Analysis of political systems

T wo recent writers in particular have shown me the way
towards the type of political analysis which this book
favours. The late Mr. T. D. Weldon, especially in his
The Vocabulary of Politics, exposed the vagueness of terminology
in much theorizing about politics. Professor Maurice Duverger
in his Political Parties has shown that the study of political
institutions can be analytical as well as descriptive.
I should like to thank Professor Edvard Thermaenius of
Stockholm for explaining to me that British Cabinet Govern-
ment is not synonymous with what the Swedes call parliamentar-
ism. I owe a special debt of gratitude to the Commonwealth
Fund, New York, for enabling me to study the American type
of presidential government at first hand and for introducing
me to the interesting work being done in the United States in
the field of political behaviour.
Several British colleagues were kind enough to give me their
comments on portions of the manuscript and numerous students
helped me to work out my ideas in lectures and seminars. To
all of them, and to Miss Rita Turner who typed out the
manuscript, I proffer my thanks.
I am especially grateful to Professors Wilfrid Harrison of the
University of Liverpool and Manning J. Dauer of the University
of Florida for their wise criticisms and helpful advice; and to
my wife, Diana, for always insisting that I try to make my
meaning as clear as possible.