On October 1, 2009, the People's Republic of China (PRC) celebrated the 60th anniversary of its founding. And what an eventful and tumultuous six decades it had been. During that time, under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), China was transformed from one of the world's poorest countries into the world's fastest growing major economy, and from a weak state barely able to govern or protect its own territory to a rising power that is challenging the United States for global i...

In this essential guide, the team of expert authors explore the politics of a range of European countries, providing insight into everything you need to know on the subject, from the fundamentals of democratic politics, institutions, and practices of government, to key contemporary challenges.