Book Description: This is a new edition of an introductory work, offering an analysis of democracy, political behaviour, political evaluation, policy-making and comparative political systems. 170 political systems are classified according to their degree of democracy and a new chapter on people in power is included. The text describes the differences between democratic and non-democratic political systems, offers explanations for alternative views of power and illustrates why democracy is able to exist in some countries but not in others. This edition also includes a new section on women and political behaviour and revised political orientations section.