Modern Governments – serie

This well-established textbook gives students a thorough understanding of the machinery and processes of government in the United Kingdom as well as of the forces shaping the country’s politics. For the fourth edition the text has been substantially updated to take account of the many significant shifts in British politics since 1997, especially the constitutional reforms of the 1997 Labour government. Extensive annotated guides to further reading and suggested questions for discussion at the end of each chapter. A greater use of illustrative material, case studies and graphics, which supplement the text in a lively manner. Clear summaries of arguments and chronologies of complex events, as well as boxes giving biographical data on significant political figures. A dedicated website, www.blackwellpublishing.com/peele, features information on the book, sample chapters, updated articles so that teachers and students can be regularly updated between editions. A range of Internet resources to encourage students to keep up-to-date with a rapidly changing subject matter.

This fourth edition provides an in-depth, up-to-date, chronological analysis of Japan’s current political system and the contributions of its leaders. It emphasizes why Japan and its politics matters in a global society. Ideal for college courses on Japanese or comparative politics as well as for those interested in Japanese war memory, constitutional revision, and Japan’s relationship with the US, China, and North and South Korea Investigates the divided aspects existing below the veneer of consensus in Japanese politics Explores conflicts between power-hungry political groups as well as fundamental differences regarding Japan’s constitution, the interpretation of Japanese actions in the Asia-Pacific War, and Japan’s place in today’s world Advocates a system that readily permits changes of party in power for the present system dominated by the Liberal Democratic Party Examines the extreme statements of high profile politicians to determine whether a "nationalist resurgence” in Japan is real or not Sheds light on the official incompetence and the spectacular rise of civil society following the Kobe earthquake Features numerous Japanese sources