Balancing theory with application and featuring an exciting full-color design and engaging, student-friendly writing style, Dr. Hauss's COMPARATIVE POLITICS is the best-selling comprehensive text for Introduction to Comparative Politics. The book uses a unique theme--DOMESTIC RESPONSES TO GLOBAL CHALLENGES--to introduce key concepts and examine the growing interdependence among strong and weak states through the discussion of 11 countries and the European Union. In boxed features that are color-coded for easy cross-reference and comparison, the introduction establishes a comparative structure based on five themes explored for each country. The themes are conflict, democratization, economic liberalization, globalization, and challenges. The countries discussed are categorized by economic development, helping you hone your skills of comparison, synthesis, and interpretation by studying countries of similar economic status. With this uniquely effective text, you can gain an understanding of important political trends and concepts, an exposure to politics in a number of countries, and a desire to dig more deeply into the fascinating field of comparative politics.