Daniele Caramani

Chair of Comparative Politics Head of the Department of Political Science Co-Director of the Institute of Political Science and Vice-Dean School of Economics and Political Science Daniele Caramani

The Formation of National Electorates and Party Systems in Western Europe

The Nationalization of Politics

An outstanding group of internationally-renowned comparative political scientists provide a substantive introduction to comparative politics. Thematic in organisation, readers are guided through a comprehensive analysis of the core methods, theories, and concepts in comparative politics. An unrivalled amount of empirical material in the text and on the supporting website illustrates key similarities and differences of political systems inpractice. The wealth of empirical data also encourages students to go beyond the "what" of comparison to the "how". Combining cutting edge treatment of theories and truly global geographical coverage, this exciting textbook is essential reading for all comparative politics students.

Comparative Politics

Yves Mény

The book analyses the transnational Alpine region where historical, social, and geo-economic specificities have led to a distinctive type of democracy and identity. Differentialist identities, multi-level consociational accommodation, and corporatist intermediation are typical features of this region's «consensual politics», and the process of European integration adds further to this complexity. These forms of consensual politics are challenged today by large and persistent populist parties that express strong anti-elitist sentiments, local identities, and Euro-sceptic attitudes. The book examines the defensive reaction of populist parties to the perceived threats of open borders (multi-culturalism and cheap labour) and elite negotiations (at all levels of governance). Protest attitudes translate into alternative views of European integration favouring proposals for an anti-assimilationist and labour protective «Fortress», as well as a religiously-based «Europe of the People». The book considers the possibility of a potential cleavage in the incipient European party system through alliances of «losers of integration» cutting across the left-right alignment and overlapping with ethno-linguistic, centre-periphery, religious, and rural-urban factors that survived in the Alpine region more than elsewhere. An empirical analysis by a group of international experts focuses on the Alpine areas of Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Slovenia, and Switzerland in which parties like FPÖ, CSU, Lega Nord, and Schweizerische Volkspartei have recently become crucial actors.

Democracy, Identity, and Populist Protest in the Alpine Region

Challenges to Consensual Politics

This exciting and authoritative introduction to comparative politics provides a range of perspectives, methods, and theories at the heart of political systems around the world. Alongside explanations of the most important themes, students are presented with a wealth of empirical data to demonstrate similarities and differences in practice, and to encourage research. This new edition takes account of the latest developments in the wake of democratic uprisings in North Africa and the MiddleEast, and sees a much stronger emphasis on the financial crisis, paying particular attention to state finances, and stressing the effects of the crisis on political attitudes and forms of participation.

Daniele Caramani

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