has a broad scope: a wide variety of sources and literature from public administration, political science, history, economy, and civil society studies. It is more about being careful with the heritage than about building democracy from scratch.' Paul Dekker, VoluntasTable of Contents1. Introduction: taking local institutions seriously; 2. Multilevel democracy and the modern state; 3. Multilevel democracies: a cross-sectional comparison; 4. Trajectories of local state formation; 5. The local state and the formation of civil society; 6. The policy state and local governance; 7. The quality of multilevel democracy; Postscript. Constructing multilevel democracy.

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Book SynopsisEnvironmental problems are firmly on the political agenda. The stark threat to the planet from climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution can no longer be ignored by governments, political parties, businesses or individuals. Responding to the considerable developments of the last decade, Neil Carter has updated his popular textbook thoroughly, while retaining the existing structure of previous editions. The Politics of the Environment continues to analyse the relationship between ''green ideas'' and other political doctrines, the development of green parties and public policymaking, and environmental issues at international, national and local levels. It provides students with a comprehensive comparative introduction to ideas, activism and policy. New to this edition are discussions on climate justice, climate legislation and recent environmental struggles, such as demonstrations against fracking. It employs a variety of global examples and includes pedagogical features such as boTrade Review'This update of Carter's excellent text is very welcome, as it provides a superb overview of environmental ideologies, parties and movements, and policy issues. Ideal for courses in environmental politics and policy.' Riley E. Dunlap, Regents Professor and Dresser Professor Emeritus, Oklahoma State University'The Politics of the Environment remains the authoritative textbook on environmental politics. This fully updated third edition includes the latest developments in theory and practice and provides students and scholars a comprehensive comparative introduction to environmental ideas, activism, politics and policy.' Arthur P. J. Mol, Rector Magnificus, Wageningen University and Research'I have used earlier editions of Carter's The Politics of the Environment to introduce students to environmental politics many times, and they have always appreciated its clarity, breadth and the concise way it helps them understand the often bewildering complexity of the subject. The new edition will serve students and teachers brilliantly with the same qualities, and do so incorporating many of the key dynamics that have occurred since the last edition.' Matthew Paterson, University of Manchester'Environmentalism in its many manifestations continues to evolve and expand its compass, and so too has this leading textbook. The third edition of The Politics of the Environment remains essential (and highly accessible) reading for anyone who wants to understand the changing ideas, movements, politics and policies associated with the civilizational challenge of our time.' Robyn Eckersley, University of MelbourneTable of ContentsList of figures; List of tables; List of boxes; Preface to third edition; Glossary; Abbreviations; 1. Introduction; Part I. Theory: Thinking About the Environment: 2. Environmental philosophy; 3. Green political thought; Part II. Parties and Movements: Getting From Here to There: 4. Green parties; 5. Party politics and the environment; 6. Environmental groups; Part III. Environmental Policy: Achieving a Sustainable Society: 7. The environment as a policy problem; 8. Sustainable development, ecological modernisation and green growth; 9. Global environmental politics; 10. Globalisation, trade and the environment; 11. Greening government; 12. Policy instruments and implementation; Conclusion; References; Index.

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Book SynopsisAfter the Second World War, Turkey and Egypt were among the most dynamic actors in the Middle East. Their 1950s foreign policies presented a puzzle, however: Turkey''s Democrat Party pursued NATO membership and sponsored the pro-Western Baghdad Pact regionally, while Egypt''s Free Officers promoted neutralism and pan-Arab alliances. This book asks why: what explains this divergence in a shared historical space? Rethinking foreign policy as an important site for the realisation of nationalist commitments, Abou-El-Fadl finds the answer in the contrasting nation making projects pursued by the two leaderships, each politicised differently through experiences of war, imperialism and underdevelopment. Drawing on untapped Turkish and Arabic sources, and critically engaging with theories of postcolonial nationalism, she emphasises local actors'' agency in striving to secure national belonging, sovereignty and progress in the international field. Her analysis sheds light on the contemporary legTrade Review'Reem Abou-El-Fadl's fine comparative study of Egyptian and Turkish foreign policy in the early Cold War throws penetrating new light on how foreign policy can serve national development strategies in LDCs [Least Developed Countries]. Using an innovative theoretical framework that links theories of IR [International Relations] and nationalism, it also breaks new theoretical ground that can be usefully applied to other cases.' Raymond Hinnebusch, University of St. Andrews'This historically grounded, empirically rich and thoroughly comparative analysis of the interplay between foreign policy-making and national self-fashioning in Egypt and Turkey during the 1950s offers a challenging new perspective that scholars of international relations and comparative politics would do well to engage with.' Zachary Lockman, New York University'In this empirically rich and theoretically sophisticated study, Reem Abou-El-Fadl shows that the diametrically opposed positions Egypt and Turkey assumed vis-à-vis the west in the 1950s derived directly from their respective projects of nation making. El-Fadl's book is an essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the link between domestic and international politics in Global South, both in the twentieth and in the twenty-first century.' Resat Kasaba, University of WashingtonTable of ContentsList of figures; Acknowledgements; Introduction; 1. Empire and nationalism in Turkey and Egypt: 1839–1950; 2. The Democrats in opposition: imagining a 'Little America'; 3. The Free Officers in opposition: imagining revolution; 4. Turkey's accession to NATO, 1950–52: members of the 'free world'; 5. Neutralism and pan-Arabism in Egypt, 1952–54: securing sovereignty; 6. Turkey and the Baghdad Pact, 1955: 'freeing' the Middle East; 7. Egypt from the Baghdad Pact to Czech Arms, 1955: shielding sovereignty; 8. Turkey and the Syrian crisis, 1957: linking spheres; 9. Egypt from Suez to Syrian Union, 1956–58: sovereign action; Comparative conclusions; Bibliography; Index.

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Book SynopsisSovereignty is a foundational idea upon which regional organisation of nations is built, yet its demise has often been predicted. Regionalism, which commits states to common frameworks such as rules and norms, tests sovereignty as states relinquish some sovereign power to achieve other goals such as security, growth, or liberalisation. This book examines the practice of normative contestation over sovereignty in two regional organisations of Africa and Asia the AU and ASEAN. A structured comparison of three case studies from each organisation determines whether a norm challenging sovereignty was accepted, rejected, or qualified. Ng has carried out interviews about, and detailed analysis of, these six cases that occurred at formative moments of norm-setting and that each had very different outcomes. This study contributes to the understanding of norms contestation in the field of international relations and offers new insights on how the AU and ASEAN are constituted.Trade Review'This timely, meticulously-researched, persuasively-argued, and provocatively-theorized book navigates the complex world of norm contestation in the African Union (AU) and the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN). Ng insightfully theorized that three factors of diplomatic practice drive norm contestation between relatively equal actors in international organizations. This pioneering book will be a great read for scholars and practitioners of international relations, diplomacy, international organizations, African and Asian Studies.' Thomas Kwasi Tieku, Associate Professor, King's University College, Western UniversityTable of ContentsPart I. Normative Contestation in Regional Organisations; 1. Introduction; 2. Theoretical Framework; Part II. The African Union; 3. The 'United States of Africa' Proposal; 4. The Conference on Security, Stability, Development, and Cooperation in Africa; 5. The Pan-African Parliament; Part III: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations; Part III. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations; 6. Human Rights 'Protection' in the ASEAN Charter; 7. The ASEAN Human Rights Mechanism; 8. Extending the 'ASEAN Minus X' Formula; Part IV. Comparative Findings; 9. Assessing the Model; 10. Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisStanding out from all other books on direct democracy, Citizenship and Contemporary Direct Democracy connects the study of direct democracy to the broader field of comparative democratization and to an important strand in normative democratic theory. Analyzing the relationship between direct democracy and representative government, this book is organized around three main sections: the origins of contemporary direct democracy, its functioning, and the ways to improve the use of direct democracy and its abuse. David Altman argues that citizen-initiated mechanisms of direct democracy constitute an important and viable way to re-invigorate current representative regimes by strengthening democracies'' normative foundations - freedom and equity among citizens - which are particularly fragile in the context of unequal societies. Citizenship and Contemporary Direct Democracy demonstrates how citizen-initiated mechanisms of direct democracy empowers citizens, channels social demands, defuses vTrade Review'Citizenship and Contemporary Direct Democracy offers a comprehensive and rigorous analysis of the origins and effects of popular initiatives, referenda, and other forms of direct democracy. Altman makes a compelling case, and shows that the impact of popular initiatives extends well beyond the often attention-grabbing election outcomes. Those of us who care about the fate of liberal democracy should pay close attention.' Steven Levitsky, Harvard University, Massachusetts'Deftly combining historical case studies and broad cross-national statistical overviews, author David Altman challenges misperceptions about direct democracy and shows that it can augment representative democracy by cultivating consensus-building and increasing citizen engagement. Citizenship and Contemporary Direct Democracy combines depth and breadth to tackle an important issue of our time and should be read by anyone interested in improving the quality of democracy around the world today.' Pamela Paxton, Linda K. George and John Wilson Professor of Sociology, University of Texas, Austin'David Altman's new book on direct democracy blends theoretical insights with descriptive facility, presenting a thorough analysis of the remedial properties and potentials of direct democratic institutions within the institutional framework of representative democracy. I cannot think of another scholar as well qualified as David Altman to write a book of this kind, and I cannot recommend it highly enough.' Adrian Vatter, Chair of Swiss Politics, Institute of Political Science, University of Bern'This precisely theorized, empirically sophisticated, and normatively attentive book is required reading for anyone interested in how and whether mechanisms of direct democracy might deepen democracy within representative political systems. Timely and important for an era in which mechanisms of direct democracy are an increasingly popular response to disillusionment with representative democracy.' Mark E. Warren, Merilees Chair for the Study of Democracy, University of British Columbia'Altman's book is a tour de force: it is a study that combines statistical prowess with exceptional scholarship and an extraordinary knowledge of the literature in Spanish, German, Italian, and English. In addition to its impressive statistical analyses, the book cites interesting and often surprising research findings … does a superb job in empirically debunking many common myths about referendums … this is an impressive study.' Matt Qvortrup, Perspectives on Politics'… Citizenship and Contemporary Direct Democracy 'is not just a book about direct democracy; it is a book about democracy, its functioning, its institutions and its innovations'.' Luca Mencacci, DemocratizationTable of Contents1. Democratic innovations for representative governments; Part I. Origins: 2. Breaking through: the rebirth of direct democracy in the age of the national-state; 3. Catching on: waves of adoption of citizen-initiated mechanisms of direct democracy since World War I; Part II. Nature: 4. Status quo bias? Political change through direct democracy; 5. Left or right? Investigating potential ideological biases in contemporary direct democracy; Part III. Reform: 6. Why adopt direct democracy? Much more than a simple vote; 7. How can direct democracy be improved? Citizens' commissions and citizens' counterproposals; 8. Conclusions: a new democratic equilibrium; Appendices; References; Index.

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Book SynopsisGrowing public discontent with the performance and quality of many contemporary democracies makes them vulnerable to popular pressures to profoundly transform or replace their constitutions. However, there is little systematic academic discussion on the legal and political challenges that these events pose to democratic principles and practices. This book, a collaborative effort by legal scholars and political scientists, analyzes these challenges from an interdisciplinary and comparative perspective. It fills a theoretical vacuum by examining the possibility that constitutions might be replaced within a democratic regime, while exploring the conditions under which these processes are more compatible or less compatible with democratic principles. It also calls attention to the real-world political importance of the phenomenon, because recent episodes of constitutional redrafting in countries including Kenya, Poland, Venezuela and Hungary suggest that some aspects of these processes may be associated with either the improvement or the gradual erosion of democracy.Trade Review'This book is an excellent collection on the processes of constitutional creation in democratic regimes. Combining detailed empirical studies with theoretical approaches to challenging texts, this valuable work will undoubtedly enrich the field of comparative constitutionalism. A must-read for legal and political theorists interested in the topic.' Roberto Gargarella, Universidad Torcuato Di Tella, School of Law'Gabriel Negretto and his distinguished collaborators have produced a collection of incisive theoretical essays and carefully selected case studies. The result is a truly impressive volume on the conditions in which democratic outcomes emerge from constitutional processes.' Donald L. Horowitz, Duke University, and author of Constitutional Change and Democracy in Indonesia'By combining thoughtful theoretical discussion with comprehensive comparative investigation, this outstanding collection of essays offers an exceptional perspective on some of the most intriguing and timely questions in the growing field of comparative constitution making today: when, how, and why democratic constitutions are replaced, and what the consequences might be of such constitutional replacement for the stability and functioning of democracy. The book is essential reading for students and scholars in political science and comparative law, as well as for practitioners in fields of democracy and rule-of-law promotion.' Hanna Lerner, School of Political Science, Government, and International Affairs, Tel Aviv University'Constitutions are often written as though they are perpetual, but they seldom prove to be. Indeed, calls for constitutional replacement appear to be increasingly common - and not just when an old political order collapses but even within ongoing democratic regimes. How do democracies renew their constitutions and what are the effects on liberal democracy going forward? Gabriel Negretto, Latin America's foremost expert on constitutional design and reform, has assembled a team of legal and political experts and delivers a framework for understanding how democratic charters can adapt and thrive, as well as how constitutional change can foster democratic erosion.' John M. Carey, Wentworth Professor in the Social Sciences, Dartmouth College'… this book will be an important reference in relevant fields for years to come. It is a must-read for anyone interested in constitutional redrafting and general institutional reform.- not only scholars and post-graduate students, but also policy makers, advisors, and anyone with a need for a good compendium of theoretical and comparative reflections in the topic. The contributions in Negretto's excellently edited volume couldn't be timelier: this is a terrific book to have on hand to read during these times of change.' Raul A. Sanchez-Urribarri, Law and Politics Book ReviewTable of Contents1. Introduction: new constitutions in democratic regimes Gabriel L. Negretto; Part I. Conceptual, Normative, and Empirical Issues: 2. Constitution making through law Joel Colón-Ríos; 3. Expanding revision clauses in democratic constitutions William Partlett; 4. Courts and constitution making in democratic regimes: a contextual approach David Landau; 5. Replacing constitutions in democratic regimes: elite cooperation and citizen participation Gabriel L. Negretto; Part II. Case Studies: 6. The difference power diffusion makes: explaining divergent outcomes in Colombia (1990–1991) and Venezuela (1998–1999) Ana María Bejarano and Renata Segura; 7. Procedural rules and majoritarian politics in Poland (1993–1997) and Hungary (2010–2011) Gabriel L. Negretto and Solongo Wandan; 8. Thailand's democratic moment: the 1997 constitution Tom Ginsburg; 9. Political elites and the people: Kenya's decade-long constitution-making process Christina Murray; 10. The anatomy of constitution making: from Denmark in 1849 to Iceland in 2017 Thorvaldur Gylfason.

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Book SynopsisLatin American states took dramatic steps toward greater inclusion during the late twentieth and early twenty-first Centuries. Bringing together an accomplished group of scholars, this volume examines this shift by introducing three dimensions of inclusion: official recognition of historically excluded groups, access to policymaking, and resource redistribution. Tracing the movement along these dimensions since the 1990s, the editors argue that the endurance of democratic politics, combined with longstanding social inequalities, create the impetus for inclusionary reforms. Diverse chapters explore how factors such as the role of partisanship and electoral clientelism, constitutional design, state capacity, social protest, populism, commodity rents, international diffusion, and historical legacies encouraged or inhibited inclusionary reform during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Featuring original empirical evidence and a strong theoretical framework, the book considers cross-national variation, delves into the surprising paradoxes of inclusion, and identifies the obstacles hindering further fundamental change.Trade Review'This remarkable volume on Latin America's recent inclusionary turn brings together a set of terrifically talented and innovative scholars trained by David Collier and Ruth Berins Collier at UC Berkeley over the past several decades. The wide-ranging nature of the chapters is fitting because the breadth of this inclusionary turn, which included informal venders, evangelicals, and indigenous groups, is one of its most distinctive features relative to the earlier incorporation of labor unions. By showcasing the kind of insightful work the Colliers pioneered along with the kind of substantively important questions they trained their students to ask and answer, the volume serves as a superb tribute to their lasting impact on the field.' Kent Eaton, Professor and Chair of Politics, UC Santa Cruz'Building upon the extraordinary legacy of Ruth Berins Collier and David Collier, this volume constitutes a tour de force through Latin America's inclusionary policies of the early 21st century. It is a must read for anyone interested in contemporary Latin America, particularly as we move into the political uncertainties of the 2020s.' Tulia G. Falleti, Class of 1965 Endowed Term Professor of Political Science, University of Pennsylvania'In the last 30 years, democratization in Latin America has opened opportunities for the mobilization of a broad array of popular sector groups seeking an end to the region's historic legacy of social and economic exclusion. This excellent volume provides a comprehensive analysis of this 'inclusionary turn,' and of the political contradictions that have limited its social impact. With contributions from leading scholars in the field, it offers an essential overview of the changing politics of the 21st century.' Robert R. Kaufman, Professor of Political Science, RutgersTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Inequality, Democracy, and the Inclusionary Turn in Latin America Diana Kapiszewski, Steven R. Levitsky and Deborah J. Yashar; Part I. Extending Social Policy and Participation: 2. Including Outsiders in Latin America Candelaria Garay; 3. Diffusion Dynamics: Shaping Social Policy in Latin America's Inclusionary Turn Wendy Hunter; 4. Inclusion without Power? Limits of Participatory Institutions Benjamin Goldfrank; 5. Brazil's Participatory Infrastructure: Opportunities and Limitations for Inclusion Lindsay Mayka and Jessica Rich; Part II. Inclusion and Partisan Representation: 6. Changing Patterns of Ideology and Partisanship in Latin America Grigore Pop-Eleches; 7. Brokering Inclusion: Intermediaries, Clientelism, and Constraints on Latin America's Left Turn Thad Dunning and Lucas M. Novaes; 8. States of Discontent: State Crises, Party System Change, and Inclusion in South America Samuel Handlin; Part III. New Party-Society Linkages: 9. The Politics of Popular Coalitions: Unions and Territorial Social Movements in Post-Neoliberal Latin America (2000-2015) Sebastián Etchemendy; 10. After Corporatism: Party Linkages with Popular-Sector Organizations in Neoliberal Latin America Brian Palmer-Rubin; 11. Expanding the Public Square: Evangelicals and Electoral Politics in Latin America Taylor C. Boas; Part IV. Inclusion, Populism, and Democracy: 12. Pathways to Inclusion in Latin America Maxwell A. Cameron; 13. Inclusionary Turn, Rentier Populism, and Emerging Legacies: the Propagation Effects of the Commodity Boom Sebastián Mazzuca; 14. Strong Citizens, Strong Presidents: The Constitutional Architecture of the Inclusionary Turn in Latin America Zachary Elkins; 15. Shaping the People: Populism and the Politics of Identity Formation in South America Jason Seawright and Rodrigo Barrenechea; Conclusion: 16. The Inclusionary Turn and its Political Limitations Kenneth M. Roberts.

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Book SynopsisThe governments of China and the United States - despite profound differences in history, culture, economic structure, and political ideology - both engage the private sector in the pursuit of public value. This book employs the term collaborative governance to describe relationships where neither the public nor private party is fully in control, arguing that such shared discretion is needed to deliver value to citizens. This concept is exemplified across a wide range of policy arenas, such as constructing high speed rail, hosting the Olympics, building human capital, and managing the healthcare system. This book will help decision-makers apply the principles of collaborative governance to effectively serve the public, and will enable China and the United States to learn from each other''s experiences. It will empower public decision-makers to more wisely engage the private sector. The book''s overarching conclusion is that transparency is the key to the legitimate growth of collaborative governance.Trade Review'It has become increasingly clear over the last few years that in tackling a country’s problems, what matters most is the quality of government rather than the quantity. This book provides a key to understanding how to achieve that quality-public-private collaboration, done right. Delving deep into two very different societies, the US and China, the authors provide lessons that illuminate and should inform scholars and policymakers alike.' Fareed Zakaria'This important book addresses how the two most important countries, the U.S. and China, address what may be their most important question: How can their public and private sectors cooperate most effectively with each other to create value. This is the rare book that is both analytic and a pleasure to read. It makes a lasting impression. It deserves a very wide readership among all those concerned about the future of the global economy.' Lawrence H Summers, President Emeritus, Harvard University'Eggleston, Donahue, and Zeckhauser offer an authoritative and intriguing account of why and how collaborative governance, a key modern instrument that engages public and private actors for comparative advantages in coping with complex public affairs, has been widely and deeply practiced in two vastly different countries, China and the US. An essential reading with profound academic inspirations and rich empirical inquiries.' Yijia Jing, Fudan University'In an age obsessed with the governance differences between China and America, this rich volume reveals the common challenges and choices they confront. U.S. and Chinese leaders are driven to 'collaborative governance' strategies to meet growing demands for public services – housing, health care, transportation, and education. Both systems seek an optimal mix of public and private sector discretion that generates more productivity, information, resources, and legitimacy. Rigorously comparative, the authors suggest the conditions under which various mixes of public-private discretion are preferable, emphasizing the critical roles of transparency and experimentation. This volume will have a long shelf life.' David M Lampton, Johns Hopkins University'The authors provide a refreshing lens to compare governance and the provision of public goods in the U.S. and China. Despite differences in political structures, economic organization and ideologies, privately delivered services account for around 30 percent of all government service spending. Surprisingly similar, yet profoundly different in ways, both countries rely heavily on the private sector to pursue public goals. This book provides the reader with a refreshing way of comparing government’s role and performance in delivering public goods and offers a clear, concise framework for thinking about collaborative governance.' Tony Saich, Harvard Kennedy SchoolTable of ContentsPart I. The Framework: 1. Private Roles for Public Goals in China and the United States; 2. Concepts and Context; Part II. Policy Realms: 3. Building the Railroads that Build the Nation; 4. Real Estate's Intricate Tangle of Public and Private; 5. A Game Like No Other: Delivering the Olympics; 6. The Truest Wealth of Nations: Creating Human Capital; 7. Show Me Where It Hurts: State and Market in Health Care; Part III. The Path Forward: 8. The Transparency Imperative; Index.

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Book SynopsisQualitative comparative methods and specifically controlled qualitative comparisons are central to the study of politics. They are not the only kind of comparison, though, that can help us better understand political processes and outcomes. Yet there are few guides for how to conduct non-controlled comparative research. This volume brings together chapters from more than a dozen leading methods scholars from across the discipline of political science, including positivist and interpretivist scholars, qualitative methodologists, mixed-methods researchers, ethnographers, historians, and statisticians. Their work revolutionizes qualitative research design by diversifying the repertoire of comparative methods available to students of politics, offering readers clear suggestions for what kinds of comparisons might be possible, why they are useful, and how to execute them. By systematically thinking through how we engage in qualitative comparisons and the kinds of insights those comparisonTrade Review'What a refreshing read this volume is. At a time when dominant ways of doing things are suddenly in question, this is a sophisticated wake-up call to the field of political science to study the world differently. The many rich contributions and Simmons' and Smith's masterful elucidation of them remind us that our purpose is to understand the world, not perpetuate the ways in which it is understood. Bravo to the editors and contributors for opening our eyes.' Katherine Cramer, University of Wisconsin-Madison'The world gives us almost as many ways to compare and reasons to compare as places to compare. Rethinking Comparison embraces and even expands the existing pluralism of comparative approaches in political science. Erica Simmons and Nicholas Rush Smith assemble a brilliant and eclectic cast of characters to think anew about all the things we can do – including some things we should consider doing very differently – when we compare.' Dan Slater, University of Michigan'This path-breaking volume shows scholars how to think and work 'outside the box' of Mill's logic of controlled comparison of nation-states, regions and organizations toward generative comparison of political processes, practices, meanings, and concepts. In chapter after chapter, the authors develop new conceptions of comparison that yield fundamental insights – new questions, concepts, categories, ways of viewing the world – not available under narrow conceptions of the comparative method.' Elisabeth Jean Wood, Yale UniversityTable of Contents1. Rethinking comparison: an introduction Erica S. Simmons and Nicholas Rush Smith; Part I. Rethinking the Building Blocks of Comparison: 2. Beyond mill: why cross-case qualitative causal inference is weak, and why we should still compare Jason Seawright; 3. Two ways to compare Frederic Charles Schaffer; 4. Unbound comparison Nick Cheesman; 5. On casing a study versus studying a case Joe Soss; 6. From cases to sites: studying global processes in comparative politics Thea Riofrancos; Part II. Developing New Approaches to Comparison Through Research: 7. Comparing complex cases using archival research Jonathan Obert; 8. Composing comparisons: studying configurations of relations in social network research Sarah E. Parkinson; 9. Against methodological nationalism: seeing comparisons as encompassing through the Arab uprisings Jillian Schwedler; 10. Comparative analysis for theory development Mala Htun and Francesca R. Jensenius; 11. Problems and possibilities of comparison across regime types: examples involving China Benjamin L. Read; 12. Comparisons with an ethnographic sensibility: studies of protest and vigilantism Erica S. Simmons and Nicholas Rush Smith; Epilogue: 13. Theory and imagination in comparative politics: an interview with Lisa Wedeen Erica S. Simmons and Nicholas Rush Smith with Lisa Wedeen.

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Book SynopsisThis Element proposes that nationalism can be broken down productively into parts based on three key questions: 1. Does a nation exist? 2. How do national narratives vary? 3. When do national narratives matter?Table of Contents1. Why another nationalism book?; 2. What we already know about nationalism; 3. Does a nation exist? Elite and popular fragmentation; 4. How do national narratives vary? Ascriptiveness and thickness; 5. When do national narratives matter? Salience of national identities; 6. Nationalism across social science disciplines; 7. Conclusion; References.

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Book SynopsisBrancati explores the causes and consequences of democracy protests between 1989 and 2011. She highlights the role of economic crises in triggering protests, and analyses government and opposition responses to these protests. The book will interest students and researchers of politics, international relations, development, conflict and peace studies, and economics.Trade Review'Studies of democratization are finally turning back to the effect of economic and social forces in generating protest and displacing authoritarian regimes. Dawn Brancati's excellent book brings compelling new data to bear, explaining when democracy protests arise, succeed - and also fail. Beyond its immediate contribution, the book helps set a new and fresh agenda for the study of regime change.' Stephan Haggard, Krause Distinguished Professor, University of California, San Diego'Dawn Brancati's monograph appears at a time when elite theories of democracy have come into fashion again. Democracy Protests fundamentally challenges such theories, and does so very persuasively using a massive amount of thoroughly researched evidence … The findings question prominent approaches that consider democratization a top-down process in which the mass-factor plays a negligible role.' Christian Welzel, Chair in Political Culture Research, Leuphana University, Germany'Are protests a force for democratizing change? Brancati advances our understanding of this important topic by bringing together new empirical findings that convincingly show how the magnitude of economic crises condition the relationship between protest and democracy. Citizen unrest is likely to follow any form of economic crises, but this book helps us understand when and why such unrest will lead to significant political change.' Susan D. Hyde, Yale University, Connecticut'Brancati assembles a database of the 310 'democracy protests' that occurred from 1989 to 2011, combines this with other information about the nations of the world to perform a number of quantitative analyses, and comes up with some interesting findings: that such protests are often effective, particularly if they are large; that such protests are not actually made more likely by the prevalence of Twitter and Facebook; and that economic inequality makes it more likely, not less, for protests to succeed. … her conclusions are convincing, and will be useful to all students of democratization.' J. C. Berg, CHOICETable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Characteristics of democracy protests; 3. Relating economic crises to democracy; 4. Analyzing the rise of democracy protests; 5. Analyzing elections as trigger events; 6. Historical trends in government responses; 7. Analyzing political accommodation; 8. Historical trends in democratization; 9. Analyzing democratization; 10. Conclusion; Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisThe Political Logic of Poverty Relief places electoral politics and institutional design at the core of poverty alleviation. The authors develop a theory with applications to Mexico about how elections shape social programs aimed at aiding the poor. They also assess whether voters reward politicians for targeted poverty alleviation programs.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Part I: 1. Poverty relief in Latin America; 2. Poverty relief in Mexico - a geographic approach; 3. Political machines and vote buying; 4. Clientelism and the political manipulation of Pronasol; Part II: The consequences of clientelism and entitlements; 5. Improving communities - transfers and basic public services; 6. Saving lives - social programs and infant mortality rates; 7. Electoral pay-offs of antipoverty programs; Conclusion - the future of social protection.

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Book SynopsisHow does the selection of judges influence the work they do in important constitutional courts? Does mixed judicial selection, which allows more players to choose judges, result in a court that is more independent and one that can check powerful executives and legislators? Existing literature on constitutional courts tends to focus on how judicial behaviour is motivated by judges'' political preferences. Lydia Brashear Tiede argues for a new approach, showing that, under mixed selection, institutions choose different types of judges who represent different approaches to constitutional adjudication and thus have different propensities for striking down laws. Using empirical evidence from the constitutional courts of Chile and Colombia, this book develops a framework for understanding the factors, external and internal to courts, which lead individual judges, as well as the courts in which they work, to veto a law.Table of Contents1. Introduction; 2. The implications of mixed judicial selection on decision-making; 3. Mixed judicial selection: prevalence and variation; 4. The Chilean Constitutional Tribunal in political context; 5. The Colombian Constitutional Court in political context; 6. Determinants of legal invalidation by constitutional judges; 7. Determinants of legal invalidation by constitutional courts; 8. Weak judicial vetoes and contentious politics; 9. Conclusion: Judicial selection and decision-making.

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Book SynopsisBased on a detailed examination of minority language policy in different jurisdictions in Western Europe, this book offers policy recommendations on how to integrate new speakers into established minority language communities. It is essential reading for students and researchers in sociolinguistics, public policy and language policy and planning.Table of Contents1. The emergence of the new speaker phenomenon; 2. Popinjays, pragmatism and policy: a new speaker triptych; 3. Wales: normalised expectations; 4. Scotland: cautious consideration; 5. Ireland: tempered acceptance; 6. The Basque autonomous community and Navarre: enthusiastic endorsement; 7. Catalonia and Galicia: unalloyed support?; 8. The policy community and recommendations on new speakers; 9. Conclusion: contemporary challenges; Appendices.

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Electoral autocracies regimes that adopt democratic institutions but subvert them to rule as dictatorships have become the most widespread, resilient and malignant non-democracies today. They have consistently ruled over a third of the countries in the world, including geopolitically significant states like Russia, Turkey, Venezuela, Egypt, Indonesia, Nigeria and Pakistan. Challenging conventional wisdom, Popular Dictators shows that the success of electoral authoritarianism is not due to these regimes'' superior capacity to repress, bribe, brainwash and manipulate their societies into submission, but is actually a product of their genuine popular appeal in countries experiencing deep political, economic and security crises. Promising efficient, strong-armed rule tempered by popular accountability, elected strongmen attract mass support in societies traumatized by turmoil, dysfunction and injustice, allowing them to rule through the ballot box. Popular Dictators argues that this cris

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Book SynopsisAn in-depth and over-time analysis of public opinion about party competence on issues in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Germany, revealing how issue ownership, government performance and generalised competence shape public opinion and how their causes and consequences should shape our understanding of parties, voting and elections.Trade Review'The Politics of Competence provides a compelling analysis of party competence – its causes, electoral consequences and political significance. This landmark study draws together disparate theories, assembles a prodigious amount of data and uses advanced statistical techniques to provide a fascinating account of the shifting relationship between parties and their electorates. Sophisticated, yet also accessible to the general reader, this book instantly becomes the gold standard in studies of party competence.' John Bartle, University of Essex'Central to theories of how voters evaluate parties are ideas that one party is better able than another to handle a given issue. But how do voters develop these evaluations? And what is the role of actual performance of a party in government? In this theoretically ambitious, empirically rich and truly comparative book, Green and Jennings break new ground. They show that parties regularly gain and lose 'ownership' on particular issues, that partisanship strongly affects perceptions of performance, that governments inexorably lose support and reputations for competence, and that they develop a new theoretical perspective towards how voters evaluate parties. Rich with data, comparative in approach and equally theoretical as empirical, this book sets a new standard in the fields of issue ownership on a par with previous works by Donald Stokes, John Petrocik and William Riker.' Frank R. Baumgartner, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill and co-author of The Politics of Information (2015)Table of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Conceptual problems, and solutions; 3. Three concepts of issue competence; 4. Explaining issue ownership change; 5. Performance of governments, and oppositions; 6. Generic competence and costs of governing; 7. Combined effects of ownership, performance and generic competence; 8. Conclusion; Appendices; Bibliography.

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Book SynopsisDemonstrates how post-conflict elites interact with international peacebuilding interventions to construct hybrid political orders over time. This title is also available as Open Access.Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Rethinking the peacebuilding puzzle; 2. Political order in post-conflict states: a theoretical framework; 3. From violent conflict to elite settlement; 4. International intervention and elite incentives; 5. Neopatrimonial post-conflict order; Conclusion.

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Book SynopsisCitizens around the world look to the state for social welfare provision, but often struggle to access essential services in health, education, and social security. This book investigates the everyday practices through which citizens of the world''s largest democracy make claims on the state, asking whether, how, and why they engage public officials in the pursuit of social welfare. Drawing on extensive fieldwork in rural India, Kruks-Wisner demonstrates that claim-making is possible in settings (poor and remote) and among people (the lower classes and castes) where much democratic theory would be unlikely to predict it. Examining the conditions that foster and inhibit citizen action, she finds that greater social and spatial exposure - made possible when individuals traverse boundaries of caste, neighborhood, or village - builds citizens'' political knowledge, expectations, and linkages to the state, and is associated with higher levels and broader repertoires of claim-making.Trade Review'Studies in political science are often written as if citizens interact with the state only during elections. Yet, as Gabrielle Kruks-Wisner shows in her remarkable book, many of the most important interactions that people in rural Rajasthan have with state actors - about access to water, electricity, healthcare, food, shelter, and other forms of social protection - are almost daily activities. This makes it crucial to understand the conditions under which citizens do (or don't) make claims for these services. Claiming the State provides compelling answers, and in so doing, provides new and important insights into how citizens in poor countries interact with their governments.' Daniel N. Posner, James Coleman Professor of International Development, University of California, Los Angeles'Kruks-Wisner rightly notes scholars of political participation have remained preoccupied with exceptional or episodic moments: mass mobilizations, armed struggles, voting, and campaign rallies. In doing so, they have neglected the quotidian forms of participation that define the political lives of most citizens across the global south. Her book rightly shifts attention to everyday claim-making, and asks important questions: who makes claims, when, and how? Using meticulously collected data from north India she finds surprising answers: claim-making is not the exclusive purview of men, urbanites, the wealthy, or the socially privileged. It can occur in even the most unlikely pockets, especially when citizens develop social and economic networks extending beyond their locality or social group. Claiming the State should have a sizeable impact in reorienting studies of political participation towards life between elections, and in how we think of the practice of citizenship in contemporary India.' Tariq Thachil, Vanderbilt University, TennesseeTable of ContentsPart I. Introduction and Theory: 1. Introduction: citizenship and social welfare; 2. A theory of active citizenship; Part II. Citizenship Practice In Rajasthan: 3. The institutional terrain of the state; 4. Seeking the state: claim-making patterns and puzzles; 5. Encountering the state: citizens' social and spatial exposure; 6. Claiming the state: exposure as a catalyst for citizen action; Part III. Consequences and Extensions: 7. The consequences of claim-making; 8. Conclusion: active citizenship in Rajasthan and beyond; Appendices; References; Index.

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestelling author T. R. Reid travels around the world to solve the urgent problem of America's failing tax code, unravelling a complex topic in plain English - and telling a rollicking story along the way. The U.S. tax code is a total write-off. Crammed with loopholes and special interest provisions, it works for no one except tax lawyers, accountants, and huge corporations. Not for the first time, we have reached a breaking point. That happened in 1922, and again in 1954, and again in 1986. In other words, every thirty-two years. Which means that the next complete overhaul is due in 2018. But what should be in this new tax code? Can we make the U.S. tax system simpler, fairer, and more efficient? Yes, yes, and yes. Can we cut tax rates and still bring in more revenue? Yes.   Other rich countries, from Estonia to New Zealand to the UK—advanced, high-tech, free-market democracies—have all devised tax regimes that a

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Book SynopsisBefore making significant policy decisions, political actors and parties must first craft an agenda designed to place certain issues at the center of political attention. This book includes essays that make clear the efficacy of the agenda-setting approach for understanding not only how policies evolve, but also how political systems function.Trade Review"Green-Pedersen and Walgrave have admirably assembled a group of contributors who, individually and collectively, bring the tools of policy agenda analysis to bear on the central political features of each of the countries examined. Along the way, the findings demolish prevailing expectations about national politics in thought-provoking ways. Clear and remarkable for its depth of analysis, this is one of the best collections of essays I have ever read." (David Lowery, Pennsylvania State University)"

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Book SynopsisNew York Times Book Review Editor's Choice Pick 'Entertaining, enlightening and disturbing.' - Ira GlassThe immersive, captivating untold story of the mass radicalization of the Republican Party in the aftermath of January 6, 2021, entrenching the political power of a radical right-wing movement dedicated to dismantling democracy itself.   Inspired by Donald Trump’s election lies, a growing movement of grassroots activists mobilized around the country to pick up where the insurrection left off, laying the groundwork to succeed next time where Trump had failed to keep himself in power. But their own success in taking over and purging the Republican Party became their undoing as it drove away moderates and supplied the Democrats with a winning message in the 2022 midterms. Still, the MAGA Republicans proved uninterested in learning from that defeat, only becoming more extreme, divisive, and dead set on returning Trum

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Book SynopsisExamines Russian politics at the subnational level in order to discover why democracy failed to take root and how Putin's authoritarian regime materialized. By analysing successive federal elections, Reisinger and Moraski show that regions that led the way in delivering votes in Putin's favour were those that had been both more independent and more authoritarian during the Yeltsin era.Trade ReviewThe authors set for themselves an ambitious goal of tracing the evolution of the timing, institutions, and competitiveness of subnational elections, as well as of national-regional electoral links, political, and institutional change from the late Soviet period to the present. They achieve this goal admirably in this highly original and novel account."" - Tomila Lankina, London School of Economics ""I have no doubt that the book will fill a glaring gap in the academic book market."" - Grigorii V. Golosov, European University at St. Petersburg

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Book SynopsisChallenges the conventional beliefs that territorial autonomy demands are a reaction to centralized power and that governments resist autonomy to preserve central prerogatives. The centre has allegiances in regional politics, and ethnoterritorial violence reflects the center's entanglement with rival interests in the periphery.Trade ReviewRival Claims is an important contribution to the literature on territorial autonomy generally and Indian federalism more specifically. Bethany Lacina advances an important and so far largely neglected argument on when demands for autonomy occur and when they result in conflict."" - Simon Hug, Université de Genève""Lacina convincingly shows political changes previously attributed to center-periphery conflicts are actually best understood as a reaction to local politics in the periphery. This book is an invaluable reference for scholars of modern India. The depth of knowledge on display is prodigious."" - Jacob Shapiro, Princeton University

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Book SynopsisWith the removal of not only Saddam Hussein but also Jean-Betrand Aristide, as well as the ongoing civil war in against Charles Taylor in Liberia, much has changed in the world of dictators since the first publication of this work less than a year ago. With his colleagues in diplomacy and politics shying away from bold solutions to this ever-present problem, Ambassador Mark Palmer has once again set out to persuade everyone that the only way to achieve global peace is through the removal of dictators with democracy as their replacements. Drawing on his 25 years of extensive diplomatic experience, Ambassador Palmer asks us to embrace a bold vision of a world made safe by democracy. This is the story of the remaining dictators, the strategy and tactics to oust them, and the need to empower the people of every nation to control their own destinies. We know that these dictators are at the root of terrorism and war. Under their leadership and instruction, millions have gone to their deathTrade ReviewThis is a confident book, written by a confident man. * Times Higher Education *Table of ContentsChapter 1 The Real Axis of Evil Part 2 The Future with Dictators Part 3 A Democratic World Chapter 4 Ousting the Last Forty-Five Part 5 Power in the Modern World Part 6 Sanction Dictators, Not Peoples Chapter 7 Communities of Democracies and Democrats Part 8 The New Architecture of International Power Part 9 Freedom Caucuses Part 10 Global Security Alliance and Coalitions of the Willing Part 11 International Criminal Tribunals Part 12 International Parliamentary Cooperation Part 13 Monarchs for Democracy Part 14 The Nongovernmental Dimension Part 15 The Stakes Chapter 16 Opening Closed Societies Part 17 Presidential Leadership Part 18 Outsiders' Toolbox for Promoting Democracy in Dictatorships Chapter 19 Democracy Development Plans and Action Programs Part 20 Stages of Economic Growth Part 21 Who Will Conduct: The International Dictatorship-to-Democracy Center Part 22 Why Engage? Chapter 23 Embassies as Freedom Houses, Ambassadors as Freedom Fighters Part 24 Extraordinary Opportunity for Creativity Part 25 Dealing Directly with Dictators Part 26 Ambassadors in Action Chapter 27 The Use of Nonviolent Force Part 28 Two-Stage Campaigns to Oust Dictators Part 29 People Power: Two Battlegrounds Part 30 Appendix: The Methods of Nonviolent Action Chapter 31 The Forty-Five Least Wanted Part 32 Personalistic Dictatorships Part 33 Monarch Dictators Part 34 Military Dictators Part 35 Communist Dictators Part 36 Dominant-Party Dictators Part 37 Theocratic Dictator: Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran Chapter 38 Out by 2025 Part 39 Asia Part 40 The "Stans," the Middle East, and North Africa: The Heart Part 41 Sub-Saharan Africa Part 42 The Last Dictators in Europe and the Americas Part 43 Afterword Part 44 Epilogue and Action Agenda

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Book SynopsisThe book concludes with a hopeful view of the prospects for a fourth wave of global democratization.Trade Review[A] systematic account of the political realities that make democracy promotion so challenging. Diamond... marshals an impressive array of cross-cultural social-science evidence. -- Charles Lane Weekly Standard Offers a realistic description of the political discontents of our time and how these discontents are reduced... by the development of democratic practice. Washington TimesTable of ContentsList of Figures and TablesPreface and AcknowledgmentsChapter 1. Defining And Developing DemocracyChapter 2. Is The Third Wave Of Democratization Over? Chapter 3. Consolidating DemocracyChapter 4. Size and Democracy: The Case For Decentralization With Svetlana TsalikChapter 5. Political CultureChapter 6. Civil Society Chapter 7. A Fourth Wave?AppendixNotesIndex

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Book SynopsisAnd she explores the crucial roles played by such factors as sovereignty-honoring elements within the institutional structure of the federation, the circumstances of its formation (revolt against distant empire versus aftermath of war among member states), and notably, the internal culture of respect for the rule of law in the member states.Trade ReviewA very neat, thorough and interesting study for all scholars trying to understand the working of 'shared powers', may it be at the international, supranational or national level. -- Dietmar Braun Swiss Political Science Review A book of substantial interest and considerable scholarship. -- Peter Leslie International History Review A very impressive and thought-provoking book that contributes to the research stream represented by books on the impact of European Courts on European 'constitutional' politics. -- Donald W. Jackson Law and Politics Book Review Professor Goldstein does an admirable job bringing the European Union into comparative context. -- Erik Jones Acta Politica A well-focused application of comparative federalism. -- R. Daniel Kelemen Journal of Politics 2003 A very welcome addition to the literature on federal systems. -- Paolo Dardanelli Regional and Federal Studies An excellent example of the successful merger of the interests of comparative history, politics, and jurisprudence... The writing is clear, the argumentation is fair and precise, and the logic is lucid. The book makes a significant contribution to the field of comparative federalism and should be widely accepted a s a basic reference work for study in this field. -- Jim Seroka Publius 2002Table of ContentsContents: List of Tables Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1: The Member-State Resistance Paradox: American Union (1790-1860) versus European Community (1958-1994) Chapter 2: State Resistance in the United States and the European Community: Unraveling the Puzzle Chapter 3: The Seventeenth-Century Dutch Republic and the European Union Chapter 4: The First Half-Century of the Modern Swiss Federation Chapter 5: Conclusions: State Behavior in the Suprastate Unions Appendix A: State Resistance to Federal Authority in the United States Appendix B: European States' Resistance to European Community Authority Abbreviations of Public Documents Notes Cases Cited Works Cited Index

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Book SynopsisOnly the optimal combination of multiple strategies, implemented in the proper sequence, will ensure success.Trade ReviewA useful primer for the study of ethnic conflict, one whose prinicpal strength lies in its deft and succinct summarites of the main approaches to the study of ethnicity and conflict... His discussion of the distinctive features of ethnic civil wars shows a particular sensitivity to their uniqueness. -- Sumit Ganguly Perspectives on Political Science In a survey that is dense with insights but still a remarkably effortless read, Byman discusses five approaches to ethnic conflict. -- Sven Gunnar Simonsen Journal of Peace Research 2004Table of ContentsContents: 1 Ethnic Conflict in Today's World 2 Causes of Ethnic Conflict 3 Control Policies 4 Co-optation 5 Manipulating Ethnic Identities 6 Participatory Systems 7 The Promise and Perils of Partition 8 Military Intervention in Ethnic Conflict 9 Dilemmas and Choices Notes Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisGiven the rise of terrorism and the persistence of extremism in both established and new democracies today, continued research and dialogue on the defense of democracy are necessary for its preservation.Trade ReviewA well-crafted study that sheds additional light on how and why democracy was not altogether submerged in the troubled interwar period. History: Review of New Books 2005 Defending Democracy is likely to spark fruitful discussion. Perspectives on Politics 2005 Capoccia's exploration is both informative and provocative... would equally benefit students and scholars of democratic government, interwar Europe and the survival and breakdown of democratic regimes. Political Studies Review 2006 Elegant, comprehensive, and innovative book... Well worth a careful read. Democratization 2006 Giovanni Capoccia develops a rigorously tested argument about elite strategies of responding to extremism by focusing on interwar Europe. -- Daniel Ziblatt CP-APSA, the Newsletter of the Comparative Politics Organized Section of the American Political Science Association 2006Table of ContentsTables and FiguresAcknowledgmentsPart I: The Theoretical Framework1. Democratic Stability and Democratic Crisis2. The Challenges: Antisystem Parties3. The Defense: Strategies against ExtremismPart II: Case Studies4. Czechoslovakia5. Belgium6. FinlandPart III: Comparative Perspectives7. Defense of Democracy: Actors and Strategies in Comparative Perspective8. ConclusionAppendix A: Party Names and TranslationsAppendix B: Government Coalitions and Alignments in Presidential ElectionsAppendix C: Anti-extremist Legislation in Czechoslovakia, Finland, and BelgiumNotesBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThis timely study provides political scientists and political reformers with insights into points in the democratization process where appropriate intervention can minimize runaway state-building and cultivate efficient bureaucracy within a robust and competitive democratic system.Trade ReviewThe product of painstaking research - and a keen intellect. -- Ray Taras Russian Review 2007 Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through practitioners. Choice 2007 Interesting and instructive comparative political analysis. -- Donald Pienkos Polish Review 2007 O'Dwyer's book is an important contribution to the literature on post-communist development. -- Neil Robinson Europe-Asia Studies 2007 The uniqueness of the book lies in its theoretical sophistication substantiated by numerous empirical comparisons across the globe, which makes it a valuable contribution to the literature on comparative politics and political sociology. -- Sarbeswar Sahoo Political Studies Review 2008 It is fully justified to call O'Dwyer's book 'a vital contribution to the growing literature on the postcommunist state.' -- Aleksander Surdej European Political Science O'Dwyer's excellent book is surely strong enough to warrant a sequel. -- Karen Dawisha Perspectives on Politics 2007 Extremely thought provoking and well researched. -- Steven Saxonberg Slavic Review 2008Table of ContentsList of Figures and TablesPrefaceList of AcronymsIntroduction1. The Concept and Causes of Runaway State-Building2. Constraining Government Patronage: Different Logics of Party Competition3. The Runaway State-Building Phenomenon: Patronage Politics and Bureaucratic Rationalization4. Remaking the Regions: The Europeanization of the State or Domestic Politics as Usual?5. Local Control: Local Parties and Local State Administrations6. A Runaway Welfare State? Postcommunist Welfare Politics7. Exporting the Argument: Party Competition and State Effectiveness in Other New DemocraciesConclusionAppendixes1. Data on the Number of State Administrative Personnel2. Data on Salaries3. Interview Sample4. Data Used to Calculate Party System Fractionalization5. Countries Used in Cross-National ComparisonNotesReferencesIndex

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