Comparative Inquiry In Politics And Political Economy

"Comparative Inquiry in Politics and Political Economy provides all the essentials for a superb introductory text in comparative politics; comprehensive in scope; historical in approach; and fair-minded in its treatment of liberal, conservative, and radical perspectives. The best single survey of the field available today for classroom use." -James Petras, SUNY-Binghamton "The student of comparative political inquiry now has a safe map to guide their way. Ronald Chilcote has produced a fine overview of the theories and politics of this field, equally attentive to mainstream and radical alternatives alike. With a balance that does not preclude passion, Chilcote provides a unique critical engagement with the subject of comparative politics and political economy." —Ronaldo Munck, University of Liverpool "Prof. Chilcote has made a magisterial contribution to the social sciences. This book situates comparative politics and international relations within the context of the development of social and economic thought over the past two hundred years. It is an excellent resource for introducing upper division students to advanced ideas in the social sciences, or for graduate students seeking a secure foundation in the intellectual development of the field. Prof. Chilcote's attention to a wide range of ideological and theoretical tendencies in the social sciences makes this book vastly more comprehensive than the syllabi of many graduate level survey courses." -Gregory Nowell, SUNY-Albany "In this sweeping intellectual history of comparative politics and political economy, Chilcote resolutely refuses to take for granted the assumptions of the Euro-American mainstream. Instead, his refreshing survey juxtaposes the dominant approaches systematically to Marxist and other alternative paradigms. Clear and direct exposition makes this a valuable text for advanced undergraduate and graduate students." —Richard Stahler-Sholk, Eastern Michigan University As an introductory text in comparative study, this work begins with the assumption that students should examine a variety of perspectives and explore alternative possibilities as a means of arousing curiosity, stimulating creativity, building interest and self-motivation, and enhancing understanding of complex issues in politics and political economy. The book provides the student with the foundations for comparative inquiry. Its purpose is threefold: to sketch an overview of the major theories and concepts; to expose issues and summarize arguments and counter-arguments; and to encourage the beginning student to pursue critical thinking in the recognition that mainstream ideas deserve scrutiny, that many essential questions remain unsettled, and that the outcome may result in the formulation and reinforcement of a personal perspective, premised on one's individual learning.

As an introductory text in comparative study, this work begins with the assumption that students should examine a variety of perspectives and explore alternative possibilities as a means of arousing curiosity, stimulating creativity, building interest and self-motivation, and enhancing understanding of complex issues in politics and political econo

Extensively revised and updated, this classic text revisits the central problem of searching for mainstream and alternative paradigms to guide us in comparative political inquiry. Building upon the first edition's comprehensive and systematic overview of frameworks, ideologies, and theories, the second edition highlights new directions and developments over the past decade, including the continuation of an ideological political science methodological innovations such as rational-choice, historical, and postbehavioural approaches new emphases on and links between political culture and participation the recasting of modernization theory and the revitalization of class analysis and a thoroughgoing post-Keynesian political economy point of view.The second edition continues the tradition of the first in updating what one reviewer commended as outstanding, excellent annotated bibliographies at the end of each chapter and the thorough survey of the general literature of comparative politics at the end of the book." In addition, the new edition includes an appendix of definitions that facilitate clarity and understanding of political science terminology, important for students at every level from the introductory on up.In a post-Cold War world in which challenges to comparative inquiry abound,ethnic conflict, authoritarian repression, state building and disintegration, new industrialization and postindustrialization, security systems redefined,the search for new paradigms that Theories of Comparative Politics represents gains in importance daily.

Addressing the problem of searching for mainstream and alternative paradigms as a guide for comparative political enquiry, this work in particular introduces developments that have taken place over the last decade. These include the continuation of an ideological political science, methodological innovations such as rational choice and historical and post-behavioural approaches, new emphases on and links between political culture and participation, the recasting of modernization theory and the revitalization of class analysis, and a post-Keynesian political-economy point of view.

Extensively revised and updated, this classic text revisits the central problem of searching for mainstream and alternative paradigms to guide us in comparative political inquiry. Building upon the first edition's comprehensive and systematic overview of frameworks, ideologies, and theories, the second edition highlights new directions and developments over the past decade, including the continuation of an ideological political science; methodological innovations such as rational-choice, historical, and postbehavioral approaches; new emphases on and links between political culture and participation; the recasting of modernization theory and the revitalization of class analysis; and a thoroughgoing post-Keynesian political economy point of view.The second edition continues the tradition of the first in updating what one reviewer commended as “outstanding… excellent annotated bibliographies at the end of each chapter and the thorough survey of the general literature of comparative politics at the end of the book.” In addition, the new edition includes an appendix of definitions that facilitate clarity and understanding of political science terminology, important for students at every level from the introductory on up.In a post–Cold War world in which challenges to comparative inquiry abound—ethnic conflict, authoritarian repression, state building and disintegration, new industrialization and postindustrialization, security systems redefined—the search for new paradigms that Theories of Comparative Politics represents gains in importance daily.

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′Bara and Pennington′s edited volume successfully fills a huge void in the market for introductory textbooks to comparative politics which previously offered either descriptions of political processes and systems or overviews of the methodology of comparative analysis. By applying major political science theories to overviews of the core elements of political systems, the authors both enhance our understanding of these elements and provide readers an excellent introduction to comparative explanation′ - Dr David Howarth, University of Edinburgh ′What is distinctive about this authoritative and comprehensive book on comparative politics is the way in which it is underpinned throughout by a theoretical analysis centred on a new institutionalist approach′ - Professor Wyn Grant, University of Warwick ′Comparative Politics takes a fresh and original approach to the field... it examines the role of structures, rules and norms in regulating the individual and collective behaviour of political actors. Each chapter provides a critical bibliography and key questions which will be particularly useful for students approaching Comparative Politics for the first time. Altogether this is a comprehensive and useful read which I warmly recommend′ - Ian Budge, Professor Emiritus Professor of Government, University of Essex ′This is a most useful book. Teachers of comparative politics often scramble around, with out-of-date textbooks and photocopies of more or less compatible articles. Here is a new book that gives an up-to-date, comprehensive and systematic introduction to the major strands of institutional thought and applies these to the major institutions, processes and policy areas. It will be a great help for many of us, academics and students alike′ - Peter Kurrild-Klitgaard, Professor of Comparative Politics, University of Copenhagen This book provides a distinctive new introduction to the study of comparative politics at undergraduate level. Rich in case study material and global in coverage, Comparative Politics sets out the basic theoretical and methodological foundations for studying different political systems as well as the key structures and actors of which they are comprised. Part One explores the nature of comparative methodology and introduces students to the major theoretical paradigms that seek to explain the operation of institutions in democratic states and facilitate comparison across different political systems. Part Two examines the institutional structures of the modern state, outlining the key features such as the electoral systems and territorial and functional divisions of government across a range of modern states. Part Three analyzes the role of key actors, such as voters and parties, interest groups and social movements, the bureaucracy and the judiciary. This book will be an essential primer for students on first-year courses in comparative government and politics as well as introductory courses in political science concepts and methods. Judith Bara is Senior Lecturer in Politics at Queen Mary, University of London and Research Fellow in Government, University of Essex. David S. Bell is Professor of French Government and Politics and Head of Social Studies and Law at the University of Leeds. Jocelyn Evans is Reader in Politics at the European Studies Research Institute, University of Salford. Catherine Needham is Lecturer in Politics at Queen Mary, University of London. Brendan O′Duffy is Senior Lecturer in Politics at Queen Mary, University of London. Mark Pennington is Senior Lecturer in Politics at Queen Mary, University of London. David Robertson is Professor of Politics, University of Oxford and Vice Principal, St Hugh′s College, Oxford.

As ?must? reading for anyone interested in comparative politics, this text is designed to address the theoretical developments and approaches important to the comparative study of political systems today. These include: developmentalism, dependency theory, corporatism, state society relations, political economy, public policy analysis, indigenous theories of change, rational choice, and the new institutionalism. This text sees the new diversity of approaches as healthy and invigorating. The diversity in comparative politics over the past two decades has been reflected in prior editions of this book. Whereas these separate approaches once may have been regarded as fragmentary, now scholars have come to regard the diverse lines of inquiry as lending complimentary tools of analysis to our complex modern world. The emerging methods of comparative study often provide ?causeways? between previous ?islands of theory.? In this new edition, all the main approaches to comparative politics are represented in chapter length treatment. Several contributors revisit the topics they addressed in the prior editions, e.g. Tony Smith on dependency analysis, Lawrence Graham on public policy, and Joel Migdal on state-society relations. Most significantly, the third edition introduces readers to new, provocative analyses such as Paul Adams on corporatism, Anthony Gill on political economy; Ronald Inglehart on political culture; Gerardo Munck on rational choice, A. H. Somjee on indigenous theory, and Frank L. Wilson on the new institutionalism. Introductory and concluding essays by editor Howard J. Wiarda integrate the book, placing the different approaches in perspective.