`The two editors are to be commended for their fine editorial work. The chapters have been grouped and linked together nicely, and this makes it definitely easier to read on, when you have started. Budge and McKay have put together a volume which is not only a decent tribute to the man [Jean Blondel], but which can also stand on its own as am expos[ac]e and discussion of central parts of comparative politics in the post-1989 era.... This is a very good collection of articles, useful for classroom - as well as for research purposes. It is first and foremost an appropriate tribute to a fine scholar and a great entrepreneur' - West European Politics

`A carefully constructed whole, deserving of the reader's respect.... The book is worth buying' - Political Studies

`Contains many examples of the kind of political science with which Blondel was associated... Most of the chapters in the book fit within the methodological assumptions of Blondel's conception of political science.... Blondel founded an important school of political science, which has been a powerful agent of change and new thinking in the discipline.... This book reminds us both of the strengths of the paradigm with which Blondel is associated' - Government and Opposition

`The volume is dedicated to the British political scientist, Jean Blondel... Blondel is one of the founders of comparative politics whose aim has been to understand and reflect positive as well as negative aspects of different democratic regimes drawing on examples of all nation states in the world.... the volume expands the knowledge of how democracy works, and in this sense it is a contribution to what `developing democracy' could mean in practice. It is written in a classic scientific manner, and it primarily addresses students and academics with an interest in comparative politics and democratic theory' - Futuresco