Stephen Walter Orvis & Carol Ann Drogus 
Introducing Comparative Politics [PDF ebook] 
The Essentials

Introducing Comparative Politics: The Essentials is focused on core concepts and the big picture questions in comparative politics—Who rules? What explains political behavior? Where and why? Stephen Orvis and Carol Ann Drogus demonstrate the strengths and weaknesses of commonly debated theories, structures, and beliefs and push students to apply their understanding.



While detailed case studies can go in-depth on specific countries and political systems, this book distills its country material into the narrative, increasing global awareness, current-event literacy, and critical-thinking skills. Adapted from the authors’ 
Introducing Comparative Politics, Fifth Edition,  
The Essentials version offers the same framework for understanding comparative politics in a briefer format, allowing you to teach the course the way you want to teach it. 

İçerik tablosu

World Map

Preface

About the Authors

PART I. A FRAMEWORK FOR UNDERSTANDING COMPARATIVE POLITICS

CHAPTER 1: Introduction

Comparative Politics: What Is It? Why Study It? How to Study It?

Three Key Questions in Comparative Politics

Key Concepts

Works Cited

Resources for Further Study

Web Resources

CHAPTER 2: The Modern State

Characteristics of the Modern State

Historical Origins of Modern States

Strong, Weak, and Failed States

Conclusion

Key Concepts

Works Cited

Resources for Further Study

Web Resources

CHAPTER 3: States, Citizens, and Regimes

Citizens and Civil Society

Regimes, Ideologies, and Citizens

Conclusion

Key Concepts

Works Cited

Resources for Further Study

Web Resources

CHAPTER 4: States and Identity

Understanding Identity

The Policy Debate

Nations, Nationalism, and Immigration

Ethnicity

Race

Social Class

Religion: Recognition, Autonomy, and the Secular State

Gender and Sexual Orientation: The Continuing Struggle for Recognition, Social Status, and Representation

Conclusion

Key Concepts

Works Cited

Resources for Further Study

Web Resources

PART II. POLITICAL SYSTEMS AND HOW THEY WORK

CHAPTER 5: Governing Institutions in Democracies

Executives and Legislatures

Comparing Executive–Legislative Institutions

Judiciary

Bureaucracy

Federalism

Conclusion

Key Concepts

Works Cited

Resources for Further Study

Web Resources

CHAPTER 6: Institutions of Participation and Representation in Democracies

The Electoral System

Formal Institutions: Political Parties and Party Systems

Civil Society

Conclusion

Key Concepts

Works Cited

Resources for Further Study

Web Resources

CHAPTER 7: Contentious Politics: Social Movements, Political Violence, and Revolution

Framing Contentious Politics

Political Violence

Revolution

Conclusion

Key Concepts

Works Cited

Resources for Further Study

Web Resources

CHAPTER 8: Authoritarian Institutions

Trends in Authoritarian Rule

The Dictator’s Dilemma: Governing Authoritarian Regimes

Elections, Parties, and Legislatures

Clientelism and Civil Society

Conclusion

Key Concepts

Works Cited

Resources for Further Study

Web Resources

CHAPTER 9: Regime Change

Trends in Regime Change

Regime Change: Transitions to Democracy

Regime Change: Transitions to Authoritarian Rule

Conclusion

Key Concepts

Works Cited

Resources for Further Study

Web Resources

PART III. POLITICAL ECONOMY AND POLICY

CHAPTER 10: Political Economy of Wealth

The Market, Capitalism, and the State

Key Economic Debates

Types of Capitalist Economies

Globalization: A New World Order, or Déjà Vu All Over Again?

Conclusion

Key Concepts

Works Cited

Resources for Further Study

Web Resources

CHAPTER 11: Political Economy of Development

What Is “Development”?

Development and Globalization

The Development Debate

Conclusion

Key Concepts

Works Cited

Resources For Further Study

Web Resources

CHAPTER 12: Public Policies When Markets Fail: Welfare, Health, and the Environment

“Welfare”: Social Policy in Comparative Perspective

Health Care and Health Policy

Environmental Problems and Policy

Conclusion

Key Concepts

Works Cited

Resources for Further Study

Web Resources

Glossary

Index

Yazar hakkında

Carol Ann Drogus is a retired Professor of Government at Hamilton College. She is a specialist on Brazil, religion, and women’s political participation. She taught introduction to comparative politics for more than twenty years, as well as courses on Latin American politics, gender and politics, and women in Latin America. She has written two books and numerous articles on the political participation of women in religious movements in Brazil.