Power and Policy in Liberal Democracies

Why has Japan found it easier to pursue a consistent industrial policy than the United States? Why does Britain provide health care collectively whereas France relies on private provision? Why is the American government unable to ensure the safety of its citizens whereas personal safety is not even an issue in Japan? Such questions are central to the study of comparative public politics and this book seeks to answer them by integrating policy analysis with mainstream comparative politics. The authors examine power and policy in four liberal democracies: France, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. They provide an introduction to the politics of the four leading democracies by setting out the actors, arenas and agendas of policy in each country. They go on to explore four contrasting areas of policy: industrial, health, ethnic minorities, and law and order, and discuss the countries from various perspectives.