Governments and politics in a changing world / Robert E. Gamer.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Basics: Acquiring a vocabulary; Government institutions; Political parties and elections; Citizen participation; Influence; Political recruitment, socialization, and culture -- Acquiring influence: Political recruitment, Understanding public issues, Resources: Food, clothing and shelter, Job and skills, Into institutions; Poltical socialization: Who can rule?, What do I seek from rulers?, How should I use influence? -- Using influence: Political culture, National identity, Equality and recruitment, Power and authority, Legal protection, Assimilation into modern institutions; Parties, interest groups, and elections, Politcal parties, Interest groups, Consensual parties and change; Government institutions, Legislatures and executives, Bureaucracy, military, pluralism, and corruption, Law and public policy -- Influence and people's lives: Equality, Material well- being, Opportunity; Freedom; Environment; Public order -- Systems, influence and change: Influencing change; Corporate and state consumer systems; Patron-client systems; Transforming systems.

Study of comparative politics.... Throughout this book, we shall be discussing nine political systems.... United States, West Germany, United Kingdom ... commonly called industrialized democracies.... India, Peru, Nigeria ... developing nations.... Commonwealth of Independent States, East Germany, China ... are (or have been until recently) communist systems. -Pref.