By revealing the contextual conditions which promote or hinder democratic development, Comparative Politics shows how democracy may not be the best institutional arrangement given a country's unique set of historical, economic, social, cultural and international circumstances. 

• Addresses the contextual conditions which promote or hinder democratic development
• Reveals that democracy may not be the best institutional arrangement given a country's unique set of historical, economic, social, cultural and international circumstances
• Applies theories and principles relating to the promotion of the development of democracy to the contemporary case studies

John T. Ishiyama is Professor of Political Science at the University of North Texas. He is editor in chief of the Journal of Political Science Education. Professor Ishiyama is the author of six books and over 100 articles on political science-related issues. He studies the politics of post-communist eastern and central Europe and Africa (especially Ethiopia).