NationStates Jolt Archive

I live in the U.S and as such I am surrounded by a plethora of book about why the American government is or isn't working, representing the people, truly democratic, etc. Frankly, I'm bored crapless with the topic. I have been taking a summer course "Comparative Political Systems: Democratic Political Systems" however, there has not been much comparison going on in the assigned reading, it has all been about the American government. Some good books really, don't get me wrong, but I think the Professor missed the point of the course. Well, I finally have a chance to rectify this. For our final research project I have been given quite a bit of latitude choosing the topic. I would like to do a comparison of the British government and the American government. My school library, public library, and the private collections of all my friends and anyone in this class who I can get a hold of have been scoured to no avail. I can find NO BOOKS about the British government that I can use for a comparison study. So, if you know of any good books about the British government or especially anything done as a comparative study please let me know so I can try to find it online. Thanks in advance for the help!

http://www.amazon.com/British-Government-Politics-Comparative-Guides/dp/074862323X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/002-4946345-0429615?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186536389&sr=8-2

http://www.amazon.com/British-System-Government-Anthony-Birch/dp/0415183898/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-4946345-0429615?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186536389&sr=8-1

Amazon is your friend.

Yeah, there are plenty of books available on the internet. Can your library order in books from other libraries?

On the topic of comparative analysis, I'm actually in the middle of trying to start my assignment comparing an aspect of developing countries, but can't decide which countries to look at and which aspect to focus on. NSG + procrastinating = win.

there's bound to be tonnes of stuff on here:

http://www.jstor.org/

Huh, a senior essay of mine (edit: not honors thesis, too tired, mispoke, my honors thesis was on something different) in college was basically about that topic (although, a bit more focus than merely "here's the difference between the US and the UK).

Although I do remember something about how the UK system of leadership means that their chief government official is placed into power only by the electing members of his constituency, whereas the US, while it may be seperated from the popular vote via the electoral college, the system, in the modern era, largely reflects the popular view of the entire voting nation to choose its national leader.

I wrote that in the spring of 2000.

oops.

Basically, the British government is the Westminster system, and the US government is a Presidential system.

If you can learn and understand the differences you'll be a long way towards knowing the answer.

Yeah, there are plenty of books available on the internet. Can your library order in books from other libraries?

On the topic of comparative analysis, I'm actually in the middle of trying to start my assignment comparing an aspect of developing countries, but can't decide which countries to look at and which aspect to focus on. NSG + procrastinating = win.

maybe try to narrow it to perhaps...post colonial nations? Hell, maybe look at the prototype "successful" "recent" colony turned independant, india, and contrast that with some of the problems faced by...oh hell, Zimbabwe or other crippled african economies.

Considering the introverted nature of government libraries, no surprise you can't get much "British" stuff in the USA. Maybe some uni friends can get access to these books for you?

Seriously.

British government (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_system)

US government (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_system)

That will give you the basic ideas. It's more complicated on both sides, but those two links should give you a good idea. Incidentally, you should point out that the British/Westminster system is better, even if that's only because I believe it to be.

British government (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westminster_system)

US government (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presidential_system)

I think he was after a book because citing Wikipedia = bad.

I wasn't telling him to cite Wikipedia. I was offering Wikipedia as a generally reliable source of getting the basics of the two political systems, and working out the differences, before beginning his answer. There is absolutely nothing wrong with reasserting initial and basic ideas through Wikipedia, so long as you cite the sources that helped you develop your ideas.

I wasn't telling him to cite Wikipedia. I was offering Wikipedia as a generally reliable source of getting the basics of the two political systems, and working out the differences, before beginning his answer. There is absolutely nothing wrong with reasserting initial and basic ideas through Wikipedia, so long as you cite the sources that helped you develop your ideas.

Oh, I definitely agree there.

there's bound to be tonnes of stuff on here:

http://www.jstor.org/

Would he not need an Athens Password for that?

My school library, public library, and the private collections of all my friends and anyone in this class who I can get a hold of have been scoured to no avail. I can find NO BOOKS about the British government that I can use for a comparison study.


Do US public libraries not do interlibrary loans?


And try this book

http://www.amazon.com/English-Constitution-Walter-Bagehot/dp/1602062560/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/102-9149282-8248923?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186570861&sr=1-1

;)

(EDIT:: The all knowing wikipedia even links to a free copy http://socserv.mcmaster.ca/econ/ugcm/3ll3/bagehot/constitution.pdf :))

well our library had plenty of stuff while i was at Cardiff uni studying politics. what's that national university library index website thingy? there was a site i used to know where you could search the Cardiff library and other libraries for books, and stuff... but i can't remember the name or URL. some of the books were available as e-editions, too.

bugger.


you could try emailing a couple of british universities. cambridge, oxford, london school of economics, warwick, cardiff... just a few off the top of my head that are good for economics or politics
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/good_university_guide/article671847.ece

well our library had plenty of stuff while i was at Cardiff uni studying politics. what's that national university library index website thingy? there was a site i used to know where you could search the Cardiff library and other libraries for books, and stuff... but i can't remember the name or URL. some of the books were available as e-editions, too.

bugger.


you could try emailing a couple of british universities. cambridge, oxford, london school of economics, warwick, cardiff... just a few off the top of my head that are good for economics or politics
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/good_university_guide/article671847.ece

Sounds like COPAC
http://copac.ac.uk/wzgw

Would he not need an Athens Password for that?



oh yeah probably. well his school might have one. worth an enquiry anyway.

Yes, there are interlibrary loans in the US.

Sounds like COPAC
http://copac.ac.uk/wzgw

*shrugs* i really don't remember. i hardly used it ;)

but i know there was a system. i also remember the name Athens being passed around a lot...