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 write a book of this kind. He has an amazing grasp of the relevant literature, and he's compiled an unmatched collection of data. "--Robert A. Dahl, Yale University"This sound comparative research ... will continue to be a standard in graduate and undergraduate courses in comparative politics. "--"Choice"