This balanced collection of classical and contemporary articles, based on a range of scholarly viewpoints, explores the tumultuous past and present of world politics. The book's forty-five selections allow readers to compare political institutions and government regimes (democratic, authoritarian, and post-communist) and examine the dynamics of decision making, performance, and political change.Close to half of the readings in this Eighth Edition are new, reflecting the dramatic political events of recent years: the collapse of the Soviet Union and other communist systems in Europe, the struggle of former communist nations to create democratic institutions and a market economy, and the explosion of ethnic conflict, without neglecting the problems within established democracies and industrialized societies.These readings, complemented with introductory essays from the editors, provide a stimulating overview of the tested theories and current trends in comparative politics. Read Less