Richard Hodder-Williams – författare

This wide-ranging and informative introduction to politics in tropical Africa, first published in 1984, is essential reading to students, businessmen, government officials and economic advisers alike. Situating the contemporary scene firmly in its historical context, which stresses both pre-colonial and colonial heritages, he emphasizes how politicians are constrained by the past, the physical environment and the world’s economy, yet still retain freedom of choice on a wide range of issues. The book is thematically organised and provides both an overview of the general similarities of the continent and also enough detail to flesh out the realities of tribalism and corruption, as well as illustrating the variations that inevitably occur in a continent of sovereign states.

This wide-ranging and informative introduction to politics in tropical Africa, first published in 1984, is essential reading to students, businessmen, government officials and economic advisers alike. Situating the contemporary scene firmly in its historical context, which stresses both pre-colonial and colonial heritages, he emphasizes how politicians are constrained by the past, the physical environment and the world’s economy, yet still retain freedom of choice on a wide range of issues. The book is thematically organised and provides both an overview of the general similarities of the continent and also enough detail to flesh out the realities of tribalism and corruption, as well as illustrating the variations that inevitably occur in a continent of sovereign states.

Since 1991 more than a dozen new land-locked states have emerged to be confronted with the geostrategic problems of access and communications. Contributors present the implications of land-lockedness and the historical development of trade routes.

First published in 1970 Public opinion polls and British politics provides an introductory guide to political polling in Britain. The book describes the polling organizations themselves, their sampling methods, and some of the general problems encountered in survey work. A distinction is drawn between polls concerned with voting intentions (predictive polls) and polls concerned with the expression of opinion (opinion polls), and problems of interpretation in each are discussed. Public opinion polls are then considered in the context of British politics – firstly their relationship with the general principles of representative democracy, and secondly their effect on the practice of politics. Finally, a word of caution is sounded against taking the polls too seriously as accurate indicators of the thinking of the British electorate and also against treating the implications of their potential uses too lightly. This book is a must read for students of British politics, election studies and political science.

First published in 1970 Public opinion polls and British politics provides an introductory guide to political polling in Britain. The book describes the polling organizations themselves, their sampling methods, and some of the general problems encountered in survey work. A distinction is drawn between polls concerned with voting intentions (predictive polls) and polls concerned with the expression of opinion (opinion polls), and problems of interpretation in each are discussed. Public opinion polls are then considered in the context of British politics – firstly their relationship with the general principles of representative democracy, and secondly their effect on the practice of politics. Finally, a word of caution is sounded against taking the polls too seriously as accurate indicators of the thinking of the British electorate and also against treating the implications of their potential uses too lightly. This book is a must read for students of British politics, election studies and political science.

First published in 1980, The Politics of the US Supreme Court offers the first introductory analysis of the US Supreme Court written by a non-American political scientist specifically for students. It provides three distinct advantages: First, it presents the Supreme Court in an accessible format for those unfamiliar with the American judicial system, while offering American readers a fresh political perspective that contrasts with predominantly legal academic literature. Second, the author's broad perspective enables a concise synthesis of the Court's historical and contemporary constitutional role, decision-making processes, and relationships with other branches of government and the American people. The analysis centres on a detailed examination of the Court's internal decision-making process, including the enforcement (or lack thereof) of its decisions. Third, the book addresses the theoretical debate about an unaccountable Court's proper role within a democratic system—a topic of growing interest to political scientists globally.The text deliberately avoids excessive legalism, instead offering a lively, readable account rooted in concrete examples and the human personalities behind case names, making this complex institution more accessible and engaging. This book will be a valuable historical reference for students of American Politics.

First published in 1980, The Politics of the US Supreme Court offers the first introductory analysis of the US Supreme Court written by a non-American political scientist specifically for students. It provides three distinct advantages: First, it presents the Supreme Court in an accessible format for those unfamiliar with the American judicial system, while offering American readers a fresh political perspective that contrasts with predominantly legal academic literature. Second, the author's broad perspective enables a concise synthesis of the Court's historical and contemporary constitutional role, decision-making processes, and relationships with other branches of government and the American people. The analysis centres on a detailed examination of the Court's internal decision-making process, including the enforcement (or lack thereof) of its decisions. Third, the book addresses the theoretical debate about an unaccountable Court's proper role within a democratic system—a topic of growing interest to political scientists globally.The text deliberately avoids excessive legalism, instead offering a lively, readable account rooted in concrete examples and the human personalities behind case names, making this complex institution more accessible and engaging. This book will be a valuable historical reference for students of American Politics.