World encyclopedia of political systems and parties /

This edition uses the same format and style as the former editions (1983, 1987). It notes the dramatic changes that have taken place in world politics since the late 1980s, particularly the downfall of communist rule in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe and the growth of democratic government and political party influence throughout the world. Arranged alphabetically by the common English name of each country, the work includes articles on 193 nations (compared with 169 in 1983 and 170 in 1987). The chapters have been completely rewritten by currently active scholars from such fields as political science, history, sociology, geography, and anthropology. The authors describe government structures, emphasizing executive, legislative, and judicial institutions and electoral systems, and offer brief historical, demographic, and economic information where appropriate. They describe the background and recent contributions of major and some minor political parties, as well as interest groups that influence the political process. Most chapters have at least one table illustrating party strength based on recent elections. Authors also evaluate present conditions and the future for government stability and political participation. Each chapter concludes with a bibliography. Each volume has a subject-author index and a list of acronyms. Recent rival sources include World Encyclopedia of Parliaments and Legislatures, ed. by G.T. Kurian (2v., CH, Jun'98) and Political Parties of the World (4th ed., 1996), but this new edition provides in a single source useful depth of information about both contemporary government structures and political parties. Highly recommended for all academic libraries. D. A. Lincove; Ohio State University

The stable and predictable political system of the U.S. is not the norm for what happens in most countries of the world, which is why libraries need The World Encyclopedia of Political Systems and Parties. Now in its third edition, this resource provides a snapshot of each country's political system and the parties that make it function the way it does. All articles have been updated to reflect changes since the second edition was published, in 1987. Information appears to be current through 1998. The arrangement of the set is alphabetical by country. Each entry begins with the English version of the country's name, followed by its name in the official language. Entries are signed and range from one page for the Federated States of Micronesia to 16^-20 pages for the larger superpowers, such as China and the U.S. Entries generally follow a standard format. The first section is "The System of Government," which provides an overview of the current executive, legislative, and judiciary branches, as well as regional and local government. Statistical information such as population (1998 estimates), land area, and ethnic makeup is included. Following this overview are descriptions of the electoral system and the party system. For larger countries each of the major parties is discussed separately, with treatment of such topics as history, policies, membership, and leadership. Additional sections may focus on other political forces, such as religion, economics, or ethnic conflicts and future prospects. All entries conclude with a bibliography of further readings. At the end of each volume is an index for the set (citing page numbers but not volumes) and a list of acronyms. This title would be appropriate for high-school through graduate-level students. For smaller libraries The Oxford Companion to Politics of the World (Oxford, 1993), which includes biographies and some broad topical essays, may be a better choice if funds are an issue. But The World Encyclopedia of Political Systems and Parties is recommended for comprehensiveness. Reference Books in Brief The following is a list of additional recent and recommended reference sources.