Introducing Comparative Politics

Stephen Orvis is Professor of Government at Hamilton College. He is a specialist on sub-Saharan Africa (Kenya in particular), identity politics, democratic transitions, and the political economy of development. He has been teaching introduction to comparative politics for more than twenty-five years, as well as courses on African politics, nationalism and the politics of identity, political economy of development, and weak states. He has written a book and articles on agricultural development in Kenya, as well as several articles on civil society in Africa and Kenya and is currently doing research on political institutions in Africa. Carol Ann Drogus is a retired Professor of Government at Hamilton College. She is a specialist on Brazil, religion, and women’s political participation. She taught introduction to comparative politics for more than twenty years, as well as courses on Latin American politics, gender and politics, and women in Latin America. She has written two books and numerous articles on the political participation of women in religious movements in Brazil.

Part I: A Framework For Understanding Comparative Politics
Chapter 1: Introduction
Chapter 2: The Modern State
Chapter 3: States, Citizens, And Regimes
Chapter 4: States And Identity
Part II: Political Systems And How They Work
Chapter 5: Governing Institutions In Democracies
Chapter 6: Institutions Of Participation And Representation In Democracies
Chapter 7: Contentious Politics: Social Movements, Political Violence, And Revolution
Chapter 8: Authoritarian Institutions
Chapter 9: Regime Change
Part III: Political Economy And Policy
Chapter 10: Political Economy Of Wealth
Chapter 11: Political Economy Of Development
Chapter 12: Public Policies When Markets Fail: Welfare, Health, And The Environment