Biography

Research interests include: human rights; international relations; quantitative and qualitative political methodology. Author: Studying Human Rights (Routledge 2006), Protecting Human Rights: A Global Comparative Study (Georgetown University Press, 2005), Issues and Methods in Comparative Politics (Routledge 2000, 2003). Co-author (with Joe Foweraker): Citizenship Rights and Social Movements: A Comparative and Statistical Analysis (Oxford University Press 1997, 2000). Co-author with (Joe Foweraker and Neil Harvey): Governing Latin America (Polity 2003), and published articles in: The British Journal of Political Science; International Studies Quarterly; Political Studies; Electoral Studies; Democratization; Human Rights Quarterly. He is co-editor (forthcoming) with Neil Robinson of the Sage Handbook of Comparative Politics.

Recent Publications

Issues and Methods in Comparative Politics

Issues and Methods in Comparative Politics provides students with the answers to these fundamental questions. It is an accessible and user-friendly text which explores the strategies of comparative research in political science. It begins by examining different methods and then highlights some of the big issues of comparative politics, using topical examples emphasising the act of comparing as a means to explain observed phenomena.

* Part 1 shows how and why comparative politics is important, the strengths and weaknesses of different comparative methods, and the problems encountered in conducting political research
* Part II addresses the dominant issues in comparative politics, including economic development and democracy, violent political dissent and revolution, non-violent political dissent and social movements, transitions to democracy, and institutional design and democratic performance
* Part III draws important lessons for comparative politics and discusses the key challenges for the field in the next century.