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We are now entering a new era of computing in political science. The first era was marked by punched-card technology. Initially, the most sophisticated analyses possible were frequency counts and tables produced on a counter-sorter, a machine that specialized in chewing up data cards. By the early 1960s, batch processing on large mainframe computers became the predominant mode of data analysis, with turnaround time of up to a week. By the late 1960s, turnaround time was cut down to a matter of a few minutes and OSIRIS and then SPSS (and more recently SAS) were developed as general-purpose data analysis packages for the social sciences. Even today, use of these packages in batch mode remains one of the most efficient means of processing large-scale data analysis.

We are now entering a new era of computing in political science. The first era was marked by punched-card technology. Initially, the most sophisticated analyses possible were frequency counts and tables produced on a counter-sorter, a machine that specialized in chewing up data cards. By the early 1960s, batch processing on large mainframe computers became the predominant mode of data analysis, with turnaround time of up to a week. By the late 1960s, turnaround time was cut down to a matter of a few minutes and OSIRIS and then SPSS (and more recently SAS) were developed as general-purpose data analysis packages for the social sciences. Even today, use of these packages in batch mode remains one of the most efficient means of processing large-scale data analysis.

If disciplines can be likened to living things, then perhaps political
science is best characterized not by familiar symbols—e.g., the
elephant, the donkey, or the eagle—but by a small sea creature: the
hermit crab. Rather than generating its own protective cover, the hermit
crab adopts the foreign shells that it comes across; it makes a home for
itself by utilizing the previous works of other crustaceans. For many
years, the discipline of political science—like other areas within
the social and behavioral sciences—built its own frameworks using
the analytical tools found in outside disciplines. Borrowing heavily from
econometrics, psychometrics, and biometrics, political scientists examined
empirical data as they tested theories about individual behavior,
organizational dynamics, and governmental processes. The substantive ends
were of primary interest, and therefore less attention was paid to the
means of inquiry. The authors wish to thank
Michael Brintnall for sharing the American Political Science
Association's data on job postings, and David Campbell, Tom Carsey,
Suzanna DeBoef, Jeff Gill, John Jackson, Jonathan Nagler, Herb Weisberg,
and Sarah Wilson for helpful comments and suggestions on previous versions
of this article.

Machiavelli is presented as the founder of modern political science, with due regard to the fact that he never spoke of "political science." His usage of "prudence" and "art" in The Prince is examined to see whether, as founder, he was a teacher or a ruler of future generations. His comprehensive attack on classical political science is outlined and developed through two essential points, the cycle and the soul.

India's growing economic and socio-political importance on the global stage has triggered an increased interest in the country. This Handbook is a reference guide, which surveys the current state of Indian politics and provides a basic understanding of the ways in which the world's largest democracy functions.The Handbook is structured around four main topics: political change, political economy, the diversity of regional development, and the changing role of India in the world. Chapters examine how and why democracy in India put down firm roots, but also why the quality of governance offered