"By revealing the contextual conditions which promote or hinder democratic development, Comparative Politics shows how democracy may not be the best institutional arrangement given a country's unique set of historical, economic, social, cultural and international circumstances. Addresses the contextual conditions which promote or hinder democratic development . Reveals that democracy may not be the best institutional arrangement given a country's unique set of historical, economic, social, cultural and international circumstances. Applies theories and principles relating to the promotion of the development of democracy to the contemporary case studies"--Provided by publisher. "How does one promote the development of political democracy? And what are the factors that help explain the emergence of political democracy? By providing the answers to questions like these, Comparative Politics helps shape our understanding of why the "building" of democracy in post-war Iraq remains so elusive -- and reveals that democracy may not, in fact, be the best institutional arrangement given a country's unique set of historical, economic, social, cultural and international circumstances. After examining the historical development of democracy in such cases as Great Britain, France, the U.S., Germany, Russia, and Japan, chapters proceed to address the contextual conditions which promote or hinder democratic development. Choices and elements of the "design" of political systems are then con