"This ambitious book is an ideal text for undergraduate and graduate courses in comparative politics, public policy, and American politics in comparative perspective. Lockhart offers a judicious appraisal of the complex factors that have produced nationally distinct policies and constrain innovative responses to new problems and crises." - Gary P. Freeman, University of Texas "This ... Read moreis a very good, original, and interesting comparison of crucial and topical governmental policies that should appeal to students and produce productive discussions. The case chapters are excellent and provide a wealth of material. The analysis is crisp, and the writing is engaging." - Paul Manuel, Saint Anselm College "Charles Lockhart is one of the leading scholars in the world today in the field of political culture. In a study that contrasts the United States with Sweden, Canada, France and Japan, he explores how history, institutions and culture interact to produce distinctive national policies in the areas of taxation, medical care, abortion and immigration. The result is a provocative tour de force that breathes new life into the comparative study of social policies." - Richard W. Wilson, Professor of Political Science, Rutgers University "Lockhart presents a clearly written account of a complex problem - how andwhy American social policies differ from those of other industrial states. In doing so, he offers a convincing demonstration of the utility ofgrid-group theory in addressing the role of culture in social causation." - Andrew J. Nathan, Class of 1919 Professor of Political Science, Columbia University Show Less