This book systematically analyzes Sartori's complete body of scholarship in English for the first time. It seeks to cover all of Sartori's main theories, many of which he developed in response to his dissatisfaction with the existing knowledge. The authors begin with the philosophical foundations of his work; then, they look at his conception of democracy. The authors will pause momentarily to discuss Sartori's general theory of dictatorship. Still, they return to democracy and its main actors, such as political parties and party systems, and to the forms of democracy, i.e., the various democratic regimes Sartori examined primarily in terms of their functionality. Finally, the book examines Sartori's methodology of political science and the social sciences and, in general, his view of political science and its purpose.

The first English language book devoted to Satori as a central figure in contemporary political science The first systematic analysis of all works by Sartori A short and accessible text

Autorentext

Marek Bankowicz is a Professor of Political Science at the Faculty of International and Political Studies, Jagiellonian University. His expertise includes both political theory and comparative politics, among others, the theory of democracy and the modern history and politics of Czechia.

Michal Kubát is a Professor of Political Science at the Faculty of Social Sciences, Charles University. His expertise includes comparative politics, concretely, among others, democratic and non-democratic regimes, presidential politics, and the political systems of Central Europe.

Inhalt

.- Chapter 1 Introduction.- Chapter 2 Sartori's Beginnings in Philosophy.- Chapter 3 Polemics with Marxism.- Chapter 4 On Democracy.- Chapter 5 A General Theory of Dictatorship.- Chapter 6 Democracy and Political Parties.- Chapter 7 Functional and Dysfunctional Democracies.- Chapter 8 Science and Political Science.- Chapter 9 Conclusion.