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The author's experiences in teaching Introduction to Comparative Politics university-level courses are related. Although the author emphasized the examination of several case studies in his first attempt to teach an introductory comparative politics course, several problems with focusing on case studies are noted. However, it is stated that an approach based on the author's application of the notion of "imagined communities" to the examination of Guatemalan national identity generated more success. Despite the conceptual difficulty of Benedict Anderson's (1983) understanding of imagined communities, Michael Ignatieff's (1994) cinematic exploration of national identity in multiple cultural contexts & other literary & disciplinary texts were used to render the notions of state, nation, & identity less abstract. Specific issues that addressed this tripartite relationship in Iranian, British, & Mexican society are highlighted, demonstrating the connection between identity & politics in each social context. In addition, Cristina Garcia's novel Dreaming in Cuban (1993) was implemented into the course curriculum in order to humanize the politics of national identity. 8 References. J. W. Parker

Intro -- Table of Contents -- Introduction -- About This Book -- Conventions Used in This Book -- Icons Used in This Book -- Beyond the Book -- Where to Go from Here -- Part 1: Understanding Political Science -- Chapter 1: Discovering the Discipline of Political Science -- Looking at Politics and Political Science -- Studying Political Power -- Searching for Sources of Legitimacy -- Chapter 2: Shaping Research in Political Science: Looking at Major Approaches -- Starting with Traditionalism -- Switching to Behavioralism -- Moving Leftward with Post-Behavioralism -- Comparing Political Science Theories -- Looking at Historical Sociology -- Seeking Benefits: Rational Choice Theory -- Chapter 3: Dealing with Political Culture -- Analyzing Political Culture -- Sustaining Democracy: The Civic Culture -- Working on Political Socialization -- Moving from Materialist to Postmaterialist -- Part 2: Comparing Governments -- Chapter 4: Discussing Different Forms of Government -- Identifying Types of Governments -- Dividing Powers -- Chapter 5: Setting the Rules: Constitutions -- Looking at Constitution Basics -- Creating a New Country: The U.S. Constitution of 1789 -- Checking on a New Document: The Russian Constitution -- Chapter 6: Comparing Political Institutions: Systems of Government -- Comparing Democratic Political Systems -- Studying the U.S. Congress -- Looking at Great Britain -- Analyzing Executives -- Going Bureaucratic -- Settling Disputes -- Chapter 7: Elections, Political Parties, and Interest Groups -- Studying Elections -- Political Parties - Necessary for Democracy -- Interest Groups: Influencing the Government -- Part 3: Going Global: International Relations -- Chapter 8: Thinking Globally: The Study of International Relations -- Understanding the Origins of International Relations -- Getting into the Theories of International Relations.