What are the markers of authoritarian and democratic states and all those that fall somewhere in-between? How do principles, institutions and political processes differ from state to state? And what can we learn from political comparison on a global scale?Comparative Government and Politics offers a compelling and accessible introduction to the subject. This book will help you to understand the wide range of institutions and political cultures across the world, including: the common essential elements and levers of a state, how democratic and authoritarian regimes operate internally and on the global stage, and the relationship between a population and a polity. An essential text for courses on Comparative Politics, Comparative Government, Introduction to Politics and Introduction to Political Science.This Thirteenth Edition includes: An increased focus on themes of democratic reversal and declining trust Coverage of contemporary topics with new and extended coverage of LGBTQ+ issues, identity politics and populism New and updated country spotlights, reflecting the changing state of democracy across the world An accessible design for students of all levels, with maps, diagrams and tables, discussion questions and further reading suggestions A companion website with features to support continued learning: bloomsbury.pub/comparative-government-and-politics-13e