Presidentialism: Power in Comparative Perspective

In countries as diverse as Brazil, Ecuador, France, Russia, South Africa, and the United States, presidents have come to dominate the politics and political cultures of their nations. Michael Mezey offers a comprehensive cross-national study of the presidency, tracing the historical and intellectual roots of executive power and exploring in detail the contemporary forces that have driven a turn toward “presidentialism.

Contents: Preface. 1. An Introduction to Presidentialism. 2. An Intellectual History of Executive Power. 3. A Comparative Perspective on Presidential Power. 4. Presidentialism and the Size of Government. 5. Presidentialism and Globalism. 6. Presidentialism and the People. 7. The Perils and Promise of Presidentialism.Bibliography. Index.