Book excerpt: Continuing in the standard of excellence set by previous editions, this sixth edition assesses the bureaucracies and development of governments around the world-providing helpful and revealing analyses of the relationships between bureaucracies and political regimes. With over 1000 literature references, tables, and drawings, the book has been updated to reflect changes in the political systems of the former Soviet Union, Eastern Europe, and the developing world. The editor clearly articulates recent developments in the shifting global political landscape and discusses how conditions in development administration and comparative public policy affect nation-states.