This analysis of political stability in Western Europe explores the role of two major forms of systemic conflict resolution - neo-corporatism and consociationalism. Political Stability and Neo-Corporatism focuses on recent experiences in eight western European countries that share two characteristics. Firstly, they have either long-established patterns of neo-corporatism (Belgium, Switzerland, Austria and the Netherlands) or have recently undertaken experiments in this mode of policy-making (Ireland, France, Italy and Spain). Secondly, they all have pronounced societal cleavages which should make them prone to suffering from serious and persistent conflicts. The high degree of political, social and economic integration achieved by neo-corporatist and consociational arrangements, accounts for the stability of these countries. The book opens up new areas for comparative research using a theoretical framework which encompasses both economic and social patterns of conflict and change. The approach advanced by the contributors makes possible the comparative analysis of diverse and complex political systems, whilst avoiding overgeneralized and abstract explanations.

This book presents a state-of-the art collection of original contributions on democracy, addressing three related themes: the complexity of modern democracies and their structural diversity; coping strategies of democracies in times of crises; and current and potential trajectories and transformations of democracy. The first part of the book maps the democratic landscape by revealing the diversity of democratic political systems, through either comparative analysis or case studies on the specific nature of political and administrative systems in interest intermediation and identity construction. The second part presents articles that investigate the response of democracies to times of crisis, with an emphasis on political economies and policy processes within the European Union. The third part offers studies on democracies that explore their adaptive potential in the context of globalization and in that of broader technical, institutional or cultural changes.

Examining 36 democracies from 1945 to 2010, this text arrives at conclusions about what type of democracy works best. It demonstrates that consensual systems stimulate economic growth, control inflation and unemployment, and limit budget deficits.

This work brings together studies on the participation of employers' and workers' representatives in economic and social policy-making in a variety of contexts. A comparative analysis, eight-country chapters, and monographs on French-speaking Africa and Latin America cover both institutional settings and informal arrangements for tripartism.

This essential new book brings together world class scholars to provide a completely new comparative politics text. It offers a comprehensive reivew of the complete democratic process and provides a framework for measuring and evaluating contemporary democracy and democratic performance around the world.

While it may be difficult to achieve and maintain stable democratic governments in countries with deep religious, ideological, linguistic, cultural, or ethnic cleavages, Lijphart argues that it is not at all impossible. Through the analysis of political systems in six continents, he demonstrates that what he calls consociational democracy can be successful in severely divided or plural societies. "Here, once again, Arend Lijphart is directing our attention to matters which will surely engage much of the attention of students of comparative politics in the next decade." G. Bingham Powell, Jr., American Political Science Review "A study which can speak to such a wide audience in political science deserves a warm welcome from the profession." Government and Opposition "A copybook example of the comparative method of political analysis, as well as indispensable reading for all who have an interest in the nature and prospects of representative democracy, whether in Europe or beyond."--The Times Higher Education Supplement "This well-written work, containing a wealth of information on politics of many diverse nations, is highly recommended."--Library Journal