A landmark study in the field of political science, The
Changing
Architecture of Politics charts the profound structural
changes taking
place in the late twentieth-century state. Looking at both
theory and
practice, Cerny argues that political structures--states in
the broadest
sense--are the key to understanding both the history and the
future of
modern politics. Included for discussion are such salient
topics as the
problem of locating institutional and structural theory
within political
and social science, how to describe and classify the main
elements of
political structures, and a penetrating analysis of the
structured
action field that lies at the crossroads of political
structuration. In
addition, he explores several core areas in practice,
including how
states will operate in the next century and how states will
interact
with the manifold changes in social and economic
processes--at both the
domestic and international levels.
Through his masterly portrayal of the architecture of
contemporary
politics, Cerny lays the foundations for an understanding of
new
political structures that are needed if the pursuit of human
values is
to continue into the next century. As such, this fascinating
volume will
appeal to all those interested in the paradigms of political
and social
science, whether from a purely theoretical or from a more
empirical
standpoint.
"This is the best introduction available in English to
contemporary
academic discussions about the purpose and prospects of
applying the
comparative method to political science. Cerny′s book is
comprehensive
in scope and accomplishes three, quite rare tasks: it brings
together
material on North America, Western Europe, and Japan; it
combines
theories of comparative politics and international
relations; it pays
equal attention to systems of party competition and of
interest
intermediation, although its primary focus is upon the
state. Philip
Cerny has produced a tour de force, an intelligent, erudite,
and
comprehensive text that cuts decisively through artificial
barriers
within the discipline."
--Political Science Quarterly
`In my view, it is the best introduction available in English to contemporary academic discussions about the purpose and prospects of applying the comparative method to political science.... Cerny′s book is comprehensive in scope and accomplishes three quite rare tasks: it brings together material on North America, Western Europe and Japan... it combines theories of comparative politics and international relations; it pays equal attention to systems of party competition and of interest intermediation, although its primary focus is upon the state.... Philip Cerny has produced a tour de force
, an intelligent, erudite and comprehensive text that cuts decisively through artificial barriers within the discipline′ - Political Science Quarterly
`Philip Cerny has written a superb analysis of the changing conditions of statehood′ - Canadian Journal of Political Science
