Comparative Government: An Introduction - Softcover

Blondel, Jean

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0860037193 ISBN 13: 9780860037194

Publisher: Philip Allan, 1990

Synopsis

First published in 1995. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

About this title

Synopsis

This textbook provides a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the institutions and patterns of behaviour of the countries of the contemporary world. The various political systems are compared and contrasted both in general terms and according to their characteristic structures. The book considers successively the bases of political life in the world today, the characteristics and the role of groups, and the effect of the communications media. It examines in depth the origins, bases, and structures of political parties, the type of party system and the overall role of parties in contemporary politics. It then goes on to examine the formal institutions, analyzing the role of constitutions, the extent of decentralization, the characteristics of legislatures and the structure and impact of executives and political leaders. A final section is devoted to the part played by bureaucracies, the military and the courts in political life and discusses the extent to which ordinary people participate directly in politics.

About the Author

Jean Blondel has been Professor of Political Science at the European University Institute and was formerly Professor of Government at the University of Essex, UK.

Edition details

• Publisher: Philip Allan
• Publication date: 1990
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0860037193
• ISBN 13: 9780860037194
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 512