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In the past three decades, the field of comparative politics has undergone significant change. Political scientists have attempted to transform the method of research and analysis from comparative analysis defined by geography to comparative analysis and the construction of explanatory theory. Mayer argues that the transformation of the discipline, the "revolution in comparative politics," predicted in the 1960s, has fallen short of its potential and expectations. In surveying and critiquing the major literature in the field and those topics which have been most hotly debated, this volume charts the breakdown in consensus on the nature and purpose of the field of comparative politics and provides a keen analysis of subsequent methods and trends.The Promise and Performance of Comparative Politics offers useful suggestions for future directions and research agendas in the field of comparative politics and will be a valuable asset to students and professionals in political theory, political science, comparative politics, and international relations.

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• Introduction
• Revolutions and Thermidorean Reactions
• The Epistemology of Social Science and the Comparative Method
• Development, Ethnocentrism and Dependency
• Theory and Polemic
• Industrial Democracies
• Parties and Political Behavior
• Micro Level Analysis
• Culture, Violence, and Personality
• Kremlinology, Autocracies and Comparative Politics
• Conclusions
• Whither Comparative Politics?

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CHOICE Review

In a clear-cut and insightful volume, Mayer demonstrates that the conceptual and methodological revolution that swept the field of comparative politics in the early 1950s exemplifies the argument that revolutions rarely achieve their envisioned millenium. In his analysis Mayer accounts for the incompleteness of the revolution that was supposed to produce cross-nationally valid explanatory theory. After examining the essential attributes of a science of politics and the contribution of the comparative method to its creation, the author evaluates stellar works from the various facets of comparative politics in terms of their contribution to the refocusing of the discipline. Literature concerned with the non-Western world; industrial democracies; political parties; culture, violence, and personality; and the relatively industrialized autocracies is scrutinized. Mayer issues an urgent call for the completion of the revolution, a comprehension of its goals, and specific suggestions for future research agendas. Excellent references are available at the end of each chapter. This volume is highly recommended for use by graduate students and faculty. S. Z. Koff SUNY at Binghamton

Notas de autor provistas por Syndetics

Lawrence Mayeris professor of political science at Texas Tech University. His current research interests include party system change, especially in the weakening of mainstream parties of the moderate left and right, and the emergence of populist parties of identity. His published books include: Comparative Politics: Nations and Theories in a Changing World(With Burnett, Ogden, and Tuman), American Public Policy(with Cochran, Carr, and Cayer), Redefining Comparative Politics, Politics in Industrial Societies(with Burnett), and Comparative Political Inquiry: A Methodological Survey. His articles have appeared in Political Science and Politics, Nationalism and Ethnic Politics, Comparative Political Studies, The Western Political Quarterly, Teaching Political Science, and West European Politics.