Description
Book SynopsisThe latest edition of Politics offers a comprehensive and comparative approach to the essential components of democratic politics in today's states.
Table of ContentsList of Figures Introduction: The Dimensions of Politics and an Approach to its Study What Politics Is... A Comparative Approach Chapter 1: Co-operation, Coercion, and Consent-Opening Ideas Our Social Nature Authority and Leadership Civil Society Beyond the State Conclusion References Further Reading Chapter 2: The Many Ways of Studying Politics Politics as Philosophy Politics as Social Science Units of Analysis: Individual, Group, or Class? Politics as Anthropology Back to Bismarck: Politics and the Study of Politics References Further Reading Chapter 3: From The Republic to the Liberal Republic: History and Ideas Classical Antiquity Feudal Society (the Medieval Era) The Reformation The Enlightenment The Market Economy Synergy Political Revolution Liberal Government Philosophical Works References Further Reading Chapter 4: The Fall and Reluctant Rise of Democracy Democracy Defined Distrust of Democracy From Liberal Government to Liberal Democracy Assessing Representative Democracy Democracy's Prospects Consolidating Democracy References Further Reading Chapter 5: Roadmap to the Rest (A Comparative Framework) Who's In and Who's Out Functions, Institutions, Systems Functions, Institutions, Systems Functions, Institutions, Systems The Judiciary as a Branch of Government Bicameralism-Do Two Houses Make a Home? Degrees of Federalism Electoral and Party Systems Type of Government Recapping Appendix: Comparative Data Set Further Reading Chapter 6: Systems of Government: Parliamentary Options Components of Parliamentary Government Majority, Minority, or Coalition The Government-Formation Process The Conclusion of a Government and Its Implications A Closer Look at Coalition Government Cabinets: Size and Structure Executive Dominance References Further Reading Chapter 7: Systems of Government (2): Degrees of Presidentialism Madisonian Presidentialism Coalitional Presidentialism in Latin America Semi-Presidentialism An Exceptional Case: Switzerland Conclusion References Further Reading Chapter 8: Dividing the State: Federalism and Other Options Unitary, Federal, Confederal Components of Federalism Asymmetrical Federalism Bicameralism Amending Formula Non-federal Options References Further Reading Chapter 9: Who Wants What? The Political Process Social Cleavages Ideology: The Role of Ideas References Further Reading Chapter 10: Who Gets In? The Machinery of Democratic Elections What Is an Electoral System? Criteria for Evaluating Electoral Systems Electoral Systems Considered Electoral Administration References Further Readings Appendix: Electoral System Data Chapter 11: Who is Heard? Varieties of Representation Political Parties Party Systems Election Campaigns Organized Interests Corporatism Social Movements Conclusion References Further Readings Chapter 12: The Official Response: Public Policy and Administration Two Theories about Public Policy Who Does What: Examining the Policy Cycle Types of Policy The Bureaucracy References Further Reading Chapter 13: The Rule of Law in Practice: The Justice System The Nature of Law The Legislative Process Direct Democracy Private Law Administrative Law Court Systems Rights Judicial Review Automatic Justice? References Further Reading Chapter 14: Governing in an Age of Decline? Social and Economic Policy The Nature of Capitalist Market Society Classic Liberalism and Laissez-faire Models versus Reality The Reform of Market Capitalism The Welfare State The Age of Deficit and Debt Going Forward References Further Reading Appendix: Economic Statistics Glossary Index
