The new edition of this leading overview of comparative politics once again blends theory & evidence across democratic systems to provide unparalleled coverage The student-friendly structure & clear concise writing ensure that complex issues are clearly explained & students engage with the key theories The third edition is updated throughout with a new chapter ' Public Spending & Public Policies' increased coverage of defective democracies & revised coverage of e-democracy & the power of the media The pedagogy is simplified with a focus on ' Briefings' & ' Controversies' that feature examples from across the globe alongside clear key terms ' What We Have Learned' & ' Lessons of Comparison' sections & a wealth of online materials to complete a rich teaching & learning package