Handbook of Comparative Political Institutions

This comprehensive Handbook presents a broad range of theoretical, methodological and empirical perspectives on the comparative study of political institutions. Exploring cutting-edge developments in the field, it provides new insight into the significant diversity and impact of political institutions across space and time.

Highlighting the omnipresence of political institutions in today’s world, this Handbook covers both traditional and emerging institutions and traces the intricate relationships between them. Expert contributors analyse the design, functioning and transformation of political institutions, and identify their impacts on public policy, economic development and the quality of democracy. Adopting a holistic approach, they examine the foundations of the field alongside a carefully curated set of institutional case studies. The Handbook also outlines a forward-looking research agenda for the field, demonstrating how new theories and methodologies can be leveraged to further advance the comparative study of political institutions.

Providing an accessible overview of one of the founding pillars of political science, the Handbook of Comparative Political Institutions is an invaluable resource for students and scholars of international politics and public policy. It is also an important read for practitioners seeking to craft political systems that align with the demands and expectations of contemporary citizens.

Edited by Adrian Vatter, Full Professor of Political Science and Rahel Freiburghaus,Postdoctoral Researcher, Institute of Political Science, University of Bern, Switzerland