In this updated and expanded edition of his classic text, Arend Lijphart offers a broader and deeper analysis of worldwide democratic institutions than ever before. Examining thirty-six democracies during the period from 1945 to 2010, Lijphart arrives at important--and unexpected--conclusions about what type of democracy works best.

Praise for the previous edition

"Magnificent. . . . The best-researched book on democracy in the world today."--Malcolm Mackerras, American Review of Politics

"I can't think of another scholar as well qualified as Lijphart to...