Advanced Introduction to Party Politics

Elgar Advanced Introductions series

理查德。S. Katz, Professor of Political Science, Johns Hopkins University, US

This insightful Advanced Introduction provides a comprehensive overview of the organisation, regulation and structure of political parties today. Richard S. Katz discusses the essential role that political parties play in modern democracies, with politics taking place within and among parties. Analysing the significant diversity found between political parties, Katz illustrates the profound impact that the legal definition and organisation of parties can have on a democratic system.

‘Richard Katz's book provides an authoritative and highly erudite tour of the world of party politics, surveying the key concepts and theories that populate the literature, and leavening the analysis with a wide variety of empirical examples and subtle reflection. A valuable guide to an extensive body of scholarship.’
– Paul Webb, University of Sussex, UK

‘This Advanced Introduction provides a stimulating entry point for both students and scholars seeking to better understand the multiple faces of contemporary party politics.’
– Susan Scarrow, University of Houston, US

‘Drawing upon his decades long work contributing to the contemporary study of political parties, Katz provides a concise and sophisticated analysis. Sweeping in coverage, this volume provides an insightful, high-level survey of the internal organization of parties, the contours of party systems, and the centrality of parties within democratic politics.’
– William Cross, Carleton University, Canada

‘This Advanced Introduction by a leading scholar covers all major aspects of political parties in parliamentary and presidential democracies. It introduces to the study of political parties by drawing on the major contributions to research, which makes it a truly advanced introduction in that it engages superbly with relevant scholarly debates.’
– Thomas Poguntke, University of Düsseldorf, Germany