Detailed Contents Preface Acknowledgments Contributors Part One: Introduction Chapter 1: Issues in Comparative Politics What is Politics? Governments and the State of Nature Why Governments? When Does Government Become the Problem? Political Systems States Building Community Fostering Development Securing Democracy, Human Rights, and Civil Liberties Key Terms Suggested Readings Chapter 2: Comparing Political Systems Why We Compare How We Compare Systems: Environment and Interdependence Structures and Functions An Illustrative Comparison: Russia in 1985 and 2002 The Policy Level: Performance, Outcome, and Evaluation Key Terms Suggested Readings Part Two: System, Process, and Policy Chapter 3: Political Culture and Political Socialization Political Culture Mapping the Three Levels of Political Culture Political Socialization Agents of Political Socialization Trends in Contemporary Political Cultures Key Terms Suggested Readings Chapter 4: Interest Articulation Citizen Action Interest Groups Access to the Influential Policy Perspectives on Interest Articulation Interest Group Development Key Terms Suggested Readings Chapter 5: Interest Aggregation and Political Parties Personal Interest Aggregation Institutional Interest Aggregation Competitive Party Systems and Interest Aggregation Authoritarian Party Systems The Military and Interest Aggregation Trends in Interest Aggregation Key Terms Suggested Readings Chapter 6: Government and Policymaking Constitutions and Decision Rules Democracy and Authoritarianism Separation of Government Powers Geographic Distribution of Government Power Limitations on Government Power Checking the Top Policymakers Assemblies Political Executives The Bureaucracy Key Terms Suggested Readings Chapter 7: Public Policy Government and What It Does Extraction Distribution Regulation Community-Building and Symbolic Policies Outcomes: Domestic Welfare Domestic Security Outcomes International Outputs and Outcomes Political Goods and Values Strategies for Producing Political Goods Trade-offs and Opportunity Costs Key Terms Suggested Readings Part Three: Country Studies Chapter 8: Politics in England Current Policy Changes The Constraints of History The Environment of Politics The Structure of Government Political Culture and Legitimacy Political Socialization Political Participation and Recruitment Organizing Group Interests Party System and Electoral Choice Making and Delivering Government Policies Policy Outcomes and Changes in Society Key Terms Suggested Readings Chapter 9: Politics in France Current Policy Challenges A Historical Perspective Economy and Society Constitution and Governmental Structure Political Culture Political Socialization Mass Participation and Voting Recruitment and Style of Elites Interest Groups Political Parties Policy Processes The State and Territorial Relations Performance and Prospects Key Terms Suggested Readings Chapter 10: Politics in Germany Current Policy Challenges The Historical Legacy Following Two Paths Social Forces The Institutions a.