Now in a new edition, Comparative Politics provides an exciting and authoritative introduction to all of the core areas of the field. Featuring a diverse range of perspectives from expert international contributors, it explores the methods and theories of comparative politics and also examines the institutions, actors, processes, and policies at the heart of political systems around the world. The selections elucidate the major themes and also present students with a wealth of empirical data and examples--drawn from both developing regions and industrial countries--that demonstrate similarities and differences in practice and encourage further research. The text is enhanced by excellent pedagogical features including readers' guides, key points, questions, a guide to further reading, text boxes, and a glossary.