Books by Duncan Watts

Your handy guide to the British political systemNew for this edition Updated throughout to reflect the outcome of the 2010 General ElectionAll relevant case studies and tables replaced with new dataBrand new chapter on Britain and the EUThis one-stop textbook introduction examines the institutions and practices integral to the British political systems and makes comparisons with the experience of other countries.Topics includeThe ConstitutionThe LegislatureThe ExecutiveThe JudiciaryGovernment Beyond the CentrePolitical PartiesPressure GroupsVoting and ElectionsDemocracy in Theory and PracticeBritain and the European Union

A Glossary of UK Government and Politics is a handy reference guide to the events, personnel, policies and institutions relevant to the government and politics of the United Kingdom. It includes a series of authoritative definitions and explanations and sharp vignettes of some of the leading characters who have graced the political scene in recent years. It is ideal for students who come across references which are new to them and on which they want or need to know more. The entries are accessible and manageable, yet sufficiently informative, offering basic details and something more by way of interpretation and insight into basic arguments and current controversies.

The European Union is a distinctive creation. There have been several examples of countries that have forged links in ventures of mutual benefit, but in aim, method and achievement this union has gone much further than the others.From the beginning, the EU has always been more than just a customs union. It has aimed for an ever closer union of its peoples and has developed supranational institutions with powers binding upon its members. Since its creation in 1993 it has also grown in size and in the extent of its responsibilities. Integration and intergovernmentalism have been the two forces at work in the evolution of the Community into the Union of 27 members today.In this volume the author sets out to provide an authoritative study of the EU, which clearly explains how it functions and makes it intelligible to a wide readership.

Written specifically for A2 students of government and politics, this book covers the comparative dimension of advanced level study, directly comparing the political systems and the social and cultural settings in the UK and USA. -- .

Scientists have begun to apply insights from the theoretical study of networks to understand forms as superficially different as social networks and electrical networks, computer networks and economic networks, and to show how common principles underlie them all. Duncan J.