In this new edition, the authors continue to offer an innovative blend of theory and empirical material as they introduce the politics of what was once called the "third world." They consistently link theoretical concepts to a set of eight contemporary case studies: China, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, and Zimbabwe. A central theme throughout the new edition is how the Covid-19 pandemic has worked as a hinge event—accelerating troubling trends and amplifying longstanding socioeconomic and political problems. 

Other features of the fifth edition include: 

 • Thoroughly revised chapters on economic and development issues • An update on regime transitions and the rise of authoritarianism 

 • Analysis of the status of conflict, terrorist movements, and weapons proliferation

 • An expanded discussion of populism and nationalism in both the economic and political spheres 

 • A comparison of the range of experiences and responses to the pandemic 

 The result is a text that has been successfully designed to challenge students' preconceptions, arouse their curiosity, and foster critical thinking. 

December Green and Laura Luehrmann are professors of political science at Wright State University. 

 Praise for the previous editions: 

 "This book outshines any other text I have seen.... The authors do a wonderful job of synthesizing a great deal of information and presenting it in terms that should engage an audience of undergraduates."—Dwight Hahn, John Carroll University

 "The writing style is lively and the detail is impressive.... another welcome innovation is the welding together of the discussion of key issues with the eight country cases." —Ross Burkhart, Boise State University