Modern World Governments is an introductory course in comparative political analysis. The assumption here is that you can understand something better by putting it into a broader comparative perspective. We will begin by exploring some essential general concepts, and then go on to analyze a number of states as case studies. These states are chosen for their diverse levels of political development, as well as for their differing historical and cultural traditions. However, by using a uniform analytical framework, we can come to an appreciation not just of the differences that separate them, but also of the similarities that bind them together as members of the international society.