Materials & Readings
Patterns of Democracy
In this updated and expanded edition of his classic text, Arend Lijphart offers a broader and deeper analysis of worldwide democratic institutions than ever before. Examining thirty-six democracies during the period from 1945 to 2010, Lijphart arrives at important--and unexpected--conclusions about what type of democracy works best.
The Dictator's Handbook: Why Bad Behavior Is Almost Always Good Politics
Bruce Bueno de Mesquita and Alastair Smith have been part of a team revolutionizing the study of politics. They start from a single assertion: Leaders do whatever keeps them in power. They don't care about the national interest or even their subjects unless they have to. The difference between tyrants and democrats is just a convenient fiction.
Background Information
- CIA. The World Factbook This link opens in a new window
An annual publication from the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, with basic background information and statistics on all countries.
Access note: Freely available to the public. Government resources may be unexpectedly unavailable or altered in alignment with current federal administration priorities. - CQ Press Library This link opens in a new window
Provides access to many of CQ Press's reference titles on government and politics.
- Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
An online, cross-searchable collection of reference books on a variety of subjects from more than 50 publishers.
Credo Reference is a database with definitions, background information and concept maps of related terms.
