Todd Landman is Professor of Political Science and Pro Vice Chancellor of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Nottingham, UK. He has published Democracy and Human Rights (2013), Studying Human Rights (Routledge 2006), Protecting Human Rights (2005), co-authored Measuring Human Rights (Routledge 2009), and edited Human Rights (Volumes I-IV) (2009) and Sage Handbook of Comparative Politics (2009).

Edzia Carvalho is Lecturer in Politics in the School of Social Sciences at the University of Dundee, UK. She is co-author of Measuring Human Rights (Routledge 2009).

Introduction

PART I: WHY, HOW, AND PROBLEMS OF COMPARISON

1. Why Compare Countries?

Reasons for comparison

The science in political science

Scientific terms and concepts

Summary

Further reading

2. How to Compare Countries

Methods of comparison

Comparing many countries

Comparing few countries

Single country studies as comparison

Choosing countries and problems of comparison

Summary

Further reading

3. Comparing Many Countries

Starting assumptions

Measuring concepts

Basic regression analysis

Extending the basic regression model

Limitations to global comparative analysis

Summary

Further reading

4. Comparing Few Countries

Assumptions

Case selection and research design

Combining quantitative and qualitative comparison

Limitations of few-country comparisons

Summary

Further reading

5. Single-Country Studies as Comparison

Functions of single-country studies

Raising observations in single-country studies

Limitations of single-study studies

Summary

Further reading

PART II: COMPARING COMPARISONS

6. Economic Development and Democracy

The research problem

Comparing many countries

Comparing few countries

Single-country studies

Summary

Further reading

7. Violent Political Dissent and Social Revolution

The research problem

Comparing many countries

Comparing few countries

Single-country studies

Summary

Further reading

8. Non-Violent Political Dissent and Social Movements

The research problem

Comparing many countries

Comparing few countries

Single-country studies

Summary

Further reading

9. Transitions to Democracy

The research problem

Comparing many countries

Comparing few countries

Single-country studies

Summary

Further reading

10. Institutional Design and Democratic Performance

The research problem

Comparing many countries

Comparing few countries

Single-country studies

Summary

Further reading

11. Human Rights

The research problem

Comparing many countries

Comparing few countries

Single-country studies

Summary

Further reading

12. International Relations and Comparative Politics

Research problems

Comparing many countries

Comparing few countries

Single-country studies

Summary

Further reading

PART III: COMPARATIVE METHODS AND NEW ISSUES

13. Common Themes and Different Comparisons

Methodological trade-offs

Building theory

Conclusion: drawing the lessons

Further reading

14. New Challenges For Comparative Politics

Full circle

New methods

Maintaining relevance

Summary

Further reading

Building on the strengths of the third edition, this highly regarded textbook continues to provide the best introduction to the strategies of comparative research in political science. Divided into three parts, the book begins by examining different methods, applying these methods to dominant issues in comparative politics using a wealth of topical examples from around the world, and then discusses the new challenges in the area.