System and Succession: The Social Bases of Political Elite Recruitment

System and Succession provides a comparative analysis of the social composition of national political leadership in the United States, Russia, Germany, and Mexico. These systems were chosen as case studies because their forms of government are representative of many others, because they are conveniently suited for comparison, and because they have high internal control over their own means of recruitment. Drawing on a mass of data and an extensive bibliography, Nagle's comprehensive study exhibits a mastery of the intricacies of these four quite divergent political systems. Complete time-series data covering several generations of elite recruitment provide the basis for a new methodological approach to comparative elite analysis. The author investigates, among other issues, elite displacements associated with revolution, economic crises, and postwar peace and prosperity. Especially important differences along class and generational lines are found in the elite displacements associated with the revolutions in Germany (1918), Russia (1917–1921), and Mexico (1910–1920). The American case serves as a nonrevolutionary control case. The overriding theoretical issue throughout System and Succession is the debate among Marxists, radical democrats, and pluralists over the importance of elite social composition for equitable representation of social or class interests. Nagle develops a convincing argument supporting the Marxist thesis that the importance of class in elite recruitment is a defining characteristic of the political system. System and Succession will be of particular interest to scholars in comparative politics. Political scientists in other areas, as well as historians and sociologists interested in the four countries examined, will also find this book provocative.

Politics & Social Sciences

Nagle, John D.

Anthropology

University of Texas Press

System and Succession provides a comparative analysis of the social composition of national political leadership in the United States, Russia, Germany, and Mexico. These systems were chosen as case studies because their forms of government are representative of many others, because they are conveniently suited for comparison, and because they have high internal control over their own means of recruitment. Drawing on a mass of data and an extensive bibliography, Nagle's comprehensive study exhibits a mastery of the intricacies of these four quite divergent political systems. Complete time-series data covering several generations of elite recruitment provide the basis for a new methodological approach to comparative elite analysis. The author investigates, among other issues, elite displacements associated with revolution, economic crises, and postwar peace and prosperity. Especially important differences along class and generational lines are found in the elite displacements associated with the revolutions in Germany (1918), Russia (1917–1921), and Mexico (1910–1920). The American case serves as a nonrevolutionary control case. The overriding theoretical issue throughout System and Succession is the debate among Marxists, radical democrats, and pluralists over the importance of elite social composition for equitable representation of social or class interests. Nagle develops a convincing argument supporting the Marxist thesis that the importance of class in elite recruitment is a defining characteristic of the political system. System and Succession will be of particular interest to scholars in comparative politics. Political scientists in other areas, as well as historians and sociologists interested in the four countries examined, will also find this book provocative.

Social Sciences

Univ of Texas Pr

Democracy and Democratization: Post-Communist Europe in Comparative Perspective (SAGE Politics Texts series)

This wide-ranging overview of the processes of democratization in post-Communist Europe, places the transitions in East-Central Europe within a broad European and global context. The authors begin with a introduction to the concept and theories of democracy and then examine the emerging politics of the new democracies to set the post-Communist transitions in longer-term comparative perspective with earlier and existing processes of democratization in Southern Europe, Latin America, and East and Southeast Asia. Finally the politics of EU accession are introduced to place the transitions within the wider context of European integration. Concluding with a summary of recent critiques of modern democ

Mahr, Alison

Politics & Government

Sage Publications Ltd.

Sociology

The crisis of the left is an historic rethinking and renewal project, not an «end of history». All political value systems (liberalism, conservatism, socialism) have in the past been forced to undergo painful criticism and re-evaluation of their politics, and they have revitalized themselves, because their values speak to core problems of the human condition. Seeming confusion and loss of certainty are necessary parts of the renewal process, now underway with the collapse of communism and the decline of the social democratic welfare state. Confession indicates both willingness to confront past error, and confirmation of the commitment to renewal. John Nagle's work sets the context for left rethinking, identifies crucial positions for reworking, and offers tentative ideas about an emergent new synthesis. A renewed left politics is essential for building a progressive counterbalance to a dominant global liberalism.

Confessions from the Left: On the Pain, Necessity, and Joys of Political Renewal (Major Concepts in Politics and Political Theory)

Philosophy

Peter Lang Inc., International Academic Publishers

Introduction to comparative politics: Political system performance in three worlds

Nelson/Hall

Introduces students to the major challenges facing political systems.

Introduction to Comparative Politics: Challenges of Conflict and Change in a New Era

Education & Teaching

Schools & Teaching

Burnham Inc Pub.

This updated text introduces students to the major challenges facing political systems as we approach the year 2000. The systems are grouped into three types: the advanced, liberal, democracies; the Communist and post-Communist nations; and the developing nations. Nagle examines the performance records of these systems in four areas -- economic growth, social equality, personal liberty, and quality of life. The fifth edition has a major focus on transitions from Communism to post-Communism. It pays more attention to Japan, India, and Mexico as examples, and treats issues like ethnic conflict, crisis in the welfare state, and new world disorder. Nagle provides the latest data available.

Wadsworth Publishing

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Books by Nagle, John D.