Includes bibliographical references (p. 335-368) and index.

Introduction : personality and environment -- 1. The impact of culture -- 2. Cultures and conflict -- 3. Politics and cooperation -- 4. The diversity of political culture -- 5. The origins and persistence of political culture -- 6. Who becomes political? Who doesn't? -- 7. Citizen voting behavior -- 8. The beliefs of political activists -- 9. Political ideologies and post-industrial values -- 10. Institutions and behavior : the impact of voting systems -- 11. Institutions and leadership : a comparison of parliamentary and presidential systems -- 12. Institutions and the balance of power -- 13. The impact of parties on political behavior -- 14. How the media structure politics -- 15. The personality of political leaders -- 16. The impact of globalization : democracy, anarchy, or ...?

This text offers a comprehensive overview of who participates in politics and why, how social and political institutions shape that involvement, and, ultimately, what form citizen political participation takes. Drawing on a multitude of factors to explain politics and political behaviour, Woshinsky shows that political outcomes depend on a complex interplay between individuals and their environment. Psychology, personality, and ideology, together with culture, institutions, and social context shape political behaviour.