Politics and Society in Western Europe - Hardcover

Lane, Jan-Erik; Ersson, Svante O.

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0803980086 ISBN 13: 9780803980082

Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd, 1987

Synopsis

Politics and Society in Western Europe is a comprehensive introductory text for students of Western European and comparative politics. The book presents a thorough description and analysis of the major political systems of Western Europe, their party systems and the decision-making institutions of government. A dominant theme is that institutional arrangements and political stability are determined by underlying social cleavages. The substantial description of these social cleavages -- class, ethnicity, regional identity and religion -- gives the reader a clear picture of contemporary European society and politics. The book begins with an overview of the theory on comparative politics and political sociology. Throughout it examines key theoretical ideas, such as political stability and conflict, and tests them against wide-ranging empirical data on European politics. The diverse experiences of political stability in Western European countries since 1945 are revealed and accounted for by considering their political and social causes.

About this title

Review:

Reviews of the Second Edition

`With its rich theoretical exegesis, excellent data base, provocative findings and superior comparative European bibliography, this book should prove to be a valuable tool' - Australian Journal of Political Science

`The book provides a comprehensive introduction to the topic and has been extensively revised to update its coverage of recent events. The analytical framework emphasises the legitimate operation of democratic political institutions within welfare state structures which necessitate a high degree of government involvement' - Geographical Abstracts: Human Geography

Synopsis:

The book provides a full analysis of the political systems of the eighteen European countries, their political parties, elections, and party systems, as well as the structures of government at local, regional, national and European Union levels.

About this edition

• Publisher: SAGE Publications Ltd
• Publication date: 1987
• ISBN 10: 0803980086
• ISBN 13: 9780803980082
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 336