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American Difference
A Guide to American Politics in Comparative Perspective
Second Edition
February 2019 | 312 pages | CQ Press
Examining democracies from a comparative perspective helps us better understand why politics—or, as Harold Lasswell famously said, “who gets what, when, and how”—differ among democracies. American Difference: A Guide to American Politics in Comparative Perspective takes the reader through different aspects of democracy—political culture, institutions, interest groups, political parties, and elections—and, unlike other works, explores how the United States is both different from and similar to other democracies.
The fully updated Second Edition has been expanded to include several new chapters and discussion on civil liberties and civil rights, constitutional arrangements, elections and electoral institutions, and electoral behavior. This edition also includes data around the 2016 general election and 2018 midterm election.
The fully updated Second Edition has been expanded to include several new chapters and discussion on civil liberties and civil rights, constitutional arrangements, elections and electoral institutions, and electoral behavior. This edition also includes data around the 2016 general election and 2018 midterm election.
Preface
Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Chapter 1: American Politics from a Comparative Perspective
Chapter 2: Similarities between the United States and Other Democracies
Chapter 3: American Exceptionalism
Chapter 4: Political Beliefs: Political Culture and Ideology
Chapter 5: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights
Chapter 6: Constitutional Arrangements
Chapter 7: Governing Institutions
Chapter 8: Interest Groups
Chapter 9: Political Parties
Chapter 10: Elections and Electoral Institutions
Chapter 11: Electoral Behavior
Chapter 12: Conclusion
“Most of my students assume that all democracies maintain a two-party system, a separation of powers, a federal system, and a strong tradition of freedom of speech. What they need is in [this] excellent book. It gives students a comparative perspective on what is exceptional in the American democratic design, what leads democracies to differ from and resemble one another, and how these differences and similarities affect students' lives. I strongly recommend the authors’ approach and their book.”
Indiana University
“This book follows the Tocquevillian logic that the best way to understand American politics is to compare to other nations. American Difference offers a very readable and engaging introduction to what is distinct about American political institutions, culture, interest groups, and party politics—and the implications of these differences. A strong addition to any American politics course.”
University of California, Irvine
Sample Materials & Chapters
Chapter 1: American Politics from a Comparative Perspective
Chapter 3: American Exceptionalism
