
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet or computer—no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera, scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Comparative Government and Politics: An Introduction Hardcover – 12 March 2019
Purchase options and add-ons
This revised and updated edition of a core textbook - one of the most well-established texts in the field of comparative politics - offers a comprehensive introduction to the comparison of governments and political systems, helping students to understand not just the institutions and political cultures of their own countries but also those of a wide range of democracies and authoritarian regimes from around the world.
The book opens with an overview of key theories and methods for studying comparative politics and moves on to a study of major institutions and themes, such as the state, constitutions and courts, elections, voters, interest groups and political economy. In addition, two common threads run throughout the chapters in this edition - the reversal of democracy and declining trust in government - ensuring that the book fully accounts for the rapid developments in politics that have taken place across the world in recent times.
Written by a team of experienced textbook authors and featuring a range of engaging learning features, this book is an essential text for undergraduate and postgraduate courses on comparative politics, comparative government, introduction to politics and introduction to political science.
New to this Edition:
- New and extended coverage of important topics such as authoritarian states, identities, ethnicity and political violence
- A brand new chapter on political economy
- An engaging new page design, in full colour for the first time
- An enhanced companion website, now providing an extensive testbank of questions for lecturers
- Publishing alongside John McCormick's new book on Cases in Comparative Government and Politics (October 2019), which offers more detailed coverage of the cases covered in this text.
- Print length382 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherRed Globe Press
- Publication date12 March 2019
- Dimensions19.69 x 2.54 x 26.04 cm
- ISBN-101352005042
- ISBN-13978-1352005042
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Product description
Review
In my experience, Comparative Government and Politics is by far the best stand-alone text in this area. It is thorough and unlike the many other texts in the field, it focuses, in very interesting and engaging sections, primarily upon the dynamics of a broad range of comparative political phenomena as they apply to real-world politics. Coupled with McCormick's forthcoming country case studies volume, this will constitute the most comprehensive, and yet interesting and very readable approach to the teaching of this key subject at the undergraduate level. ― Daniel Zirker, University of Waikato, New Zealand
Continues to be the leading introductory text in the field, and for good reason. Comprehensive, well-structured, and incorporating analysis of the latest trends and developments, it provides a highly accessible resource for both students and teachers the world over. Its thematic approach and extensive range of country case studies ensure that it is truly international in scope and relevance. ― Monique Emser, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Comparative Government and Politics stands out in a market saturated with introductory textbooks. The tone and style of the text are very accessible and lend themselves well to both those majoring in the field, and those not familiar with it at all. ― Johannes Van Gorp, American University of Sharjah, UAE
The addition of John McCormick in this classic title for comparative politics has made a significant impact in this edition. Full of new features, captivating graphs and images, this has become an important resource for students of comparative politics as well as an excellent reference point for those teaching the subject. Users of the book will particularly enjoy the spotlights on specific countries and cases, as well as the abundance of interesting data that inspire further research. ― Theofanis Exadaktylos, University of Surrey, UK
This enriched version of a classic textbook remains the first choice of textbook for my introductory comparative politics courses. ― Bec Strating, La Trobe University, Australia
This edition is a substantive enhancement of the previous editions, with more comprehensive coverage of politics in authoritarian regimes, which is of tremendous added value. This is a text on which students and teachers of comparative politics can count. ― James Wong, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong
I have used this book for the last ten years, and this is the best version I have seen so far. To put it simply, this edition will allow me to teach my introductory course on comparative politics in the way I want to teach it. ― Mariely Lopez-Santana, George Mason University, USA
An excellent and comprehensive introduction to comparative government and politics which helps students to understand basic concepts, theoretical and methodological approaches, and key institutions and developments in the field across democratic and autocratic states. ― Rosalind Shorrocks, University of Manchester, UK
The 11th edition of Comparative Government and Politics continues to provide a comprehensive introduction to the field of comparative politics, equipping students with the basic knowledge and methods to compare various forms of political organization across geographical and cultural boundaries. ― Karsten Schulz, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
Review
This new edition does not simply update a classic resource for teachers and students. In exploring universal questions of comparative political science from the dual perspective of democratic backsliding on the part of elites, and declining trust on the part of the people, it compels us to consider those questions anew. – Benjamin Stanley, SWPS University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Poland
In my experience, Comparative Government and Politics is by far the best stand-alone text in this area. It is thorough and unlike the many other texts in the field, it focuses, in very interesting and engaging sections, primarily upon the dynamics of a broad range of comparative political phenomena as they apply to real-world politics. Coupled with McCormick’s forthcoming country case studies volume, this will constitute the most comprehensive, and yet interesting and very readable approach to the teaching of this key subject at the undergraduate level. – Daniel Zirker, University of Waikato, New Zealand
Continues to be the leading introductory text in the field, and for good reason. Comprehensive, well-structured, and incorporating analysis of the latest trends and developments, it provides a highly accessible resource for both students and teachers the world over. Its thematic approach and extensive range of country case studies ensure that it is truly international in scope and relevance. – Monique Emser, University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
Comparative Government and Politics stands out in a market saturated with introductory textbooks. The tone and style of the text are very accessible and lend themselves well to both those majoring in the field, and those not familiar with it at all. – Johannes Van Gorp, American University of Sharjah, UAE
The addition of John McCormick in this classic title for comparative politics has made a significant impact in this edition. Full of new features, captivating graphs and images, this has become an important resource for students of comparative politics as well as an excellent reference point for those teaching the subject. Users of the book will particularly enjoy the spotlights on specific countries and cases, as well as the abundance of interesting data that inspire further research. – Theofanis Exadaktylos, University of Surrey, UK
This enriched version of a classic textbook remains the first choice of textbook for my introductory comparative politics courses. – Bec Strating, La Trobe University, Australia
This edition is a substantive enhancement of the previous editions, with more comprehensive coverage of politics in authoritarian regimes, which is of tremendous added value. This is a text on which students and teachers of comparative politics can count. – James Wong, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong
I have used this book for the last ten years, and this is the best version I have seen so far. To put it simply, this edition will allow me to teach my introductory course on comparative politics in the way I want to teach it. – Mariely Lopez-Santana, George Mason University, USA
An excellent and comprehensive introduction to comparative government and politics which helps students to understand basic concepts, theoretical and methodological approaches, and key institutions and developments in the field across democratic and autocratic states. – Rosalind Shorrocks, University of Manchester, UK
The 11th edition of Comparative Government and Politics continues to provide a comprehensive introduction to the field of comparative politics, equipping students with the basic knowledge and methods to compare various forms of political organization across geographical and cultural boundaries. – Karsten Schulz, University of Groningen, the Netherlands
Book Description
From the Back Cover
Offering a comprehensive introduction to the comparison of governments and political systems, this is a new edition of one of the most well-established textbooks in the field of comparative politics, helping students to understand not just the institutions and political cultures of their own countries but also those of a wide range of democracies and authoritarian regimes around the world.
The book opens with an overview of key theories and methods for studying comparative politics and moves on to a study of major institutions and themes, such as the state, constitutions and courts, elections, voters, interest groups and political economy. In addition, two common threads run throughout the chapters in this edition – the reversal of democracy and declining trust in government – ensuring that the book fully accounts for the rapid developments in politics that have taken place across the globe in recent times.
Key features include:
· New and extended coverage of important topics such as authoritarian states, identities, ethnicity and political violence.
· A brand new chapter on political economy.
· An engaging new page design, in full colour for the first time.
· Packed with pedagogical features, including discussion questions, in-margin glossary definitions of key terms and double-page spreads for country profiles in each chapter.· An enhanced companion website, now providing an extensive testbank of questions for lecturers.
Written by a team of experienced textbook authors, this book is an essential text for undergraduate and postgraduate courses on Comparative Politics, Comparative Government, Introduction to Politics and Introduction to Political Science.About the Author
Rod Hague was formerly Senior Lecturer in Politics, University of Newcastle, UK.
Martin Harrop was formerly Senior Lecturer in Politics, University of Newcastle, UK.
Product details
- Publisher : Red Globe Press
- Publication date : 12 March 2019
- Edition : 11th
- Language : English
- Print length : 382 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1352005042
- ISBN-13 : 978-1352005042
- Item weight : 1.34 kg
- Dimensions : 19.69 x 2.54 x 26.04 cm
- Part of series : Comparative Government and Politics
- Best Sellers Rank: 7,196 in Political Science (Books)
- 399,123 in Textbooks & Study Guides
- Customer Reviews:
About the author

John McCormick is an Emeritus Professor of Political Science at the Indianapolis campus of Indiana University in the United States.
The author of 17 books and multiple book chapters and academic papers, his most recent publications include Understanding the European Union (Bloomsbury, 9th edition, forthcoming late 2025), European Union Politics (Bloomsbury, 4th edition, forthcoming late 2025),Comparative Government and Politics (Bloomsbury, 13th edition, 2025), Introduction to Global Studies (Bloomsbury, 3rd edition, 2025), International Organizations (Bloomsbury, 2024), Contemporary Britain (Bloomsbury, 5th edition, 2023), Cases in Comparative Government and Politics (Red Globe Press, 2020), Environmental Politics and Policy (Palgrave Macmillan, 2017), and Why Europe Matters for Britain (Palgrave Macmillan, 2016).
He has twice been a Jean Monnet chair in European Union Politics, and is a past Fulbright-Schuman Chair in transatlantic relations at the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium.
Customer reviews
Top reviews from Australia
There was a problem filtering reviews. Please reload the page.
- Reviewed in Australia on 3 August 2020Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseThe book which students need for their course at uni.
Top reviews from other countries
-
Cliente AmazonReviewed in Italy on 8 November 2019
5.0 out of 5 stars Ottimo
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseInvio rapido
- LEONARDO ROCHAReviewed in the United Kingdom on 17 January 2021
5.0 out of 5 stars Political concepts modern "encyclopedia"
Format: PaperbackVerified PurchaseExcellent book, very clear and comprehensive. Structured and design to easy the assimilation of its concepts. Up to date and something to have and consult forever.