Measuring the political performance of nations, from democracies to authoritarian regimes, provides new insights into national development issues and helps identify internal zones of conflict. But until now, researchers in international politics have had no simple formula for comparing the political capacities of nations. The Performance of Nations addresses that void with the authors' creation of a standard political measure that cuts across cultures and types of governments. The techniques demonstrated in this book examine questions such as: Why do some nations fail yet others succeed? How can you compare the political capacity of a totalitarian regime to a democracy? Are democracies always more efficient? Useful for theorists, policy specialists, and those interested in government and international relations, The Performance of Nations helps us to understand not only the economic capabilities of nations but also their political potential.

Jacek Kugler is Elisabeth Helm Rosecrans Professor of World Political Economy at Claremont Graduate University. Ronald L. Tammen is professor of political science and director of the Mark O. Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University.