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, this anthology 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. NEW TO THIS EDITION * More in-depth coverage of national identity, nation building and nationalism, democratization, constitutional principles, and party positioning * Chapter 14, Interest Associations, has been expanded to include trade unions and networks of decision making * In light of the global financial crisis, Chapter 24, Globalization and the Nation-State, newly examines de-globalization and economic nationalism A Companion Website offers students comparative data sets for more than 200 countries, a web directory of data archives, a country comparator, review questions and exercises, a flashcard glossary, and country profiles. It also contains resources for instructors: PowerPoint-based slides, a Test Bank, and figures and tables from the book.